Including Updates From Lucas, Bridgeport and Texoma!
July, 2018

Ride 'n Show A Toasty, Windy Success!

More than 30 WBA members and 18 boats turned out for the 2018 WBA Ride 'n Show at Bass Pro Shops on Lake Ray Hubbard in Garland, June 1-3. The sun burned hot and the wind blew hard, but these conditions couldn't stop the WBA members from having a great time in this new venue. Watch the video here. And have a look at more photos here.

  

Group dinners at restaurants neighboring Bass Pro Shops and a fine contingent of members not only from the DFW metroplex, but also from Austin, Bryan and Houston, made this weekend a memorable one. Bravo to our President and First Lady, David and Loretta Sheets, and helpers Jim and Rhonda Wolfe and Bill Kimball for planning this event!

Summer Kickoff at Harvey Home a Hit!

Ray and Carol Harvey once again opened their lovely home and grounds to the WBA for its summer kickoff party on June 8, 2018. Bill Kimball decorated the front of the house with a couple pristine classic automobiles, much to the delight of our members who are also car buffs!

  

Authentic Texas Barbecue with all the fixin's and a moderate libation station completed the party scene. As always, the WBA members in attendance had a wonderful evening. Special thanks to Ray and Carol, and entertainment guru Bill Kimball, for making it possible.
Kleinert and Emerson Discuss DIY Gold Leaf Lettering at June Meeting

Charles Kleinert and family came all the way down to Dallas from the Texoma area to join WBA member and pro boat restorer Jay Emerson for a presentation on gold leaf lettering at the June 21 meeting of the WBA.

Inspired by the Brass Bell article on the suject by professional gold leafer Shiela Davis, Jay Emerson and Kristian Kleinert undertook the task of creating a template, acquiring 23 carat gold leaf, making a practice board, and proceeding to apply the new name to the Kleinert's 1965 27' Chris-Craft Cavalier cruiser. The result was great! Thanks to the Kleinerts and Jay for an informative and useful presentation!

  

Project Update from Lucas and Beyond!

(Above) With the windshield in place and the seats installed, Belinda Patterson's Chris-Craft Cavalier is almost ready for the water. Remaining deck hardware has been installed and the wiring is done.

(Above) Connor Currie, camp counselor at the Sid Richardson Scout Ranch, and son of WBA member Jeff Currie, mans the sail, barks out "heave" commands and recounts Viking lore on the shakedown cruise of the camp's Viking Ship, recently restored with the help of the Currie family, WBA members David Kanally, Jim Donovan, Glenn Nerwin, Gabe Chacin and Scott Myers. The ship is now in full time service for the Scout Camp season on Lake Bridgeport.

 

 

(Above) A newly arrived Chris-Craft project belonging to Dennis Fisher will keep him out of trouble for a while. Robin McGeorge is advising Dennis on the restoration. Welcome to the Club and to the shop, Dennis!!

(Above) John Ables splashed his Chris Craft in Lake Texoma last week following a 27-year hiatus! John had been a member of the WBA way back in the Las Colinas days in the latter part of the last century. He rejoined when his time and energy permitted, getting the old girl back into shape. The Chris made her 21st Century debut at the Ride 'n Show on land on June 1, and hit the water a few weeks later, with only a few bugs remaining to be worked out.

Next WBA Monthly Meeting July 19th, 2018. Don't Miss It!

boatOur next meeting will be Thursday, July 19th, 2018 at 7 p.m. at Two Guys from Italy at 11637 Webb Chapel Road, just south of Forest Lane. We'll be continuing our door prize tradition, giving out a classic boating book from collections donated by Pat Baldwin and Troy Marshall to a lucky winner.

Our meetings are a great opportunity to socialize with fellow WBA members and to talk shop on questions on everything from paint and varnish to carburetor kits. We'll be swapping stories of our various boating and project adventures and enjoying a presentation of interest to classic boating fans. And, of course, we'll have generous helpings of fellowship and Italian food.

Join us for a light meal and moderate libation at 5:30 p.m. at Two Guys from Italy prior to the meeting. We encourage you to join us for dinner, so we'll always have the required minimum number of diners to avoid a room charge.

Shop Talk and Musings

What a great feeling it is to see our members complete their classic boat projects and get those boats into the water. John Ables launched his Chris Craft on Lake Texoma last week, after it was out of the water for only 27 years. The Viking Ship crew was thrilled to see that boat hit the water just in time for the start of the summer Boy Scout Camp season in Bridgeport. Gabe Chacin has finished off the new interior in his pretty classic glass ski boat with some fresh carpet. Lew White and Stan Lehnhardt were happy that the Willis-built sternwheel steamer model they restored found a home with WBA member Steve McCune in Fort Worth. Just as exciting is to see new projects beginning: new member Dennis Fisher just picked up a Chris Craft Sportsman that's now in progress in the Lucas Shop. When the founders of the WBA came up with the slogan, "The Hands-On Boat Club" for our group, this is exactly what they were talking about!

And finally, please take a look in the shed or garage for leftover parts or other salable items you can donate to the Club. Bring them to any WBA meeting, or contact David Kanally at david@historywithheart.com for pickup.