Including an Update from Lucas!
December, 2019

2020 Officers Elected, Installation on Jan. 18!

Congratulations to our incoming President and First Lady, Scott and Thuy Myers (above). They have another new role as parents, for which congratulations are also in order! The Myers take the helm following the exemplary service of our outgoing President and First Lady, David and Loretta Sheets.

(Below) Trey Bull steps into the Secretary role, filling the shoes of Gay Perry, who has stepped down after nine years of faithful service. Trey is part of our growing Fort Worth contingent. Thanks for taking on this job, Trey!

  

(Above) Phil Wolff will bring over two decades of WBA experience to the role of Vice-President. Phil has served the club in many capacities over the years, both formally and informally.

(Below) Faithful Treasurer Scott Reichardt will continue in his job, keeping safe watch over the WBA's financial assets, and paying all the bills. Officers will be installed at the Banquet on January 18. RSVP to the evite sent by David Sheets. Let David know if you didn't receive your invitation.

Christmas Party Saturday, Dec. 7, RSVP today!

  

The WBA Christmas Party is this coming Saturday, Dec. 7. What better way to ring in the holiday season than a lively evening of fun with your WBA friends. Our President and First Lady, David and Loretta Sheets have sent eVites to all members. If you haven't received yours, please let David know.

The Sheets' home is always decorated beautifully for the season, and the food is great! Plus, you'll get to see how nicely our members clean up! Those sawdust-covered wooden boat workers are really dapper folks! If you have received you eVite, but have not yet replied, please do so today!

2020 Dues are Due December 31!

It's that time of year again, fellow Skippers, when your officers remind you that while membership in the WBA is a wonderful value, it ain't free.

  

Please send a check for $35 by the end of the year to our faithful Treasurer, Scott Reichardt, Box 8645, Horseshoe Bay, TX 78567.
WBA Members, Guests Learn about Models at November Meeting

Model builder Dennis Koleber, above right, was the speaker at the November 21 meeting of the WBA. Dennis has been building models for over 35 years, and and built a number of car models for Jay Leno. He discussed his model-building passion, and brought along several examples of his cars and

  

even some ship models. Thank you, Dennis, for a great presentation (and to Bill Kimball for recommending you!) In other business, the following slate of officers was elected for 2020: President: Scott Myers; Vice-President: Phil Wolff; Treasurer: Scott Reichardt; Secretary: Trey Bull.

Ables' Chris Engine Pulled, Boat Ready to Flip!

(Above) Working harder than he had in a month, Robin McGeorge uses the chain hoist to raise the 6-cyl. Chris-Craft engine out of John Ables' boat. Jim Donovan lends a hand, guiding the engine out of the engine compartment. It was necessary to move the boat slightly forward during the operation so that the engine would clear the center deck.

(Below) The shop's 2-ton hoist has plenty of mechanical advantage, but it takes a lot of pulls on the hoisting chain to raise the engine the necessary three feet or so to clear the deck. With the engine raised above the deck level, the boat can be rolled out from under the gantry, and the engine lowered onto a stand.

 

 

(Above) Jim Donovan (left) and David Kanally (hiding behind the engine) guide the engine onto an engine stand equipped with casters. The stand makes it easy to move the engine around the shop floor. John plans on ditching this engine, which has a cracked block, in favor of another that he bought recently.

(Below) John Ables, Jim Donovan and Robin McGeorge remove the neck from the Chris-Craft's gas tank in preparation for removing the tank from the boat. Now that the gas tank, floorboards, and other obstructions are out, the interior will be cleaned and painted. Then the boat will be flipped.

Next WBA Monthly Meeting February 20, 2020. Mark Your Calendar!

boatOur next meeting will be Thursday, February 20 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 Lou Zettler to a lucky winner.

The February gathering is our annual event planning session, so your presence and input are especailly important at this meeting. 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. Plus, we'll lay out our Calendar of Events for the 2020 boating season. 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:

Gay Perry: Nine Years of Faithful Service

It seems appropriate to see a photo of Gay Perry, in nautical garb, serving up cupcakes at the latest WBA meeting. She has been a service-minded WBA member for more than a decade. She has been our faithful Secretary longer than many of our members have belonged to the club! We just wanted to take this opportunity to thank Gay for all she has done for us, and to let her know how much we appreciate her as an officer and as a person.

Beyond the recording and publication of meeting minutes, Gay has regularly attended our events and shows, often driving her WBA logo-festooned Cadillac as a shuttle between launch ramps and docks. Gay began her role as Secretary in January of 2010, and has produced approximately 90 editions of our club minutes. She has organized the production of blazers for past Presidents, and has collected banquet and dues payments at the Annual WBA Banquet. (For those of you who are counting, Gay did take a sabbatical in 2016, during which time Bill Mott served as Club Secretary.) No matter how you count it, Gay has been our longest-serving officer. We look forward to Gay's participation as a regular member for many years to come!

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.