Five TX Chapter members entered for judging in the 18th Annual Keels and Wheels took home recognition award trophies for their outboard boats. Way to go guys! See the photo gallery at: http://www.texaschapteraomci.com/gallery/2013-keels-and-wheels-gallery
Taking home two trophies was dedicated and energetic member Jeff Workman. For his home-crafted Z-Boat, named “Wild Child”, Jeff won the Silver Award (2nd place) for Home-Built Boats as well as the – get this – Show’s overall prestigious “Peoples Choice Award”. Most of us have seen his 9′ Z-Boat, a one-off extended redesign of the “Be Bop” plans from the Boat Builders Handbook. It is powered by his 1956 Johnson 5 ½. This boat attracted a huge amount of attention for the quality of craftsmanship and detail.
TX Chapter Treasurer and Secretary Chip Rathbun won Best of Class for Antique Outboards with his 1942 15 1/2′ Century Imperial Sportsman powered by his 1954 Johnson 25 that he recently restored. This motor has an exquisite paint job as those green Johnsons are hard to match the paint to original.
Our meticulous craftsman Jerry Lindamood won the Best of Class for Home-Made Boats with his Lindy Craft conversion. It is powered by a 1964 Merc 50hp. We have been following Jerry’s progress on this web site for the transformation of his Glen-L into the awesome Gentleman’s Racer. Great job, Jerry!!
New member Ed Bachman with an awesome Yellow Jacket w/ 1957 Johnson 35HP won the Silver Award for the Yellow Jacket Class See all the Yellow Jackets photos at: http://m243.photobucket.com/albums/warrenpoverty/Keels%20and%20Wheels%202013/
And last but not least, your humble webmaster (me) won the Silver Award for Classic Outboards (16′ and over) with my 1948 16′ Thompson TVT powered by my ‘ever-reliable’ 1949 Evinrude Speeditwin (more on that below). I decked the boat out like a fisherman’s weekender with my collection of 1940’s fishing-related accoutrements.
Chapter member Bob Macaluso brought his own ’57 Yellow Jacket Catalina and also delivered one of fellow member Dan Kubecka’s two Yellow Jackets to the show bringing the Yellow Jacket displayed collection total to ten boats. So many it was a real swarm! Bzzzzz. These are beautiful Texas-made boats that commanded their own class of entries. See the Yellow Jacket collection of photos at: http://m243.photobucket.com/albums/warrenpoverty/Keels%20and%20Wheels%202013/
Adam Finn reported that among members bringing boats, Allan Carter had a good looking rig w/ early 1950’s Mercury. I saw Allan in the crowd but did not realize he had brought an entry until after the show. Apologies extended, for I didn’t get a photo on that.
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There a couple of member stories to pass along. First, our Chapter once again manned the ever-popular “Kids Build a Boat” show project. Jeff Workman, John Platou and new member Alan Bischof worked all the Saturday and Sunday show hours – at kid level – down on their hands and knees coaching kids of all ages to glue and screw this boat together. Jeff had previously cut out and preassembled the 8′ skiff of quality marine plywood (donated by the SW ACBS Chapter). The TX AOMCI chapter donated a set of new oars and oarlocks to go with the boat to its new owner. Over 200 kids helped assemble the boat. We drew a lucky ticket winner at the show’s end and handed the boat over to one ecstatic son and dad.
But hold on, completing the story for the Kids Build a Boat – when Jeff Workman’s name was 
announced for his trophies, Jeff wasn’t at the Saturday afternoon’s awards ceremony. We all looked around for him to come forward for the photo op and bask in the crowd’s adoration for his moments of glory. But, alas …no Jeff. After the ceremony, we found Jeff still on his knees at our booth helping more kids build the show boat – what selfless dedication! Jeff, we salute you!! Twice!!!
Last story – at mid-afternoon on Friday, Adam Finn and I braved the gusty winds and the very low level of water on Clear Lake to launch my Thompson. It was kind of nasty and the larger inboards weren’t launching. With no idle or reverse on the 22.5 hp Speeditwin, I elected to row the boat off the trailer, turn downwind pointing across the yacht slips and cleat off to a handy line attached to a piling. The idea was to get the motor rope started, slow it down under control, uncleat and calmly navigate from the ramp to the display basin at the Lakewood Yacht Club. Expecting multiple rope pulls in the start process, which result in the tiller handle whacking me on my right knee, I looped a few turns of the port stern line around the handle. Well, the once cantankerous Speeditwin popped off mightily on the first pull and in the twist tiller “Start” position that equals about 3/4 throttle. The boat shot toward a huge covered boat house. My finely polished brass aft port cleat sheared away still attached to the piling line. Yes, this is the same cleat I roped off on the tiller. 
The looped tiller handle shot up to a vertical position of attention twisting the throttle wide open. I frantically fought for balance as I unlooped the line off the handle, sat down, gained control and slowed the boat to keep my wake down. Then I looked back for a moment hoping not to see if Adam got this on video and praying it wouldn’t show up on YouTube. After a few minutes puttering among the fancy boat houses, I finally remembered that this ‘modern’ 1949 motor has a kill button on the spark advance lever. About 20 minutes later after securing my gear at the show pier, Adam had parked my truck and trailer and showed up dockside dangling my lost cleat like a dead fish on my stern line. Long live the bowline knot!! And NO there is no YouTube of this – just use your imagination, Di
