Boatshop Reports
Captain Rick Franke's monthly Boatshop Reports feature news on new boat builds, maintenance, and boat restorations from area boatbuilders and shops across Maryland and Virginia.
August 10, 2020
Over the winter and spring, the pages of PropTalk have included three installments about the refit of a long-neglected Legac
July 28, 2020
The lifting of the recreational boating ban seemed like the first glimmer of hope that there was a world out there which would return after our long Covid-19 nightmare.
July 14, 2020
This is the final article in Ralph Cattaneo's Return to the Classics series, detailing the restoration of his 1948 Chris-Craft Sportsman, "Copasetic."
June 15, 2020
It has been quite a spring.
May 29, 2020
This is usually the busiest time for spring commissioning and launching.
May 28, 2020
In the third installment in the restoration of a much-neglected Legacy 32, the focus is now on outward beauty while previous work focused on function.
April 10, 2020
The days are longer, daylight saving time is here, and shrink wrap is rapidly disappearing in area marinas, and with that, Captain Rick Franke brings us the April 2020
March 27, 2020
The BoatU.S. Foundation is the proud new owner of a 1953 17-foot classic Chris-Craft Sportsman that was acquired through the foundation’s boat donation program.
March 11, 2020
As we all look forward to the start of another great boating season, with a strong economy and stable fuel prices, area boatshops are busy and optimistic.
February 3, 2020
Along about the end of the month it seems as if winter will never end. The holidays are behind us, and regardless of what the groundhog says, it is still cold and often dreary outside.
January 13, 2020
In the last installment our readers will recall the opening chapter in the saga of a long-neglected boat, a Legacy 32, a
January 10, 2020
Once again as winter closes in, we retreat indoors and concentrate on projects that have been put off for a while. Family and holiday events add a special note to this early wintertime.
December 9, 2019
The record-setting Annapolis Boat Shows have come and gone, daylight savings time is over, and acres of white shrink wrap are blossoming in boat yards and back yards.
December 1, 2019
This article is the first in a series. Watch for subsequent installments in the pages of PropTalk for the full story on the rebirth of this soon-to-be-lovely Legacy 32.
November 11, 2019
The boat shows have come and gone, and the boating season is drawing to a close.
October 14, 2019
Legendary sportfish builder Jim Weaver breaks down his custom building process at Weaver Boatworks in Deale, MD.
October 14, 2019
It always seems as if summer flies by way too fast.
September 12, 2019
As summer winds down and the fall approaches, we can look back on another good boating season. The fall boat show season is fast approaching and haul outs and de-commissioning can’t be far behind.