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800-762-2628 | www. hagertymarine . com
Summer 2009
The Antique & Classic Boat Society Rudder
(ISSN 1089-1056) is the official magazine of the
Antique & Classic Boat Society Inc., 422 James
Street, Clayton, NY 13624 and is published
quarterly. Non-profit periodicals postage paid at
Clayton, New York and additional mailing offices.
Postmaster: Send address changes to The ACBS
Rudder, ACBS, 422 James Street, Clayton, NY
13624. 30% ($10.50) of the annual membership
fee for ACBS is allocated to The ACBS Rudder.
Back issues, if available, are $5.00 US, and are
available upon request. Send check or money
order to The ACBS Rudder, 422 James Street,
Clayton, NY 13624. Submission of manuscripts,
photographs/slides, and drawings is encouraged.
However,neitherACBS,theeditor,noritsproduction
company can accept responsibility or make
payment for materials submitted, used, retained,
lost or damaged. Every effort will be made to return
submissions when a SASE is provided. Submission
of materials is an assignment of one-time publication
rights in The ACBS Rudder. Except for purposes
of review, material contained in The ACBS Rudder
may not be reproduced without prior written
permission from ACBS. Printed in USA.
The ACBS Rudder
Editor:
Chris Eden
753 9th Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109
voicemail: (206) 282-4788
FAX (206) 286-1639
e-mail: [email protected]
President’s Message .................................................................4
news from headquarters ..................................................4
news from the chapters ..................................................... 5
THE TILLER ......................................................................................6
Safety ..............................................................................................6
news from International.................................................. 7
Museum watch .......................................................................... 8
calendar of events ..............................................................10
the gauge .................................................................................... 14
the restoration Handbook ........................................... 16
small watercraft ................................................................. 18
gold Cup archives ............................................................... 20
ACBS Annual Meeting 2009 ................................................ 27
ship’s stores ............................................................................... 37
Trading dock ......................................................................... 38
On the Cover: Aquaplaning at Muskoka. Read about Ian Turnbull’s memories of life on
these Canadian lakes starting on page 30.
Production Staff:
Spencer Rossman, Graphic Design
Denis Hartnett, Assistant Editor
Trading Dock:
Stacy M. Dasno, Headquarters
422 James Street
Clayton, NY 13624
(315) 686-2628 (BOAT)
FAX (315) 686-2680
e-mail: [email protected]
Di s p l ay A d v ert i si n g :
Wil Vidal, Sales Coordinator
W285 N2050 Louis Court
Pewaukee, WI 53072
(262) 695-2994
e-mail: [email protected]
A C B S He a d q u a rt er s :
Kathy Snyder, Administrator
422 James Street
Clayton, NY 13624
(315) 686-2628 (BOAT)
FAX (315) 686-2680
e-mail: [email protected]
ACBS Officers and Directors, 2009 – 2011
Officers
Directors-at-Large
President ............................Dick Werner................Columbia Willamette
First Vice President............Gail Turner.................................. Blue Ridge
Second Vice President........John Bergstrom ..............Water Wonderland
Secretary .............................Teri Hoffman ..............................Adirondack
Treasurer ............................Jim Mersman .................Water Wonderland
Past President ....................Gene Porter.........................Lake Champlain
Jack Lynett...............North Coast Ohio
Robert Selin.............Bluegrass
Cynthia McMillen...No. Cal/Lake Tahoe
Bill Truex ............... Lake Champlain
Directors
Doug Adams.............. Finger Lakes ........................2009
Sharon Dickinson ..... Niagara Frontier ................2009
Bill Nash .................... Penn NE/Harveys Lake .......2009
George Plamondon ... Blackhawk ...........................2010
John Ross ................... Sunnyland ...........................2010
James Shotwell .......... Chesapeake Bay...................2010
3
Jamie Smith .............. Toronto .................................2010
Mike Gresham ........... Bluegrass .............................2011
Mike Mayer................ Columbia Willamette ..........2011
BK Powell .................... Inland Empire .................... 2011
Tom O’Rourke ............ No. Cal/Lake Tahoe .............2011
B
y the time this issue of the Rudder arrives in your mailbox the summer
boating season will be well on its way and you probably have attended and
participated in one or several boat shows. Several weekends ago, Louise and
I and several of our friends spent the weekend cruising around Priest Lake
(Idaho) in our freshly painted and varnished Lyman. What a beautiful day
(80 degrees) on the smooth water, compared to when my son and I started
working on the Lyman this past December. The outside temperature was 12
above and we had over three feet of snow! It was very difficult to think that
we would ever see another warm day again, let alone be out on the water
enjoying the cool air blow by.
I guess we always need to realize that things will get better. Even though
the daily economic reports are still gloomy, getting out in our beautiful
boats is such a great escape and always seems to make us feel a lot better. I
know you have heard it said before, but aren’t we lucky to have our vintage
boats to enjoy and our ACBS friends to enjoy them with.
While I am on the subject of enjoying the friendships of our many ACBS
members, I would be remiss if I did not thank all of you for helping to make
this the organization we are so proud of. Special recognition needs to go out
to the hard-working board members and officers of the International and
the local chapters. Of course, it takes more than just the governing bodies to
make things happen; it requires all of you dedicated volunteers to help make
the boat shows, cruises and special events what they are.
This dedication could not have been more evident than it was at several
of the events I have recently attended.
In March we flew out to the very large Mt. Dora show in Traveres,
Florida. Terry Fiest and his many volunteers from the Sunnyland Chapter
were buzzing around like bees making certain the boats were in and out of
the water in a very efficient manner and that the people attending the event
were well taken care of. That show gets bigger, better and more fun every
year! The same was true when I attended the Keels and Wheels show at
Seabrook, Texas. Paul and Linda Merryman and their group of volunteers
from the Southwest Chapter were working hard that Friday morning setting
up the display of outstanding cars as well as the many beautiful boats at both
dock side and on land.
I just got home from attending a two and a half-day cruise at Table Rock
Lake hosted by the Heartland Chapter. What wonderful boating on a gorgeous
body of water in Southern Missouri. There again, the volunteers from the
chapter led by Don and Kathy Parker and John and Carolyn Thompson made
sure everything took place in a gracious and efficient manner so that someone
like myself had to do nothing more that take in the beautiful scenery , enjoy
the activities, and probably eat more food that I should have!
I would also have to say that volunteerism could not have been better
displayed through the ACBS Symposium that took place in Seattle this past
April. The Pacific Northwest Chapter made it happen. It was a successful
two and a half-days of education and fun made possible by Dick Dow and
all of his chapter volunteers and, of course, the very informative speakers
that gave their time.
These are just some of the examples that I am sure will be going on at
chapter boating events throughout the country this summer. This is what
makes our organization so outstanding—YOU THE MEMBERS! The
boats, of course, are a big part of the glue that pulls us together, but the
dedicated members are the catalyst that makes it happen. The board and I
appreciate all you do.
I am going to ask an additional favor from all of you participating at
your boat shows this summer. Introduce yourself to an interested person
or persons attending your show. Tell them what we are about, give them
a membership brochure and talk to them about joining. We need new
members to keep our organization viable.
Also, at your shows continue to work with the youth. They are our future
boat owners and members. At Mt. Dora, Hagerty Insurance sponsored a youth
judging program. What a bunch of happy kids! At Keels and Wheels the
Southwest Chapter had a lot of kids working in shifts on a seven-foot pram.
That little boat ended up with more screws in it than a 16 ft. James Craft kit boat
but the kids were having fun and were becoming acquainted with our hobby.
Well anyway, have a fun and safe boating summer. Please remember my
simple motto: do not start your engine before you lift and sniff!
See you in Muskoka this September for our wonderful international
boating event. Don’t miss it!
Thank you,
Dick Werner, ACBS President
Summertime and the Giving is Easy
Summertime... I believe there is an ACBS boat show or event every weekend
from June through September! While we visit, meet new people, and enjoy
wonderful hospitality, please take some time to mention ACBS and membership. Our club’s best promotion and endorsement is you. Please remind
those you share your stories with, that they can learn all about and easily join
ACBS on our web site www.acbs.org. Please make an extra effort to help
ACBS grow a stronger and larger membership.
The ACBS board has taken action to provide chapters several tools to
promote membership. Recently each chapter president was mailed a DVD
that can be played on a laptop computer or TV, hopefully at a boat show
or other event. It tells the story of the “Classic Boat Phenomenon.” Also
available to the chapters is a publicity kit, providing information on growing
chapter membership, obtaining more boats for your show, and building
public awareness of vintage boats. Judging guidelines and score sheets have
recently been updated. They are available to all members in the current
presidents handbook in the members only section. Newly updated “Come
Aboard” brochures are also available from HQ.
Our Ships Store has begun a new, featured item of the week. Check
out the web home page and see what special is being offered! Chapters were
also offered a new selection of items for re-sale at their events. Contact
Headquarters if your chapter president has misplaced the chapter catalog.
Registrations for the Annual Meeting are arriving daily. The pre-events
hosted by the Toronto Chapter offer a wide variety of activities and rare
opportunities to explore the region. The Muskokas are truly a unique
destination with remarkable vessels rarely found anywhere else. Visiting the
area, and experiencing the boating there will be something you will brag
about. September will be upon us, and the time to plan is now. Stacy and I
look forward to renewing old and meeting many new friends.
Once again, at the Annual Meeting we will hold an auction to benefit
the Scholarship Fund. The committee will need your help to make this
event a success. If you or your chapter has an item for donation please
contact Kathy at Headquarters.
Hampton in his 1928 Ford Model T pulling a vintage calliope for music.
Saturday evening The Lake Side Inn hosted a huge dinner party for more
than 400 people and we gave the Riva Painting by Karen Wood-Thomas
to Piero Gibellini as a token of our appreciation for all the Italians who
attended the event. Later in the evening we all enjoyed a local favorite
band, Radio Flyer.
On Sunday, all the Corporate Sponsors gathered under the large
tent at the park and presented awards to their favorite boats. After the
awards ceremony, church services were conducted and the show ended
sooner than planned because of the rain.
A total of 28 states were represented plus boats from Canada. The
farthest traveled came from Milford, Iowa. There were 125 boats at the
docks, 20 Jersey Skiffs at the beach, over 100 land display boats, 55
boats for sale, 15 woody cars, 14 amphicars, several Fiber Glassics, the
Glaspar Club, 85 flea market vendors and a spectacular display of Antique
Outboard Motors presented by the Antique Outboard Motor Club.
Factoring in all the boats, there were close to 300 boats at the show. The
footprint of the show is almost a half-mile from one end to the other.
Volunteers rallied to make the 2009 Antique Boat Festival a huge
success. All of this can be attributed to the volunteers. There were over
280 people working to insure success and everyone can be very proud
of what they do to make the show run. As the Chairman, I owe a debt
of gratitude to all the volunteers who make this possible. My theory is
“Let’s have Fun” and enjoy what we do. When you combine our show
with the CRA event and the North and South Bound River cruises, it’s
nothing short of heaven for a vintage boater.
Congratulations to all of you who unselfishly gave so much. I am
proud to be the Chairman of this spectacular event and I sincerely thank
all of you for your untiring support. The date for the show next year is,
March 25-28, 2010, and we will feature Century Boats.
Sunnyland Festival Continues
I t s S u c c e s s f u l Tr a d i t i o n
By Terry Feist, Chairman
Sunnyland Antique Boat Festival
T
he 22nd Annual Sunnyland Antique Festival unfolded with blustery
March winds and warm temperatures as 280 volunteers stepped up to
manage this increditable event. We’d moved the traditional picnic to
Thursday to offer paying attendees an opportunity to see as many boats
as possible on Friday and Saturday and both days had record attendance.
Late Saturday afternoon, we received a severe weather warning that forced
us to pull most of the boats Saturday afternoon. Thunderstorms greeted us
early Sunday morning; we elected to pull most of the boats and by noon,
the sun was out but the majority of the participants had departed.
The weather did not dampen our spirits and we celebrated Hagerty
Insurance’s 25 years of service with a spectacular reception for Riva and ChrisCraft owners on Thursday night at the historical Lake Side Inn in Mount Dora.
This year we featured Riva boats and we were fortunate to have eight beautiful
Riva boats along with the founder of the Riva Historical, Piero Gibellini from
Italy. Piero was accompanied by the President of the Riva Historical Society
Luigi Spaggiari and his wife Alessandra along with the Vice President of the
Riva Historical Society Raffaele Turchi and his wife Gloria.
The preparation for this event was extensive and clearly evident as
our tractor drivers launched over 150 boats and stowed their trailers in
a remote trailer lot. The “Southern Hospitality” from the Sunnyland
Chapter provides launch assistance and valet trailer storage to afford
boaters as much time on the water as possible.
Two days before the show, the Sunnyland ground crew arrived and
quickly transformed the quaint waterfront into a position to receive all
the boats and vendors. On Wednesday morning over 85 Flea Market
vendors jockeyed for their favorite position, and as the day progressed,
the waterfront was transformed into an amazing display of classic boats,
woody cars, antique outboard motors and Amphi-cars. The new location
is adjacent to the Florida Inland Railroad tracks and the train operated
daily between Tavares and Mount Dora offering rides every hour. Because
of low water, the new Tavares water taxi’s could not make the run to
Mount Dora but we supplemented with large pontoon boats.
The Chapter takes great pride in accommodating more than 25
corporate sponsors and each of our sponsors is given an opportunity
to pick their favorite boat. Later Friday evening we had our infamous
Captain’s Party in a huge tent at the Lake Side Inn.
On Saturday we started the opening ceremony with our traditional
canon blast, and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary from Tavares presented
the colors. At 1p.m. we had the traditional Amphicar parade and the
annual “Splash Inn” with 14 Amphicars. The parade was led by Ralph
Scholarship Program Thanks Donors
The ACBS would like to sincerely thank these donors who
have so generously supported our Scholarship Fund-raising
Program with contributions of $50 or more, through June
2009. We look forward to acknowledging future donations
to the Scholarship Program.
Babcock, Don & Caroline
Bennett, Lawrence & Margaret
Bergstrom, John & Pat
Busby, Jim
Cartwright, Moss & Shelley
Dake, Gerald & Katy
Memory of Judy D’Eath
Flood, Tom & Mary
Gagnon, Brian & Ellen
Gunn, Ervin
Guy, Ted
Hoffman, Teri
Johnson, Chris
Lanehart, John W.
Leonard, Curtis A.
McMillen, Cynthia & Mont
Miles, Tina (in Honor of Don Babcock)
Petersen, Stan & Darleen
Plamondon, George & Hollis
Porter, Gene & Nancy
Memory of Betsy Robbins
Saphir, Joel & Tamsin
Sherwood, Dick & Cynthia
Smith, Charles
Smith, Jamie & Doreen
Sunnyland Chapter
Sutton, Kermit
Turner, Bill & Gail
Vidal, Wil & Mary
Werner, Dick & Louise
by Jim Shotwell, Chairman
I
n the spring issue of Rudder your Youth Development Committee
made mention of the new “Marine Youth Judging Initiative”
developed by our friends at Hagerty Insurance and launched at the
Sunnyland Chapter festival, but, that was written before we had
photos; here’s a shot of some of the junior judges hard at work with
their mentor on the docks at Tavares, Florida.
Thanks to Festival Chairman, Terry Fiest, Youth Development
Chair, Terry Ross and Diana Shotwell the new “Marine Youth
Judging Initiative” was a huge success. We would also like to thank
Kevin Hess, Chris Hess and Kevin Hess Jr. from James Craft for their
help with the scout’s “Kit Boat Building Program”. They should be
ready for launch at next year’s Festival. Great Job!
A big “Thank You” to Carla and Chris at Hagerty and Pat at
BoatUS Trailering magazine for once again helping to grow our
hobby by supporting “Youth Development” and thanks to all who
contribute to “The Tiller”, please keep the stories and photos coming
and remember “Our youth are the future-show them the way.”
The Tiller is all about connecting with kids. Their safety is always one of our first concerns and we felt the basic concept of the following story is worth
repeating. Following is a story reprinted from Boat US Trailering magazine, with the kind permission of Pat Piper, Editor.
Boating Safety
S afet y T ips f o r T o w V ehicle P assengers at the R amp
A few years ago, a BoatUS member watched a tow vehicle backing
If the tow vehicle is filling up with water, this is the time to have all
passengers climb out through a window. Depending on the situation,
you may even be able to open the door before the water level becomes
too high.
a boat trailer into the water at a boat ramp near Newport Beach,
California. A trailer boater himself, the member thought the trailer
seemed too far in the water but rationalized this may be a first time
launch for a new boat owner. But the trailer kept going and his eyes
now focused on the tow vehicle as its exhaust pipe went under water.
Something wasn’t right with this picture. He wanted to say something
but chose to not get involved.
Then he saw the children in the back seat of the tow vehicle. The
truck finally stopped but water was pouring in the windows. Now he
did get involved, wading in to help everyone get out before calling 911.
It was a bad situation but it could have been even worse.
If it happens:
But if the tow vehicle is underwater with the windows up and inoperable,
here’s what you need to know:
• The doors aren’t going to open because of the difference in air pressure
inside and air pressure outside. However, once the vehicle has settled
on the bottom and the pressure is equalized inside and outside, the
door can be opened.
• If you don’t have a hammer or a window puncher (a spring loaded
device designed for this very purpose) or a LifeHammer (a heavy tool
also designed to break a window from the inside), kick the passenger
or driver window, preferably at a corner. Don’t attempt to kick the
windshield. It’s designed with multiple layers of glass and doesn’t
easily break.
• Focus on getting out of the vehicle. Don’t worry about wallets, cell
phones or anything else. All of that can be replaced.
Here’s why:
Power windows will eventually short out as the water reaches the top
of the passenger and driver’s doors. So, if the windows are up, chances
are very good they won’t go down. It is for this reason that children
shouldn’t be in the tow vehicle at all during a launch or retrieval. Open
the windows enough in the event you need to escape. That includes
opening the sunroof if applicable. Be sure to make these suggestions
part of the checklist before launching or retrieving.
“I grew up around wooden boats and classic cars all of my life and can’t
imagine a summer without them,” said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty
Insurance. “We at Hagerty are true enthusiasts in every sense of the word,
so reaching a milestone anniversary like our 25th is such an honor. We truly
thank all of our clients and those individuals in our Hall of Fame for all of
their support of our organization and the hobby.”
Hagerty Marine posted photos and feature stories about each of its Hall
of Fame inductees at www.hagertymarine.com/hof in conjunction with the
37th annual Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance in June. A brief bio on each
of the inductees is featured below:
Hagerty Launches “Marine Hall of Fame”
Inaugural Class Includes Bob Speltz, Dick Clarke and ACBS
H
agerty Insurance, the worldwide leader in wooden boat and classic car
insurance, today announced the launch of the “Hagerty Marine Hall of
Fame” as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations. This will pay homage to
individuals or organizations that have significantly contributed to the growth
and awareness of the hobby. The organization is proud to announce the
inaugural class of inductees, which include Minnesota native and wooden
boat historian Bob Speltz, Lake Tahoe restorer Dick Clarke, and the Antique
& Classic Boat Society (ACBS).
Bob Speltz
Bob Speltz authored a series of seven books in the 1970s and ’80s called
The Real Runabouts, as well as others about wooden canoes and outboard
motors. Speltz’s books are still extremely popular among enthusiasts, as
Speltz’s research ultimately identified 289 individual boat builders who
produced noteworthy runabouts. Tony Mollica, a longtime friend and
colleague, said that number is significant.
“Many well-respected marine historians would be hard-pressed to
identify the names of more than 20 runabout builders,” Mellica said. “Bob’s
runabout series has become a library essential for serious research on every
vintage runabout, utility and sport boat builder. Bob Speltz’s books have
become an important cornerstone for our hobby.”
Speltz’s accomplishments are even more noteworthy, considering he
suffered from kidney disease that required dialysis three times per week.
Speltz died of the disease in 1993.
Dick Clarke
Dick Clarke excelled as a mechanic, but his talent wasn’t limited to
fixing boat motors. He began a movement to preserve classic wooden boats
in the Lake Tahoe area during the 1960s, and his restoration efforts still
reverberate across the lake--and the hobby.
With Clarke leading the way, Tahoe’s Sierra Boat Company became the
country’s No. 1 Century boat dealer. But as fiberglass boats began sweeping
the industry in the 1960s, Clarke looked to the past and saw his future.
“He knew that as long as there were people out there interested in
wooden boats, they would be treasured,” friend and co-worker, Tony Brown,
said of Clarke, who died in 2002. “He was a humble man, a determined
man… When Dick heard people compliment his work, he’d always say, ‘I’m
no hero. The boat owners—the people who step up and pay the money to
save those treasures—they’re the heroes. They’re the curators.’ ”
ACBS
“We created the Marine Hall of Fame as a way to recognize individuals
and organizations whose achievements have been instrumental in the
preservation and celebration of this amazing hobby,” said company founder
Louise Hagerty. “We are thrilled to celebrate our 25th anniversary by
announcing the three inductees and very much look forward to serving this
community for years to come.”
Hagerty Classic Marine Insurance Agency was created in 1984 after
the Hagertys, who owned a general lines insurance agency, couldn’t
find a comprehensive insurance policy for their beloved classic wooden
boats. “So we put our heads together and developed a product—and a
compant—built around a few sound business principles and the hobbies
we love,” Louise Hagerty said.
When the company introduced its unique Agreed Value policy at the
annual Antique & Classic Boat Society (ACBS) meeting in Detroit in June of
1984, Hagerty Classic Marine Insurance was an immediate hit. Today, Hagerty
covers more wooden boats—and collector cars—than anyone in the U.S.
The ACBS began in the mid-1970s when a group of eight, wooden boat
enthusiasts in upstate New York decided to create an “appreciation society”
of sorts. While the nation was falling in love with fiberglass boats, ACBS
members hailed the historical and aesthetic advantages of wooden vessels.
They weren’t alone in their thinking; the ACBS now has 57 chapters and
more than 7,500 memberships. Considering that each membership includes
spouses and family members under the age of 21, ACBS members actually
number more than 17,000.
“During a time when the rest of the world was putting the spotlight
on fiberglass and turning their backs on wooden boats, the ABCS set out
to preserve the history and enjoyment that wooden boats provided to
generations of boaters,” said former ACBS president Dick Sherwood.
In addition to creating the Hall of Fame, Hagerty is honoring 38 clients
who have been with Hagerty since the beginning. The company has also
planned several activities at shows throughout the summer to celebrate its
25th Anniversary. For more information, visit www.hagertymarine.com.
Hagerty Classic Marine Insurance Agency, Inc. is the leading insurance
agency for collector boats in the nation. Hagerty Classic Marine Insurance
Agency offers insurance for qualifying classic and wooden boats. For more
information, call (800) 762-2628 or visit www.hagertymarine.com.
T he Io wa Great Lakes
Maritime M use u m
by Mary Kennedy, museum curator
T
he Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum is located next to West
Okoboji Lake in the heart of the Iowa Great Lakes region in northwest
Iowa. It was founded in1983 to promote the collection, preservation
and presentation of the nautical and related history of the area.
In 1991 the museum opened its doors in a small building, then doubled
its size in that same building in 1992. In 1999 a new building was
constructed and the 6,000 square foot Maritime Museum exhibition
hall opened that summer. The large, yellow building known as the
Okoboji Spirit Center, also houses various offices, an Iowa Visitor
Center, a gift shop, and a small theatre in which to view a video of
area history.
Throughout the Maritime Museum are many antique boats
including the pride and joy of the museum: Number Thirty Boat. It is
on display his personal 1954 Chetek boat and Johnson motor. Bob
also donated many archival items, including his lifelong collection of
boating magazines and his extensive compilation of materials on all the
wooden boat manufacturers. The museum showcases Bob’s typewriter
on which he wrote his Real Runabouts series, as well as all his other
books. Bob also donated a battery-operated Chris-Craft toy model
boat and some smaller toy boats and engines. The museum is proud
to be the recipient of so many of his collections and uses them as he
wished—to provide visitors with a view of the classic wooden boats.
Steamboats played an important role in the area’s nautical history
and the museum has a section devoted to them. The most famous
steamboat was named the Queen and she arrived in 1884. Although
the Queen departed Lake Okoboji in 1973, a replica, the Queen II built
in 1986, sails daily throughout the summer season from the nearby
lakefront. The first captain of the Queen II was Stephen Kennedy,
and the launch of the Maritime Museum was his dream come true.
Until his death in 2002, following
a two-year battle with cancer, he
continued not only to pilot the
Queen II, but also to serve as the
museum curator and manager. A
life-size statue of Captain Steve
stands overlooking West Okoboji
Lake and the Queen II that he
loved so dearly.
The
Maritime
Museum
houses many exhibits and truly
has something for everyone. Two
a 1939 Chris-Craft that sank in 1946 in sixtyfive feet of water in West Okoboji Lake. It was
discovered by a diver, raised in 1995, placed
in the museum and has now become known
as the Okoboji Titanic. Sitting next to it is a
beautiful, nearly identical 1940 Chris-Craft
that is on loan.
Hafercraft boats were built in the nearby
town of Spirit Lake, and the museum has a
splendid fleet of them. Other boats of great
interest are a 1906 Truscott launch and a1939
Dodge runabout.
Bob Speltz was the nation’s authoritative
source for classic wooden boats, and he passed
away in 1993. He was a true friend of the
Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum and
helped nurture the Antique and Classic Boat
Club at Okoboji. He was also a close friend of
Glenn Hafer of the Hafer Boat Company. Bob
donated two beautiful canoes to the Maritime
Museum and, in addition, the museum has
structures within the exhibit hall are a replica boathouse and
a small version of a favorite landmark, the Okoboji Store.
Swimming and fishing, being popular lake activities, are also
represented and the museum displays a unique collection of
vintage swimming suits. A variety of antique boat motors are
a visitor favorite.
The Maritime Museum is located adjacent to Arnolds Park
Amusement Park, a small historic park that dates to 1889.
Many antique and vintage amusement park artifacts can be
viewed in the museum, such as bumper cars, funny mirrors
and old signs as well as many photographs of the early days of
the amusement park.
The Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum is open year
round and daily in the summer season. Admission is free,
although donations are appreciated, and convenient parking is
available in the museum lot. Volunteers are on hand to greet
and answer questions and tours can be tailored to any specific
group, whether it is school children or bus tours, and are given
by the curator, Mary Kennedy, the wife of the late Captain
Steve Kennedy. An archive room and extensive library of area
history books is available for research purposes. Thousands of
area images are stored in the museum computer and ipods are
available for visitors to use with podcasts pertaining to area
history and artifacts in the museum.
The exhibitions are open year-around at the Iowa Maritime
Museum; renowned author and boat historian, Bob Speltz,
was a great friend of the Museum and contributed many
valuable personal items to its collections; photos of the
lake steamboats Queen—which arrived in 1884—and
a modern replica from 1986, Queen II. Captain Steve
Kennedy piloted the Queen II, and also served as Museum
curator and manager; the Museum’s exhibits inform
visitors about the nautical history and everyday life of the
Iowa Great Lakes region.
July 17–19 27th Annual Antique Boat Show and Regatta hosted by the Wine
Country Classic Boats, Inc. Chapter, ACBS, located in Hammondsport,
NY. Display of antique and classic boats featuring boats from the 50’s on
beautiful Keuka Lake. Wine tasting and reception Friday, judged show
and dinner Saturday, regatta and chicken barbecue Sunday. For more
information, contact Terry or Rosemary Holland at (315) 548-9061 or
[email protected]
JULY
July 18 14th Annual Antique & Classic Boat Show hosted by the Clear Lake
Chapter, ACBS, located in Clear Lake, Iowa, by the downtown seawall. This
year spotlighting Larson Boats. For more information, contact Paul Morris
at (515) 243-1845 or [email protected]
July 10–11 19th Annual Fulton Chain Rendezvous hosted by the
Adirondack Chapter, ACBS, located in Old Forge, NY. Non-judged
show held on the public docks in Old Forge. Friday evening cocktail
reception and awards dinner on Saturday night. For more information,
contact Old Forge Visitor’s Center at (315) 369-6983 or visit www.
oldforgeny.com
July 18 Annual Wooden Boat Festival hosted by the Toms River Seaport
Society located at Huddy Park, Toms River, N.J. Judged event. Nautical
vendors, marine artists, boat rides, family model boat building, flea market,
food and games. For more information contact Gary Micco at (908) 3031710 or [email protected] or tomsriverseaport.org
July 18 2nd Annual St. Clair Antique & Classic Boat Show hosted by the
Michigan Chapter, ACBS, located in St. Clair, Michigan. In-water boat
show. Awards presented, floating docks, ramp in marina, food and lodging
within walking distance. Located on the scenic St. Clair River. For more
information, contact Mike Zadigian at [email protected] or Jack
Warren at [email protected]
July 10–12 12th Annual Boat Show hosted by the Chautauqua Lake Twin
Tier Chapter, ACBS, located at Bemus Point, NY, at the Village Casino
and Park. New venue location for 2009 in historic Bemus Point. 40 slips
available as well as land display. All located adjacent to the famous “Stow
Ferry” dock in Bemus Pt. on Chautauqua Lake. For more information,
see the Chapter’s web site, www.cltt-acbs.org or contact Andy Robinson
at (716) 763.2201 or Bill Reynolds at (716).763.2201.
July 18 Beaver Lake Arkansas Cruise hosted by the Heartland Classics
Chapter, ACBS, located at Beaver Lake, Arkansas. Catch the Fever of Beaver:
30-mile cruise on beautiful Beaver Lake followed by dinner at the world
famous Monte Ne Chicken House. For more information, contact Kyle
Jamar at [email protected] or (918).629.4483 or www.heartland-classics.org.
July 10–12 Summer Boat Show hosted by the Toronto Chapter, ACBS,
located at Muskoka Wharf, Gravenhurst, Ontario. Theme: Swinging By
The Bay, celebrating post-war utility runabouts and Big Band era, judged,
event, flea market, Field of Dreams, Canada’s largest antique boat show. For
more information, contact John Storey at (705) 684-9560 and mstorey@
cogeco.ca or Gary Getson at (905) 477-2414 and [email protected]
July 18 11th Annual Wooden Keels & Vintage Wheels hosted by the Indian Lake
Chapter, ACBS, located at Russells Point Harbor on Indian Lake, Ohio. For more
information, contact John Coleman at [email protected] or (937) 843-4224.
July 10–12 26th Annual Joe Wheeler (AL) Show hosted by the Dixieland
Chapter, ACBS, located at the Joe Wheeler State Park lodge, (800)
544-5639. Saturday boat show and cruising, Sat. night party. Sunday
cruising. For more information, contact Ben Jared at (931) 703-6009 or
[email protected]
July 18 18th Annual Celebrate White Lake/Wooden Boat Show hosted by
the White Lake Area Historical Society located at Goodrich Park, Whitehall,
Michigan. For more information, contact Tom Thompson at (231) 894-4313
or Doug Kniff at [email protected] or (616) 676-3700.
July 10–12 Sandpoint Wooden Boat Show hosted by the Inland Empire
Chapter, ACBS, located at Sandpoint, Idaho. The 7th Annual Boat Show
on the boardwalk in downtown Sandpoint on the shores of beautiful Lake
Pend Oreille. For more information, contact Don Robson at donrobson@
earthlink.net (208) 263-1213 and Larry O’Leary at lmoleary1@gmail.
com or (208) 762-9228
July 18 25th Annual In-Water Wooden Boat Show hosted by the Blackhawk
Chapter, ACBS, located at Joey T’s on the Fox McHenry, IL. 25th Annual
Blackhawk summer show on the Chain-O-Lakes in northern Illinois.
For more information, contact Tom Wagner at (815) 385-0454 or www.
finewoodboats.com
July 18 The New England Vintage Boat Auction hosted by the NH Boat
Museum located 397 Center St. (Rte. 28), Wolfeboro, NH 03896. Boats and
memorabilia of all sorts will be auctioned beginning at 11a.m. Special preview
Fri., 7/17 12 noon to 5pm; and Sat., 7/18 8 am–11 am. For more information,
contact Ann W. Sprague at (603) 569-4554 or [email protected]
July 11 “Chain of Lakes” Classic Boat Show hosted by Minnesota Lakes
Maritime Museum in Alexandria, MN. A large variety of watercraft from
manufacturers such as Chris-Craft, Garwood, Larson and Alexandria
Boat Works will be shown on land and in the water at this year’s event.
For more information, contact call the Museum at (320) 759-1114 or
visit our website www.mnlakesmaritime.org.
July 18 Greenwood Lake Classic Boat Show hosted by the Hudson River
Chapter located at Breezy Point Inn, Greenwood Lake, NY. For more
information, contact Walter Parelli at [email protected]
July 11 25th Annual Mahogany Memories hosted by the Southern New
England Chapter, ACBS, located at The Docks at Connecticut River
Museum, Essex, CT. 25th anniversary Mahogany Memories with more than
45 on-land and in-water boats. Friday night BBQ and Sat night dinner. For
more information, contact Lee Heinzman at (203) 264-5823 eves; or bette.
[email protected]; or Craig Lifland at [email protected]
July 24–26 31th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show hosted by the
Finger Lakes Chapter located at Clift Park, Skaneateles Lake, Skaneateles,
NY. Judged show with eighty-plus antique and classic boats and motors
on display in picturesque setting. Excellent state launch ramp, launch and
reloading assistance, free valet parking of trailers and tow vehicles, parade
and fly-by, concerts in the park and great dining throughout the weekend.
For more information, contact Jack Gifford at (315) 703-7531 or jgiffor2@
twcny.rr.com, or Dick Sherwood at (585) 265-1518 or [email protected], or
Skaneateles Chamber at www.Skaneateles.com or (315) 685-0552
July 17–18 Alexandria Bay Antique and Classic Boat Show hosted by the
Thousand Island Chapter, ACBS, and held at the City Dock, Alexandria
Bay, NY. Cocktail party at 6:30 p.m. Boldt Castle Yacht House ($17pp),
7/18 Boat Show at 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. For more information, contact
Robert Lloyd at [email protected]
10
July 25 Frisco Boat Show on Lake Dillon hosted by the Rocky Mountain
Classics, ACBS, located at Fisco Bay Marina in Frisco, Colorado. This is the
Rocky Mountain Classics premier show of the summer. For more information,
contact Bill Tordoff at [email protected] or (970) 409-9224.
August 8 34th Annual Ottawa International Boat Show hosted by the
Manotick Classic Boat Club Chapter, ACBS, located at the Long Island
Locks, Rideau Canal, Manotick, Ontario. One-day judged show with
admission free of charge. Antique and classic boats featured. For more
information, contact Ron Jelley at (613) 692-2973 or [email protected]
or Ray Saunders at (613) 749-4396 or [email protected]
July 25 Annual Summer Wooden Boat Boat and Parade hosted by the
Iowa Great Lakes Jerry Dhyrkopp Chapter, ACBS, at Arnolds Park,
West Lake Okoboji, Iowa. For more information, contact Mike Hagan
at (712) 330-6506 or (605) 334-1030.
August 8 Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Wooden Boat Show hosted by
Les Cheneaux Historical Association located in Hessel, Michigan (Eastern
Upper Peninsula). This show is in its 32nd year and is one of the largest
in the nation featuring antique and classic wooden boats. Restored boats
dating back to the early 1900’s are registered in this very unique show. For
more information, contact Barb Smith (906) 484-4081 or (906) 484-2821
[email protected] and www.lchistorical.org
July 25 36th Annual Lake Winnipesaukee Boat Show hosted by New
England Chapter located in Meredith, New Hampshire. Our annual
ACBS boat show is featuring Gar Wood boats. Tony Mollica is our guest
speaker at the Saturday awards banquet. This is a judged competition.
We expect large crowds. For more information, contact Bill John, Boat
Show Chair at (603) 569-5824 [email protected] or Gerri
Prusko, President at (603) 267-9075
August 8 Twenty-first annual judged in the water show hosted by the
Baystate Woodies Chapter, ACBS, located at the Ox Bow Marina,
Northampton, MA. Annual judged show on the beautiful Connecticut
River. Antique and classic boats and automobiles. Raffle, BBQ, and river
cruise. Please join us for a great time. For more information, contact Charlie
Raymond at 413-562-8442 or Jeff Cramton at 413-427-2619
July 31–August 2 45th Annual Antique Boat Show & Auction hosted
by Antique Boat Museum located at 750 Mary St., Clayton, NY 13624.
Judged by ACBS guidelines, this 3-day show features boats at the dock
and on land. Nautical Marketplace, Educational Forums and the
Saturday auction of project and collector boats as well as access to all
Museum exhibits makes this premier show worth the visit. For more
information, contact Charlotte Brooks at (315).686.4104 x 229 or
[email protected]
August 8 19th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show hosted by the North
Eastern Pennsylvania-Harveys Lake Chapter, ACBS, located at Grotto
Marina, Route 415, Harveys Lake, PA 18618. Antique and classic boat
show and parade 9:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. Awards banquet 5:00p.m. Judged
event display of antique cars, trucks and motorcycles. Harveys Lake Days
sponsored by ACBS Chapter and Harveys Lake Chamber of Commerce.
For more information, contact Bill Nash at 285 E. Moyer Road, Pottstown,
PA 19464 or [email protected] or (610) 970.5749
AUGUST
August 1 15th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show hosted by the
Mountainview Woodies Chapter, ACBS,located in Naples, ME. Our
15th-annual show on the Naples Causeway, with other events the week
leading up to the show. For more information, contact Jeff Murdock at:
[email protected] or (207) 655-7510.
August 8 Woodies on the Water hosted by the Bob Speltz Land OLakes Chapter located at the Bayport Marina, Bayport MN. This event
celebrates National Marina Day, with proceeds benefiting Valley Outreach,
community based, privately funded, non-profit organization serving our
neighbors in need of food, clothing, and emergency financial assistance. For
more information, contact Michelle Lemanski at [email protected]
or (651) 248-1039
August 1 Classic Boats on the Boardwalk hosted by the Water Wonderland
Chapter located in Traverse City, Michigan. Located on the beautiful
Boardman River in downtown Traverse City. For more information,
contact Barb Woodrow at [email protected] or (231) 946 4832
or Donna Rudy at [email protected] or (616).257.0250 or visit
the website at www.wwcacbs.com Following the show, Hagerty Marine
Insurance invites participants to join them in celebrating their 25th
anniversary. For more information, visit www.HagertyMarine.com
August 13 3rd Annual Boathouse Tour hosted by the NH Boat Museum
located in Lake Winnipesaukee, NH. Visit some of the most beautiful
boathouses on Lake Winnipesaukee. Tour by car or antique wooden boat
from the Wolfeboro Town Dock. Ticket price includes museum entry fee. For
more information, contact Ann W. Sprague at (603) 569-4554.
August 1 Alton Bay Boat Show hosted by the NH Boat Museum
located in Lake Winnipesaukee at the Alton Bay Town Docks, NH. An
informal, non-judged vintage boat show 9 a.m.–12 p.m. No advance
registration necessary. All “woodies” welcome. People’s Choice Award.
For more information, contact Len Finethy at (603) 875-6431 or Ken
Sandhage (603) 875-5502.
August 14-16 Payette Lakes Annual Boat Show hosted by the Payette Lakes
Chapter located at the dockside the Shore Lodge, Payette Lake, McCall, ID.
Three-day boat show event in the heart of Idaho. Saturday: boat parade,
workshop and banquet; Sunday: lake run and members’ brunch. For more
information, contact Molly Hardy at [email protected] or
www.payettelakeschapter-acbs.org
August 7–8 4th Annual Madison Area Antique & Classic Boat Show
hosted by Glacier Lakes Chapter, ACBS, located at Christy’s Landing,
Madison, WI. Friday boat cruise to State Capitol and Governor’s Mansion
with boat show on Saturday at Christy’s Landing. For more information,
contact Mark Walters (608) 224-0815 [email protected]
August 14-16 1st Annual Port Sanilac Antique and Classic Boat Show
hosted by the Michigan Chapter located at Port Sanilac Marina, Port
Sanilac, Michigan. Friday: cruise, poker run, aerial photos, wine tasting,
music. Saturday: antique tractors, model boat demonstration, awards,
corn/chicken/rib roast, music. Sunday: breakfast buffet and afternoon beer
tent. For more information, contact Bill Thomas at (810) 404-2051 or Tim
O’Brien at (586) 978-7105.
August 7–9 24th Annual Lake Champlain Vintage Boat Show hosted
by Lake Champlain Chapter, ACBS, located by Westport, NY. A Lake
Champlain Quadracentennial event: featuring historic, antique and
classic boats, the 9th Annual Westport Heritage Festival, and a special
exhibit “400 Years of Boating.” The weekend celebration includes
historical and art exhibits, car show, music, kids games and a boat
parade 4 p.m Saturday. For more information, contact Mike O’Brien
(802) 355-1781 or [email protected] or George Maffey. at (518)
962 4072 or [email protected]
11
August 15 Ninth Annual Lake Pleasant Antique and Classic Boat Show.
Location: Lake Pleasant Marine, about two miles west of Speculator,
New York, on Route 8 in the Southern Adirondacks in upstate New
York. Boat display from noon to 3 p.m., followed by presentation of
awards and regatta around the lake. Both motorized and non-motorized
boats as well as vendors are welcome. Contact: Tom Libby (248) 7234510 (home), (248) 881-3410 (cell), [email protected]
August 28–30 Wooden Boat Association Ride n’ Show hosted by the North
Texas WBA / SW Chapter, ACBS, located in Dallas, Texas on Lake Lewisville.
Dinners on Friday and Saturday night, Ride n’ Show on Saturday. For more
information, contact Bob Van Guilder at (972) 625-8950 or bobtrane@
ix.netcom.com
SEPTEMBER
September 4–7 Priest Lake Dry Rot Poker Run and BBQ hosted by the
Columbia Willamette Chapter, ACBS. Events will include a potluck dinner
Friday night, Saturday Poker Run and BBQ and Monday continental
breakfast with a cruise and picnic to the Upper Lake. For more information
contact: Barbara and Frank Robinson at [email protected].
Contact for Sunday show and parade is Linda Zwarg.
August 15–16 Antique & Classic Boat Show hosted by the Hudson River
Chapter, ACBS, located in Kingston, NY. 25th annual classic boat show
on historic Rondout Creek. For more information, contact Steve Young at
[email protected] or Phil Payne at [email protected]
August 20–23 Big Bear Lake, Cal., hosted by Southern California Chapter,
ACBS. High in the San Bernardino Mountains, Big Bear Lake is a beautiful
high altitude setting for this show. For more information contact:
Charlie Brewster (909) 866-4643 (days) or (909) 866-8769 (eves.)
September 11–12 Bluegrass Vintage Boat Rendezvous hosted by the
Bluegrass and Greater Cincinnati Chapters, ACBS. Location: at the Lake
Barkley State Resort, Cadiz, Kentucky. The Bluegrass and Greater Cincinnati
Chapters invite you to join us for our 6th Annual show. Organized cruise
on Friday, show and awards banquet on Saturday. For more information,
contact Mike Gresham at (859) 987-9135.
August 21–23 Montreal Classic Boat Festival hosted by the Perspectives
Maritimes Inc. located at the Montreal Quays of the Old Port. ¨Vintage
boating comes to life in the Old Port with the Montreal Classic Boat
Festival.” Main events: Vintage boat tours, boat parade, in-water boat
show and land display, nautical marketplace, prizes, awards and trophy
ceremony, canoegraphy, sea shanties. For more information, contact
Simon Lebrun at FBCMontreal.com
September 11–13 Charlotte Antique and Classic Boat Show hosted
by the Blue Ridge Chapter, ACBS, located at Queen’s Landing on Lake
Norman, NC (Mooresville). Check the web site for more details, www.
charlotteantiqueboatshow.com. For more information, contact Ed Longino
at [email protected] or (800) 633-6224
August 22 Lake George Rendezvous hosted by the Adirondack Chapter,
ACBS, located at the Village Docks in Lake George, NY. 36th Annual
Lake George Rendezvous. Join us for a welcome reception Friday
evening. On Saturday, boats will be on display from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
at the village docks. An informal dinner will follow the show. For more
information, contact Maria Johnson at (518) 885-0146 or by e-mail:
[email protected]
September 11–13 32nd Annual Boat Show and Race Boat Reunion hosted
by the Niagara Frontier Chapter, ACBS, located at the Buffalo Launch Club,
Grand Island, NY. “Shuffle Off to Buffalo” and join the fun at our Friday
afternoon seminars & evening reception, Saturday’s boat show, race boat
reunion and car show and Sunday’s run around Grand Island and awards
luncheon. Visit www.oldboatsbuffalo.org for more information, or contact
Alan Frederick (716) 892-1425 (day); (716) 692-3611 (eve) or Sharon
Dickinson at [email protected].
August 22 5th Annual Pewaukee Antique & Classic Boat Show and Art
Fair hosted by the Glacier Lakes Chapter, ACBS, located at Lakefront
Park-Village of Pewaukee, Pewaukee, WI. Featuring antique and classic
boats, Plein Art Fair, antique cars, model boat club, live big band and
swing music, and kids events. For more information, contact Wil Vidal
(262) 695-2994 [email protected]
September 11–13 Grand Lake Mahogany & Chrome Boat Show hosted by
the Heartland Classics Chapter, ACBS, located at Arrowhead Yacht Club,
Grand Lake, Oklahoma. 16th annual in-water boat show will showcase
over 60 antique and classic boats from a five-states region on the 12th at
Arrowhead Yacht Club on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake. For more information,
contact Darren Arnold at [email protected] or (918) 259.3270 or
(918) 639.8279 (cell) or www.heartland-classics.org.
August 22–23 4th Annual Antique & Classic Boat Show hosted
by Big Sky Chapter, ACBS, located in Lakeside, Montana. Two
locations: Lakeside Marina and Waterside Resort. 2009 Boat Show
introduction and launch of partnership with Montana Wooden Boat
Foundation, dedicated to helping youth-at-risk through small-boat
building. For more information, contact Alex Berry, President at
(406) 844-3522, [email protected] or Bill Eisenlohr, Chairman
Emeritus at (406) 844-3981, [email protected]
September 11–13 Reedville Antique & Classic Boat Show hosted by
Tidewater Chapter, ACBS, located on Main Street, Reedville, VA. 6th annual
show co-sponsored by Tidewater Chapter and the Reedville Fishermen’s
Museum. Saturday features all events, antique boat parade, nautical flea
market, boat-model shop and water taxi. Boats hosted at homeowners’
docks on Main Street. For more information, contact Clif Ames at (804)
453-3506 or [email protected]
August 22–23 27th Annual Antique & Classic Boat Festival hosted
by Antique & Classic Boat Festival, Inc. located at Hawthorne Cove
Marina, Salem, Massachusetts. Vintage motor yachts, runabouts,
sailboats welcome! We would especially love more runabouts. Crafts,
artists, old-time band music, “ Blessing of the Fleet” and “Parade of
Boats.” For more information, contact Pat Wells at (617) 666-8530 or
www.boatfestival.org
September 12–13 10th Annual Antique & Classic Boat Show hosted by the
Philadelphia Chapter, ACBS, located in Tuckerton Seaport in Tuckerton,
NJ. For more information contact Brian Gagnon at (856) 727-9264 or
[email protected]
September 17–18 6th Wolfeboro Vintage Race Boat Regatta hosted by the
NH Boat Museum and New England Chapter, ACBS, located in Wolfeboro
Bay, Lake Winnipesaukee, NH. Wolfeboro Bay will thunder with the sound
of more than 60 vintage race boats as they run demonstration laps on a
one-mile oval course. Spectators welcome. For more information, contact
Bill John [email protected] or (603) 569-5824 or Ann W. Sprague
[email protected] or (603) 569-4554
August 23 Collector Car and Wooden Boat Show hosted by the
Columbia-Willamette Chapter, ACBS, located in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
Oswego Heritage Council sponsors a collector car and wooden boat show
each August. Entrants have access to beautiful Lake Oswego, usually a
private lake. Events include a reception, meals (many at no cost) a boat
parade and five major trophies. For more information, contact Kristen
Winn at [email protected] or 503-638-0354.
12
September 18–19 Smith Mountain Lake Antique & Classic Boat
Show hosted by the Smith Mountain Lake Chapter, ACBS, located at
Mariners Landing, Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia. This will be the
19th annual show. For more information, contact Bill Goold at (540)
296-0501 or [email protected] or www.marinerslanding.com or
[email protected]
OCTOBER
October 1–4 San Diego, Cal., hosted by the Southern California
Chapter, ACBS. This beautiful southern California setting will take place
at the San Diego Yacht Club. For more information contact: Ken Slaght
(619) 523-9539.
October 2–4 Annual Texas Hill Country Wooden Boat Show hosted by
Southwest Chapter, ACBS, located at Austin, TX (Horseshoe Bay TX–Lake
LBJ). Poker run, boat show Saturday, Friday and Saturday night dinners. For
more information, contact Scott Reichardt at (830) 598-4661, hsbadmiral@
hotmail.com or www.southwest-acbs.org
September 19 Barnegat Bay Chapter, ACBS. 27th Annual Antique
and Classic Boat Show. (Rain date 9/20.) An ACBS judged show, free
admission/parking. With 50–60 boats expected; all types welcome inwater or trailered. Marine vendors, marine artists, flea market, antique
British cars, radio-controlled boats, the NJ Boating Museum; food
available on site. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. At the NJ Museum of Boating
(bldg #12), Johnson Bros. Boat Yard., foot of Bay Ave., Pt. Pleasant, NJ.
Contact: Stu Sherk (610) 296-4878, or Bob O’Brien (732) 295-2072.
October 10–11 Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival hosted by the
Bayou Chapter, ACBS, located by the banks of Tchefuncte River in
Madisonville, LA. This is the 20th year for the festival. This premier
family event attracts over one hundred classic boats, hundreds of spectator
boats and wooden boat enthusiasts for this two-day celebration. For more
information, contact Melanie Waddell at (985) 845-9200 or Jill Stoltz at
www.woodenboatfest.org
September 19–20 New Antique and Classic Boats and Car Show hosted
by Tidewater Chapter, ACBS/ Norfolk Festevents, located at Town
Point Park, downtown Norfolk, VA. Hosted by the city of Norfolk and
Norfolk Festevents; located in the newly renovated Town Point Park,
along the historic Elizabeth River in downtown Norfolk, VA. For more
information, visit festevents.org or contact James Scruggs, 120 West
Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510 or [email protected]
October 11 Annual Boat Show and Cruise on the River hosted by the
Philadelphia Chapter, ACBS, located in Long Level Marina in Wrightsville,
PA. For more information contact Brian Gagnon at (856) 727-9264 or
[email protected]
September 24–26 ACBS Annual Meeting and International Boat Show
in Muskoka Lake, Ontario
Oct 23–25 9th Annual Pickwick (TN) Show and Annual Meeting hosted
by the Dixieland Chapter, ACBS, located at the Pickwick Landing State
Park lodge (800) 250-8615. Fri. night dinner and party. Sat. cruising and
show. Sat. night dinner and meeting. Sun. cruising. For more information,
contact Ned Smith at (901) 767-1635 or [email protected]
September 25–26 4th Annual Antique & Classic Boat Show hosted by
the RDC Triangle Chapter, ACBS, located in Lake Wheeler, Raleigh,
NC. Please join us for our 4th annual show of antique, classic, and
contemporary wooden boats. Friday evening reception, Saturday show
and dinner. Visit www.vintageboat.org for details and registration
form. For more information, Kevin Leiner at: [email protected]
or (919) 368-3412
International
September 24–26 ACBS Annual Meeting and International Boat
Show in Muskoka Lake, Ontario
September 25–27 Geneva Lakes Annual Antique & Classic Boat Show
hosted by the Blackhawk Chapter, ACBS, located at The Abbey Resort,
Fontana, WI. Visit www.GenevaLakesBoatShow.com for show details
and registration form. For more information, contact Matt Byrne at
(630) 802-2698 or [email protected]
PLEASE SUBMIT ALL CALENDAR ENTRIES ONLINE
Chapters may submit up to four calendar events per year; each event may appear in
multiple issues. Submissions must arrive by the editorial deadlines listed. Please note:
ACBS web site and Rudder magazine calendar submissions are the same. Submit event
listings electronically by going to the web site at www.acbs.org where you’ll find the
Calendar entry form in the “Activities tab.” If you do not receive a confirmation email
within five days, please resubmit your information. To submit events in writing, copy
the form that appears in any Rudder prior to summer 2007, or print out the online
version, and mail to Chris Eden at the Seattle address listed on page 3 of this magazine.
Calendar of Events Submission Form
for the web site and Rudder.
Chapters may submit a maximum of four events per year.
Submissions must be made before the 1st of every month to be included in the following month.
All boxes MUST be filled in for the submission to go through. Please make sure everything is spelled correctly.
If you do not receive a confirmation email within 5 days, please resubmit your information.
Form
Deadline dates for all
Calendar of Events
submissions:
Fall: September 1st
Winter: December 1st
Spring: March 1st
Summer: June 1st
Sponsoring Chapter/Organization
Event Name
Event Date
(example, 01-05-07)
Contact Name
Contact Name (optional)
Contact Information
Contact Information (optional)
Event Description (optional) 30 words maximum
Email address (to receive confirmation)
13
Submit
Being There:
a syMposIUM synopsIs
by Lee Wangstad, acbs member
W
here are you? No, I’m not thinking of the question that cruised
through my mother’s brain while raising the five of us kids. My mother
describes those years, from the time that my oldest brother was born until
the day I turned 18, a span of almost 27 years, as her “brain dead” years. We
don’t ask her anything about those years. If we do, she just nods and replies,
“oh, that happened while I was brain dead. How should I know?”
We had a tendency to roam the neighborhood, I don’t know if she ever
really knew exactly where we were. We were always home at mealtime,
and that is what really counted. Actually, I believe that she really did
know where we were, all the time. If ever there was trouble, the news had
an uncanny way of getting home before we did! Talk about a different
era!
“Where are you?” is the phrase that kept going through my mind while
I was out in Seattle for “The Wet Edge”, the 2009 ACBS International
Motorboating Symposium. It all began for me months earlier when I received
a call from an old friend, Ron Stevenson. He said they would like me to
do a presentation, but with certain parameters. The subject would have to
somehow involve the West Coast. I kicked it around for a day or two, maybe
three, but it did intrigue me. I had met Ron at a symposium in Cincinnati
a few years back along with other members of the Pacific Northwest chapter,
and I had been to Seattle a couple of years back to speak at one of their Seattle
Garage Tour gatherings. They were a fun group to be around, and it had
exposed me to a whole different kind of boating experience. I emailed him
back and told him that I’d do it. I would have to come up with my subject
later. I mean, I had time, right?
I finally settled on the working title “Giants of the West”, not in reference
to actual giants, giants like Godzilla, or the San Francisco Giants, but to those
boat builders of the 50’s from the West Coast that took their product to a
national market, delivering boats from the West Coast to the Midwest or
even the East Coast. I really enjoyed putting it together, but knew that I was
limited to a brief (for me) hour and 15 minutes.
From the moment that
I arrived in Seattle I knew that I was in for a great time. I would be spending
my time in Seattle with Ron and Diane at the Hotel Stevenson. We ran a
few errands before settling back at Ron’s place on Mercer Island. On the
way we stopped and looked at a few old boats. Go figure.
The opening on Thursday night was worth the trip out there all by itself.
A trip to the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in Kent, Washington, was
one sure way of pulling us all in together at once. An unbelievable experience!
Even if you’re not into old unlimited hydroplanes, a
casual trip through their woodwork shop and their
engine shop and you know that this is how it should
be done! After dinner we heard from Dave Williams,
Executive Director of the museum and a former racer
himself. The featured guest speaker was Ron Jones, son of Ted Jones and an
accomplished hydroplane designer in his own right.
Ron’s presentation included a large sketchpad, which he combined with
a marker pen and at least 50 years of design experience that would keep us in
our seats in awe of what he and his father had accomplished since the early
50’s in the field of going fast on the water. Even if speed isn’t your thing,
hearing first-hand of the trials and tribulations of developing some of the
major milestones in racing history is something that will stick with you. As I
sat there absorbing all this new and phenomenal information, I kept thinking
about the friends that I know that are into going fast on the water, and I
thought: where are you? You should be here to listen and ask questions, talk
to Ron after his presentation and find out for yourself what it was all about.
What it was like to be there when all this great stuff was happening. What it
was like to be a part of all this.
It’s not that there weren’t enough people there, because there were. The
true boating enthusiasts I met that were attending were great. But I know
that there are more out there. And they were missing out on what might
be this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear this information first-hand. I
mean right from the source. But there could have been more. It was a great
opportunity for me to meet new people. I believe that I got to talk to everyone
there, spend some quality time to experience how other people boat, and what
their thoughts on classic boating entail. Expand my narrow horizons.
On Friday morning I made true on my commitment to my cardiologist
and skipped the board meeting. I had promised the good doctor that in order
to reduce my stress levels, I wouldn’t attend board meetings of any kind,
anywhere, and I was able to hold true to that pledge, although it wasn’t easy.
It gave me time to catch up with my brother, Andy, who had moved to the
Seattle area 25 years ago. Andy and I managed to make our way back to
the Center for Wooden Boats for the noon
session featuring Rebecca Wittman.
Anyone who was coming to hear Rebecca
talk about how to varnish mahogany would
leave sadly disappointed. It was a real eye
opener. It was the philosophical reason
behind the staining, varnishing, and caring
them. It just isn’t their turn yet. And there were people that I knew that
should be there, presenting, “where are you?” It just kept going through my
head. Lou Rauh was there, telling us from his own experience, just what is
selling and what isn’t, and just how much it is or isn’t coming in at. Where
else are you going to get this information? And in one place.
Anchor DeWitt Jensen of Jensen Motor Boat Company did a session
on his family’s dedication to boat building on the Seattle waterfront. A
civil engineer by trade, he has come back to finish the work that his father
became a legend in. His enthusiasm told us just how important this work is
to him. His son was there to reinforce the point. This stuff is just so great!
I had accomplished my assignment. Although I had originally planned
on using the 350 images that I had scanned covering my topic, I had brought
the number down to a more manageable 225 covering Glasspar, Dorsett,
Arena Craft, Bell Boy, Pacific Mariner, and a few others. I remembered to
breathe, as my wife, Nancy, keeps reminding me, and I managed to make it
to the end of my time slot before I ran out of material. As a matter of fact,
I had to skip Carlson Performance Boats to conclude on time. As I looked
out at the people that had come to attend, I knew that there were others that
should be there, people that had called on the phone with questions, and I
wondered: “where are you?”
for something that had deep meaning, both to the owner, and more to her
view, the person working on that boat. She told of the deep commitment to
the endeavor, of finishing the job, of being able to release that dedication once
the project had reached completion. It blew me away. I didn’t know how to
process this information, then realized that I had to store the emotion of it,
take it with me in my memory files and take it out whenever I begin to doubt
the seriousness of whatever I’m doing.
We watched as Richard Frisch from Queen City Plating led us through
the do’s and don’ts of chrome plating. He’s not the first person that I’ve seen
present plating, but he certainly reinforced the correct way of doing things and
brought his own personal slant to a trade that he’s grown up with and still takes
pride in doing it right the first time. Friends that have taken things to platers
and then had complaints needed to be here to talk to Richard. I couldn’t
help but to think: “where are you?” Here is the guy that can answer your
questions, from a neutral stance, someone outside of your region or market.
He knows the answers, he can help. He’s not trying to sell you anything, he’s
just explaining how it’s done, how his firm accomplishes a first-class job. He
also explained some of the new laws and the legalities of working with the
chemicals that are involved, conserving them, and disposing of them.
It went on all weekend. Paul Pletcher talked about his experience with
the fiberglass Chris-Craft Commanders. And talk about experience, here was
someone who really did know it all, as a matter of fact. When someone really
knows their stuff, it’s fun to listen. Paul guided us through the years and there
were other Commander owners in the group that added just the right questions
to make it all the more interesting. I couldn’t get enough.
Ted Pike from Edensaw Woods came to explain the marine lumber
industry, the woods involved in restoration, and selecting the right wood. His
lifetime of experience sets him up to talk all day on a subject that he is not only
expert in, but is hard pressed to finish in the hour and 15 minutes allotted.
Saturday morning began with Herb Pocklington, former CEO of ChrisCraft’s European operation. Talk about first-hand inside knowledge! Herb
amazed us with his informal talk about what was really going on
inside headquarters at Chris-Craft, how things really happened,
what shaped America’s Largest Builder of Boats. That he took
the time to come here and reminisce about a career that spanned
decades, shared his experiences, and got to know everyone who
was attending really impressed me. I know people that think that
they really know Chris-Craft, but I couldn’t help to think: “where
are you?” I mean, here’s the guy with the answers, and he’ll tell you
first hand just what was going on, but you’re not here to ask.
Then there was Mark Clawson on restoring gauges, Christine
Green, who did teach us how to varnish. One after another,
people that really knew their subject. And the attendees. I
think that there was a presentation in each and every one of
For those who were there...cruising the big waters in style aboard big boats.
unlimited hydroplanes have always been huge in the Pacific Northwest; a visit to
the woodworking shops and engine shop of the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum
was a phenomenal experience that included talks from designers and racers.
Brochure images from Lee’s talk on “Giants of the West,” an in-depth look at West
Coast boat builders who left their mark on boating history.
Herb Hall was there to talk about engines. Not the outboard type that I’m
used to, but the inboard engines, the ones like everyone else in the world seems
to have. Now, this was really out of my zone, but Herb knows so much and
has so much experience and presented it with such authority, that it was easy to
listen to, easy to absorb, easy to remember. His tricks and tips and answers to
questions just came so easy to him. It was very impressive, to say the least.
On Sunday we went boating. Not on small inland lakes with small
outboard boats like we do at home, but on big cruisers, meant for big
water, boats that held a dozen people, and did it in real style. What a
day! Spending the day out for a ride on Ron Stevenson’s 1953 Chris-Craft
Commander makes this a very special day. But it gave me time to think
about the weekend that was quickly coming to a close. The new friends that
I had made, the stories that I had enjoyed, the whole experience of the event
had made this a weekend one that I will remember forever.
Of course, as soon as the plane touched down at the Brainerd Airport,
I called my mother to tell her where I was. Some things just don’t change.
Where were you?
1
Classical Reglass:
Restoration of a 1961 Power Cat 18DC
by Brian Lawson, hudson river chapter
As interest in classic fiberglass boats grow, I thought it would be a good time to chronicle the restoration of one of
these fine boats. The issues, repairs, and materials I will deal with will be common to many fiberglass projects. I’ll
cover this in two parts. First, surveying a project boat, deconstruction and handling, repair materials and use.
Next time I’ll discuss repairs, reconstruction, finishes and finishing.
I
’ve been searching for a classic
fiberglass cruiser for some time and this
past summer finally found one; a 1961
Power Cat 18DC. This is one of about
six known to exist based on the website
devoted exclusively to Power Cat Boats,
www.powercatboat.com. I learned from
the owner that this was a California boat
that was damaged in a storm in the mid1960s. Somehow it made its way to a marina in Rochester, New York, where
the owner’s father purchased it 40 years ago. Nothing was ever done with it,
and finally, after his father passed away, he wanted it off the property.
The first challenge I faced was finding a trailer. The Power Cat 18DC is
a true catamaran hull. You can’t haul it on a conventional trailer. You need
a special one set up for a cat. But the 18DC is a huge cat. It’s about 16 ½’
long, a full 8’ wide at the gunwales and 6’ wide at the outer edges of the
sponsons. Also, while I am able to get the boat in my garage bays, it will
not fit through my shop doors (92”). Luckily, a nearby friend is restoring
a Power Cat 14T runabout and had JUST finished building a trailer for it
that I borrowed for its maiden run. With the aid of two 4x4s, I was able to
carry the 18DC without motors on the 14T trailer, raising it high enough
to just clear the fenders.
The boat was covered in moss, and the inside was very dirty from years
of outside storage. But luckily, it had remained bow up with the drain plugs
out so, even filled with leaves and debris, it drained thoroughly after rain
and snowmelt. The first order of business was to clean it so it could be
inspected. Inside the boat was the upper windshield for the boat, broken
badly. I washed down the interior of the boat with a scrub brush and water,
and was amazed at how the original finish, white background with black
and yellow splatter paint, looked. It is near perfect; not even any wear on the
floor. I also discovered that the forward bulkhead panel with two access ports
to forward storage was in good condition. I also found was a connecting bar
for twin engines, plus a nice Ride Guide steering wheel in good condition.
Next I tackled the outside. Moss hates bleach. First, I sprayed the sides with
Tilex® (2.5% sodium hypochlorite, or half strength bleach), letting it sit for a
few minutes, and then hit it with a scrub brush and plenty of water. Washing the
transom and the starboard side reminded me of the glass repairs that lay ahead.
This boat had MANY up and down deep scratches in the gelcoat where it rose
and fell during the storm. There were several holes in the side, and the transom
on the starboard side was broken open
about two-thirds of the way up from the
bottom. The port side on the other hand,
was nearly perfect. The yellow top looked
the worst, but after a bleach treatment,
the beautiful butter yellow color of the
gelcoat, generally in good condition, was
revealed. Washing down the starboard
side of the top showed me how much
damage had occurred to this area, too. The gunwale was severely damaged, and
a poor attempt at repairs had to be dealt with. The end of the starboard fin was
missing the last six inches, but the port fin was fine.
Many fiberglass boats use wood as a core material. Often, plywood is
used but balsa is also common. The Power Cat 18DC uses plywood. The
core material is only on top of the tunnel and in the bottom of the two
sponsons running surface. It is flat and easy to replace if need be. Luckily,
this core is perfect.
The transom I knew had to be replaced because of the split at the
starboard corner. In addition, though not rotten, the 1 ½” thick plywood
core was very wet and portions were getting soft, so it had to go. Because
most fiberglass boats are built in two pieces—the hull and a top—in order to
replace a transom core usually the boat needs to be split in two. This is pretty
much like taking the cover off a Tupperware® container. The top is built to
fit over the hull and is fastened with staples, screws, rivets, bolts, and/or
fiberglass. Rub rail is installed over the joint to hide it.
Power Cat Boats tried building fiberglass fuel tanks for a short period
of time. Danny Ledger, son of Ray Ledger, the founder of Power Cat Boats,
told me that they had so many problems they stopped making them.
Especially today with 10% ethanol fuel, the fiberglass tanks would not hold
up. Unfortunately the 18DC had them, and they still had fuel, and probably
water, and oil in them. They absolutely reeked. Some people suggested I
de-fuel them, then cut them open and insert standard fuel tanks. I chose
to remove them from the boat for several reasons, mainly because I have
to install a new transom. They had to come out to give me access to the
transom from inside the boat so I could free it from the top to split the
boat. I also didn’t think I could successfully eliminate the smell, nor did I
want to lose all that space under the splash well. I used a Japanese pull saw
to carefully cut the fiberglass cloth that held the tanks in place and removed
them from the boat.
Moss never sleeps...the Power Cat is looking pretty funky after years of neglect during outside storage. View of the shattered transom and missing starboard fin. Molded fiberglass fuel tanks under the splash well--note
the water pump installed through the floor. After a thorough cleaning, the inside, amazingly, was in near-to-perfect condition. Shot of the manufacturer’s plate.
With the fuel tanks out, the boat cleaned,
the survey completed and the work list
generated, it was time to start deconstructing
the boat. The top overlaps the hull by about
an inch and a half and is attached using rivets.
A rub rail of polished aluminum is installed
using T-bolts inserted in a channel molded in
its back side. When built, the joint between
the top and hull is completely hidden. I
began by removing the rub rail T-bolts on
the inside of the boat—actually they were
all severely corroded and most of them just
snapped when I put a wrench on them. With
the rub rail off, I drilled out and removed all
the rivets. Around the front of the boat on
the inside a strip of fiberglass tape had been
installed, probably to keep water out when
under way. I sharpened the side of a strong
scraper and from the outside of the boat
inserted this between the hull-deck joint. Using a hammer, I drove the scraper around
the front of the boat to cut the fiberglass tape, a total distance of about 16 ft.
Finally, and this is the hard part of top removal, the splash well had to be broken free
from the transom. There is no easy way to do this as these boats weren’t originally built
with the idea that 40 to 50 years hence anyone would be interested in restoring them. For
the 18DC I found it easiest to cut off the fiberglass on the top of the transom as this then
gave me good access to the plywood resin joint. It takes brute force, saws, and wedges,
and more to break an 8-foot-long, 6-inch-wide, fiberglass resin joint. But once broken,
the top was free of the bottom.
The next step was to lift the top off. Instantly you go from 128 square feet of space
to twice that. You need to plan ahead where you’re going to land the hull and top, and
you especially need to plan to properly support the top since without the hull the top has
little rigidity. I built a 2x4 frame, 8’ wide by 12’ long on a flat bed trailer. This provided
mobility once the top was off. I placed the boat and the trailer in our garage, and then
used a pair of come-alongs and lifting straps to remove the top from the hull. One strap
was inserted through the side windows, and the second was inserted through the fuel fill
holes. I used the come-alongs to lift the top straight up, keeping it even. Then I pulled
the hull and trailer out of the garage leaving the top suspended. I backed the flatbed
trailer into the garage and the top was lowered onto the frame. I took the top to the shop
driveway and placed it on a work rack with the 2x4 frame. Then I brought the hull into
the shop and off-loaded it onto the ground. Using a steel wire suspended 15’ overhead
together with come-alongs I lifted the hull and it rolled over, and placed it on a work rack.
Sounds easy, but is not for the faint hearted.
With the hull upside down and the top properly supported I was ready to begin
fiberglass repairs. There are two basic repair materials used: liquid resin with a base
material for structural strength, and filler with various additives. These two basic repair
materials have many choices within them. The first is fiberglass resin or epoxy resin. I use
fiberglass resin for most repairs. It is quite a bit cheaper than epoxy resin and bonds well.
Also, it is what these boats were built with originally. There are also many structural base
materials and weights to choose from. Weight is actually the heaviness of a square foot of
the material; the heavier the weight the more strength, and the more resin it will take to
saturate and fill the material.
For strong repairs like transom installations I use what is called MAT. MAT is
randomly arrayed long fiber strands, so when set up it is strong in any direction. Woven
cloth, also available in different weights, is used for finishing work and is typically the very
first layer under a boat’s gelcoat. You’ll see this material used on many kit boats, kayaks,
and canoes. When laid on properly the cloth is invisible in the resin. And finally there
is woven roving. This is woven material, but a much heavier material than cloth, again
available in different weights. Roving is used to provide structural strength and rigidity
to a project, and then finished with MAT and lighter cloth. There are other specially
materials like carbon fiber, Kevlar, and Dynel that I won’t go into.
The collage photo shows some of the products one I use in fiberglass repair projects.
Next time I’ll chronicle fiberglass repairs and finishing of the boat.
17
Starboard transom corner; note the transom’s core is showing.
Popping off the top--just like Tupperware®. Instantly you double the
necessary floor space. You need to plan ahead. This boat has a true
catamaran hull...and it’s huge! Note the come-alongs attached to
aerial steel wire. Below: a collage of fiberglass repair materials.
t H e e n D U r I n G a D I r o n D a c k G U I D e B o at
T
by Tom Libby, adirondack chapter
he Adirondack guide boat was invented in the mid-nineteenth century
to help guides, hunters, and fishermen navigate the lakes and rivers of the
rugged Adirondack Mountains region in Northern New York, the largest
U.S. wilderness area east of the Mississippi. In 1850, Caleb Chase, a pupil
of Indian guide Mitchell Sabattis, put up a shop in Newcomb in the central
Adirondacks and built what is believed to be the first Adirondack guide
boat; Chase would go on to build dozens more over the remainder of the
nineteenth century.
The original Adirondack guide boats needed to be strong enough to
carry men and all their supplies across the waterways while also being light
enough to be carried over portages. They were about sixteen feet long,
three and a-half feet wide (in the center) and weighed 75 – 100 pounds.
Like canoes, they were pointed at both ends to minimize water resistance,
but they had much wider centers than canoes. The Adirondack guide boat
industry flourished in the second half of the nineteenth century, when there
were more than twenty companies making them.
with spruce] began building “Buyce boats” in about 1880, at a shop near
the present intersection of Routes 30 and 8 in the center of Speculator. His
shop (shown here, left), where he built Buyce boats as well as sleighs, buggies,
ornamental ironwork and agricultural implements, was on the site of what is
now the Speculator Department Store.
To increase the appeal of his boats, Mr. Buyce guaranteed that they
would weigh 75 pounds or less; he achieved this by making almost the entire
boat from lightweight cedar imported from Oregon. Four-inch wide cedar
planks ran the length of the boat and overlapped one another by about
one inch, a design known as lapstrake and different from that of most
Adirondack guide boats, which had smooth sides. Another way in which
Buyce was able to minimize his boat’s weight was by making the oars out of
maple, another lightweight wood. Buyce boats came with seven-foot-long
maple oars, which overlapped one another in the center of the boat by twoto-three inches; the longer the oars, the longer the stroke of the rower and
the more power he generated. Buyce boat fixtures were all made of brass,
including a strip running along the center of the bottom to protect the wood
in case the boat scraped against rocks or other sharp objects. The boats
included two sets of oarlocks, one in the middle of the boat to be used when
just one person was in the boat and a forward set to be used when two or
more people were using it.
Buyce boats also included a metal plaque in the middle of the forward
deck that identified the boat as being made by John F. Buyce (below). Current
owners are quick to point out this plaque as proof that their boats are original
Buyce boats; imitation plaques have been seen in the same spot on the front
deck of guide boats not made by John F. Buyce.
Buyce boats were used far
and wide in the U.S. and even
abroad. Ray Buyce, a grandson
of John F. Buyce and a current
resident of Lake Pleasant, New
York, comments, “a Speculator
native fighting in World War II in
Germany swears he saw a John F.
Buyce plaque on the boat he used
to cross the Rhine River.”
Guide boat factories were clustered in the Long Lake/Saranac Lake
region of the Adirondacks, with eleven of the twenty-two most prominent
companies located in these two villages and another two in nearby Newcomb
and Tupper Lake. This region of the Adirondacks, particularly its northern
part including Saranac Lake and Lake Placid, is the most well known part of
the park, thanks in part to the fact that the Winter Olympics were held in
Lake Placid in both 1932 and 1980. In the late twentieth century there were
at least nine companies known to still be building Adirondack guide boats.
Yet, this group of current builders, as well as a list of prominent past guide
boat builders, does not include companies that existed in the more obscure
parts of the Adirondacks, companies whose shops have all but disappeared.
One of these was located in the hamlet of Speculator in the Southern
Adirondacks about ninety miles northwest of Albany. John F. Buyce [rhymes
There will be a special exhibit focusing on Buyce Boats
at the Ninth Annual Lake Pleasant Antique and Classic
Boat Show, taking place on Saturday, August 15 at
Lake Pleasant Marine in Lake Pleasant, New york, two
miles west of Speculator on Route 8 in the Southern
Adirondacks. This exhibit will feature at least ten Buyce
boats and Ray Buyce will be on hand to answer questions.
1
The supply of both cedar and brass dwindled during World War II,
and, rather than make a boat of inferior materials, John F. Buyce stopped
production altogether. Today there are an estimated 50 Buyce boats in the
Southern Adirondacks, some not having been touched for decades and others
in beautiful condition. A Buyce boat in very good condition today is worth
about $1,500. One is on display at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain
Lake in the Central Adirondacks.
John F. Buyce passed away in 1947, but many descendants still spend at
least part of the year in the Southern Adirondacks, including grandsons Ray
and Jack and great-granddaughter Vicki. The 2009 telephone book for this
area includes listings for almost 30 Buyces.
The Buyce boat, as well as other Adirondack guide boats, has ceded its place
in Adirondack life as utility transportation to the more practical aluminum
canoes and rowboats. However, in at least one respect the guide boat provides
enjoyment one can’t experience in the more modern boats. Because the guide
boat is both wider and heavier, it is more stable in the water; this stability,
combined with the greater weight, enables the rower to establish a momentum
and pace with which he can move swiftly and smoothly through the water.
Fred Slack, a wooden boat aficionado who has been restoring wooden boats
in Lake Pleasant, New York, for over forty years, says of the guide boat, “They’re
great. They’re designed so they slide through the water very nicely.” The thrill of
moving at a quick and steady pace through the water, without the loud noise of a
motor, is one reason Adirondack guide boats, including Buyce boats, can still be
seen today on lakes in the Adirondacks.
Many thanks to Ray Buyce and Vicki Buyce for
their help and contributions toward this article.
Stories fr om t he G ol d C u p A r c hi v e s
Mahogany Time Machines
by Mark Mason, new england chapter
T
here isn’t a more exhilarating time in the history of boating than the Gentleman’s Runabout era of powerboat racing. Gargantuan engines
propelled outlandishly contrived mahogany shells in an ever-escalating quest to become the undisputed Gold Cup champion. The greatest names
in boat design left their marks on history, pushing man and materials to the very limit in the never-ending pursuit of speed. Most people are
content to just read about those glory days. But a handful is driven to bring those times to life exactly as they were.
You don’t have to stand on the dock with Mark Mason for long to know that few people have his depth of understanding of all things Gold Cup.
A lifetime of collecting, restoring, and recreating legendary raceboats has given him a unique insight into both the physics and the fun of that
era. We’re proud to present just a fragment of his knowledge as he tells about his drive to keep the glory days of Gold Cup powerboats alive.
f
orty-five years ago—a decade before
ACBS was founded—I made a pilgrimage to see, what was then, the
most famous speedboat in America,
the legendary John Hacker-designed
El Legarto. Although built in 1922,
El Legarto had won the Gold Cup
and President’s Cup Championships
three times in the 1930’s when she was
considered by many to be an ancient
“bucket crate.” Her owner, George
Reis, won those races and ran her for
five decades on Lake George, New
York. Reis epitomized the gentleman’s
racer, using El Legarto for fast runs
across the lake for dinners and social
functions, returning later in the moonlight to her hoist slip in the boathouse
beneath his home in Bolton Landing.
After his death, his ashes were spread on
the Northwest Bay and El Legarto was
donated to the Adirondack Museum,
in the heart of the wilderness, an hour’s
drive from Lake George.
I was mesmerized by what I
saw on that 1960’s trip, spending
hours studying her every detail. She
was so delicate and finely sculpted,
yet beneath her hatches lurked a
behemoth 621 cubic inch Packard
Gold Cup racing engine which
had propelled her to speeds of over
72 miles per hours during most of
her life. In the years ahead I spent
countless evenings pouring over the
photos I had taken that day.
Top: Archrivals on the water but close friends on land, Bill Horn, George Reis, and Anderson Bowers,
sharing secrets of success on the decks of El Lagarto. Bottom: The Leaping Lizard—El Lagarto— in
her airborne element attained speeds of 72 mph during the mid 1930s with high compression and
fuel cocktails made from five-gallon barrels of tetra ethyl lead.
Fade to twenty years later…it’s hard to fully realize how
an afternoon can provide direction to one’s life, but looking
back, that afternoon with El Legarto certainly seemed to have
influenced mine. By 1985 I began operating New England Boat
and Motor, Inc., in Laconia, New Hampshire, and I had owned
four Gold Cup racers, Meteor V, Sister Syn, Baby Bootlegger and
Imp. I had also created from scratch a reproduction of Miss
Columbia and powered her with one of the last remaining
Packard 621 Gold Cup engines.
Then in 1997 I made another pilgrimage to see El Legarto.
The curator at the Adirondack Museum invited me to archivally
measure El Legarto and granted me permission for building
rights, in exchange for donating my archival documentation
drawings to the museum.
By 2001 I had owned Baby Bootlegger for 25 years and had
logged hundreds of hours behind her Wright E4 Hispano-Suiza
racing engine, together with the dubious pleasure of two costly
rebuilds along the way. But all things come to an end and
eventually I sold Bootlegger to a collector who “needed to own
her” much more than I did. That left a huge hole in my life and
my boathouse, but not my wallet.
I had been collecting historic plans and lines for 1920’s
Gold Cup boats, many in original India ink on fragile old
linen and crumbling velum. One of the great joys in my life is
recreating historic speedboat racing moments with boats that
have vanished for half a century.
What was the magic of those boats and their era?
Gold Cup raceboats of the 1920’s have always represented the
ultimate in mahogany speedboats. The rule changes of 1922 created
a new Gentleman’s Racer. Races became hotly contested events, with
naval architects designing speedboats of such enduring beauty that
wealthy businessmen, sportsman, and industrialists in the US and
Canada flocked to own them. Now, almost a century later, many
of those old beauties have vanished in flames or disintegrated into
the depths of some lake or river. Noted collectors and museums the
world over covet the few original surviving boats, some of which are
valued at millions of dollars.
During the prime of their heyday, around 1936–38, these
sleek mahogany racers attained speeds of 75 miles per hour,
powered by supercharged racing engines. These old raceboats
had a complicated simplicity, which has been missed in many
reproductions. Some of the “so called” reproductions built
in recent times had their design scaled off a photograph or
sketched out on the back of a placemat in a roadside diner.
An argument could be made that there is too much talk
about originality and authenticity. One could have an “original”
old raceboat that is misshapen, hogged and twisted from a
lifetime of hard use and poor storage, lumbering across the
water at a fraction of its former speed with an unreliable engine
while the owner holds his breath.
Or, on the other side of the argument, one could have
a newly constructed boat from historically accurate lines.
One would then have originality of hull design, hardware,
instrumentation, and cockpit details with a rugged, modern
engine, creating an authenticity of performance. It would
produce such a barrage to the senses that upon every return to
your boathouse would leave you breathless, as if you have just
won a Gold Cup Championship.
Top: Palm Beach Days in 1926 with Bill Bigelow driving. Center: reborn Palm Beach Days on
the St. Clair flats near Algonac, Michigan. (Dan Teetor photo). Left: British Harmsworth and
Brooklands racer and water speed record-holder, Kaye Don, pilot of Impshi, receiving Gold
Cup Trophy, with riding mechanic, Winton Buick. Below left: El Lagarto hanging in slings at
Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, circa 1930. Lake George, New york 1936. Below:
Views of Impshi in her normal repose—airborne—racing in 1936 and ’37.
From top to bottom: Charlie Grafflin with a Packard
621 Gold Cup engine. Gar Wood’s riding mechanic,
orlin Johnson, with Bill Horn, seen here well into their
80s. Mark Mason at the wheel of Impshi (Dan Teetor
photo). Douglas Van Patten looks on as Bill Horn and
Charlie Grafflin meet up 50 years after winning the Gold
Cup together in Delphine IV in 1932. Below: A younger
Mark Mason aboard Baby Bootlegger at Manotick,
ontario, 1982.
All of this led me to the decision to build historically accurate
reproductions of one or two fabled speedboats from the golden
age of Gentlemen’s Racers. I selected designs from which more
than one boat had originally been built. That way we could build
several craft from each design and christen them with historic
names from the past.
Over the course of twenty-five years I have built perhaps a
dozen boats in my own shop, but I am not a woodworker. Neither
was John Hacker or Gar Wood or George Crouch. My talents
are more in engineering, procuring patterns, castings, doing
sketches and drawings and communicating to the woodworkers,
mechanics and machinists, what’s needed to attain the desired
quality. Today, building a boat hull in my own shop, on my own
floor, has become prohibitively expensive. Thousands of hours can
go into building a one-of-a-kind hull to the level of craftsmanship
and beauty to which these boats were originally built. Another
thousand hours can go into the mechanicals, the hardware, and
the driveline for a great boat. In an effort to make these boats less
expensive for a buyer, I began to look around at global resources
and to research having the bare hulls built outside our shop.
Today, in Istanbul, Turkey, there’s a vast community of wooden
boatbuilders. These Old World craftsmen have been building
wooden boats and yachts for thousands of years. I found talented
artisans with skills available for constructing vacuum-bagged, coldmolded African mahogany hulls of superior strength and durability.
These craftsmen, together with a naval architect, teamed with me to
build several groups of historically accurate Gold Cup raceboat hulls.
The first series of boats were Impshi, Delphine VI, and Hornet.
Another series of raceboat hulls is from El Legarto the three-time
Gold Cup Champion. Several boats of this design were built in the
1920’s, so these boats will be christened Curtiss Wilgold III and Palm
Beach Days. Neither name has been seen on the water in 75 years.
These hulls are shipped by ocean freight container to Laconia,
New Hampshire, where they are unloaded at our shop. Then we
begin our many-hour complex task of finishing and rigging the
hulls. Special bronze castings and custom fabrications are fitted
to the boats. Countless coats of varnish, special leather hides, and
restored and recreated vintage instruments with beveled glass lenses
Left to right (all photos taken in Istanbul): Stainless steel gussets in George Crouch racers being built in Turkey. Three, 1920s Hacker racers ready to ship. Multi-step bottom
“shingles” being laid up. Interior of a new George Crouch racer.
24
Facing page, top: Palm Beach Days in a hot turn on
the St. Clair River (Dan Teetor photo). A detail of El
Lagarto on display at the Adirondack Museum. V-12
Reis-Menasco ill-fated engine which failed in El Lagarto
during 1936 Gold Cup races at Lake George.
Right: Lizard mascot painted on rear hatch of
El Lagarto, now resting in Adirondack Museum.
Center: Aerial photo of Bill Horn and Charlie
Grafflin in Delphine IV, skipping like a
stone in a turn while winning the Gold
Cup, Montauk, Long Island, Ny. 1932.
Inset: Curtiss Wilgold III in Buffalo, 1928.
Bottom: Impshi reborn, riding the air (Dan
Teetor photo).
all come together to complete the ultimate raceboat; a craft beyond anyone’s
wildest dreams.
Today, in my sixties, I have spent much of my adult life trying to make
World War I aircraft engines run perfectly. I probably have more running time
on Hispano-Suiza, Packard, Curtiss, Rolls Royce and Miller engines than any
other person, either living or dead. Much of that time was at “gunpoint” with
a paying customer who expected us to, “Make this thing run like my Lexus
sedan”. Well, over all of that time and over all of those years, I became just a
tiny bit envious of my friends who had “modern power.”
When I began to plan out the powerplants to use in these reproduction
boats, I began inventorying the vintage aircraft engines that I owned or knew
about in the barns and sheds of my mind. Ultimately, I convinced myself that
antique engines might be best suited to original antique boats, which are rarely
run and usually only for special events.
An accurate reproduction from historic plans with a rugged, modern engine
gives a tremendous opportunity to show an authentic level of performance
that proves the speeds these boats could attain 75 years ago.
I found an opportunity to have brutish offshore racing engines built,
powerful enough to equal the speeds and performance, which these boats had in
their day. They’re constructed of aircraft-quality components and detuned to run
on 87-octane gas. At moderate rpms, these engines will last for years.
My life has been filled with frequent pilgrimages. Over the years, I have
driven many miles to meet the remaining eyewitnesses who saw these boats in
their day. Awed by how much passion these people also shared for the boats
and those who owned, designed, raced, and loved them, it has inspired me to
spent much of my adult life collecting original plans, and recreating the boats
and their amazing performances. These witnesses to history verified that these
craft, from the moment they were created, took on personalities of their own
that in many ways were larger than life. It is always a privilege to visit with
others who share this enthusiasm, so by all means call me at 603-369-0042.
It seems that these boats create as much of a stir today as they originally did,
enthralling and intoxicating a new generation of enthusiasts. Their magic continues
nearly a hundred years later, like a time machine suddenly taking unsuspecting
passengers into a scene that otherwise vanished a lifetime ago.
Top, close up of the
current version of
Impshi. Above, Bill Horn
and Charlie Grafflin
winning the Gold Cup in
Delphine IV, Montauk,
Long Island, Ny, 1932.
Left: The business end
of new Palm Beach Days
(Dan Teetor photo).