wooden boat: Ahoy Mates! The Wooden Boat Show Sails this Weekend
BY MICHAEL P. NEUFELD
Twenty-one years ago, a group of about a dozen wooden boat owners, gathered at the dock of the Hilton Hotel (now Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa) to stage a boat parade around Lake Arrowhead.
It was July 6, 1985, when approximately nine wooden boats cruised around the lake, to the delight of people in Lake Arrowhead Village as well as other boaters on the lake.
“It was such a good feeling showing off these beautiful boats from yesteryear,” Betty Hueber recalled. Huebner and her husband, Roger, were among that original group who launched the Antique and Classic Wooden Boat Show on Lake Arrowhead.
This weekend (June 3-4), the 22nd Annual Antique and Classic Wooden Boat Show, sponsored by the Southern California Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, Inc. (ACBS), will be held at Lake Arrowhead Village. The Village will also welcome over two-dozen classic “woodies” on Saturday.
Show hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday (June 3) and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday (June 4). The “woodies” will be available from 10 a.m. and there is no charge to view the classic vehicles on Saturday. The $5 dock admission will allow visitors to talk with boat owners about their boats and learn more about the careful preservation of the wooden boats.
A special Skippers' meeting with Arrowhead Lake Association's Lake Patrol will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, followed at 6 p.m. by a welcome and get-acquainted gathering at a local residence.
“Presented at this year's show,” according to chapter president John Maddox, “is a wonderful collection of beautiful boats representing the various classic boat manufacturers of days gone by-Chris Craft, Century, Gar Wood, Hacker Craft, Thompson, Trojan, and a few other lesser known but equally impressive companies.”
Over 50 boats are expected to be available for viewing, including Healey Passions, a 1958 Healey Sportsboat Model 55 owned by John and Deborah Hunt from Santa Maria. Last year, Healey Passions collected some of the top honors, including “Best 1958 and Older Utility.” The Mountain News and Mountain Shopper sponsored the award.
LAKE ARROWHEAD BOATS
Several Lake Arrowhead area residents are among those showing boats this weekend. Tom and Mary Seabold will showcase Merry Chris. “The boat is named after my lovely wife, Merry Christine, who was born on Christmas Day,” Tom Seabold explained. The boat is a 1952 Chris-Craft 19-foot Racing Runabout.
Jim and Lynne Miller of Lake Arrowhead will display a 1957 Century 18-foot Resorter named Temptress. Restoration of the boat has just been completed, and it is equipped with the original Dearborn Marine Interceptor engine. The Millers will be debuting Temptress at the Lake Arrowhead show.
A 1965 Chris-Craft Super Sport owned by Lake Arrowhead's Jim Ball will also be on display. The boat is affectionately named Bahama Mama.
Miss Lizzy, soon to be named Ter-Jer, was purchased by Teri and Jerry Wilcut at the Lake Arrowhead Marina in 1977. The only water the Chris-Craft boat has ever been on is Lake Arrowhead.
Lake Arrowhead's show is the premier wooden boat show in Southern California and the only one in the area that is judged. The judges are members of the ACBS Southern California Chapter and are headed by Brian Robinson. The actual judging will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday.
The banquet and awards ceremony will be held at the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa beginning with cocktails at 6 p.m. Saturday and is limited to members of the ACBS.
ACBS International judging criteria will be utilized in Lake Arrowhead. Awards will be for best Pre-War Runabouts (Class I), Post-War Runabouts (Class II), Outboards (Class III), Utilities (Class IV), and Open (Class V).
At 12:30 p.m. Saturday, the boats will parade in front of the Village docks much like they did 21 years ago. There is no charge to view the boat parade.
Other groups participating in the 2006 show include the Outboard Motor Club and the Inland Nautical Society, who will have displays. The McKenzie Water Ski School will offer a water ski show at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and the Rim of the World Historical Society will be selling commemorative items.
The Inland Nautical Society will be displaying and demonstrating the organization's models alongside the real classics. The group is based in Riverside and hosts two official regattas each year at Fairmount Park. Visit www.inland-nauticalsociety.com for more data on the club.
“WOODIES”
Many classic “woodies” will be displayed at various locations throughout the Village. Among the classic cars set for the one-day show is last year's “Best of Show,” a 1950 Ford owned by Mick and Robin Carolan.
One of the cars expected to participate is a 1941 Ford owned by Mark Henzel. The story goes Henzel's wife's grandparents once owned the old Top Hat Bar in Lake Arrowhead (1933-1955) and so Henzel was anxious to return to Lake Arrowhead.
One car, owned by Larry Ginsberg, is sure to capture the hearts of “woodies” lovers. His 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman convertible has attracted attention at several other shows.
Members of the Southern California Woodie Club and the National Woodie Club own many of the cars scheduled to appear in Lake Arrowhead this Saturday. The National Woodie Club exists to promote interest in woodies; to educate owners and the public on their history, beauty, usefulness and uniqueness; and to provide an association through which woodie owners and enthusiasts may exchange information on history, building, restoration or modification techniques and share experiences.
“Woodies on the Lake” is being coordinated by Tom Parson from Orange and David Stuart of Lake Arrowhead. The Saturday show is now in its 15th year and will conclude with a 4 p.m. award ceremony at Center Stage in Lake Arrowhead Village.
This year, awards will go to the “Best ‘39 or older Woodie,” “Best 40s Woodie,” “Best 50s Woodie,” “Best Lakeside Woodie” and “Best of Show.”
Sunday morning at 10 a.m. there will be a “woodies” car parade around the lake.
SPONSORS
The 2006 Lake Arrowhead Antique and Classic Wooden Boat Show is sponsored by Windermere Fine Properties. Windermere is working in partnership with the Lake Arrowhead Communities Chamber of Commerce, the Antique and Classic
Wooden Boat Society, Arrowhead Lake Association, and Lake Arrowhead Village.
During the show, Arrowhead Lake Association members receive a 2-for-1 admission to the boat docks. The two docks that will be used are in front of Woody's Boathouse Restaurant and the McDonald's dock. The Village convenience dock for ALA members will be in front of the Children's Museum both days.
For additional information, contact the chamber at (909) 337-3715 or visit www.lakearrowhead.net.
