Vintage boats feature classic style, beauty

SANDPOINT — As the sun shines down, the rich tones of the mahogany hulls gleam as, one by one, the boats pull up against the Sandpoint Boardwalk for the annual Antique and Classic Boat Show.

Dozens of boats take part in the event — this year, an estimated 40-50 are expected to participate. Now in its 16th year, the boat show officially kicks off at 10 a.m. and continues until 5 p.m. Saturday at the city boardwalk and Sandpoint Marina. The popular wooden boat parade takes place at 3 p.m. and will again be led by the Selkirk Fire, Rescue & EMS fire boat.

In addition to the boat show, the Children’s Boat Building Program is a highlight for the young and young at heart. Now sponsored by Stancraft Boats, the program gives area youngsters a chance to make their own wooden boat on Saturday. Not only are supplies free to youngsters, they can test float their new creations on-site before taking them home.

In addition to regular judges, area youth are being asked to help with the fun, boat show organizers told the Daily Bee. The youngsters will judge the boats for such things as loudest horn.

The boat show is a program of the Inland Empire Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society. This year, organizers said there will be classic and antique boats arriving from throughout the region, from Idaho and Washington to western Canada. Last, the event attracted a classic wooden boat from Georgia.

The Antique and Classic Boat Society is in its 43rd year, having grown from a small group of classic boat owners in upstate New York, to 56 chapters (including one in France) and more than 7,000 members. ACBS officials said one of the main goals of the society is to protect the heritage of boating as well as promote the preservation and restoration of historic, antique and classic boats.

The lineup of boats includes famous manufacturers such as Chris Craft, Century and Gar Wood as well as the not-so-famous manufacturers such as Dee Wite, Glasspar and Crooks. While all beautiful, there are differences to the boats and are typically identified by manufacturer dates. Classifications include: historic, built up to 1918; antique, 1919 to 1942; classic, 1943 to 1976; late classic: 1977 through the 25 years prior to the current year; and contemporary, a boat built within the last 25 years.

ACBS officials said the setting for the Sandpoint show is “absolutely perfect.” Located along the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, at the Powerhouse Marina and the Sandpoint Boardwalk along Sand Creek, its the perfect setting to stroll among the classic beauties and then watch as owners fire up the rumbling vintage engines for the parade up Sand Creek.

Information: 208-610-5007

Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at clobsinger@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.