Isn’t amazing that Canadian classic boats have travelled to many parts of the world? Arne B. from Hamburg Germany, sent us these photos of his 1950, 20 foot Port Carling SeaBird, apparently needing construction plans for some “refitting”. (Bottom work required). We referred him to the Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre. This gorgeous SeaBird doesn’t look like it needs ANYTHING! Arne cruises his boat on the Elbe River. It was purchased in 2010 after a restoration by Classic Boat Amsterdam. No-one is sure how the SeaBird arrived in Europe! (See photos below)
Congratulations to Peter L. of Huntsville, Ontario. Working with plans from CompuMarine in British Columbia, Peter recently completed a two year sailboat project. Using locally sourced cedar-strip for the hull and mahogany for gunwales and the mast step, Peter completed the job with cloth and epoxy, inside and out, for a maintenance free, long lasting vessel. Where there’s a will, there’s a way! (see photos below)
Our congratulations to Jeremy Fowler and his crew at Duke’s Boat shop in Port Carling, Ontario. Jeremy has saved this historic boat works and building from a very uncertain future. Check out the new features of Duke’s in the video link below.
Video: Duke’s Boat Shop
Check out this different approach to varnishing (photo taken at Clayton’s Antique Boat Museum). Apparently it produces few runs, provides a smooth, uniform coat distribution and it actually works! Who would have believed a rubber wiper could double as a varnish brush? Obviously, there’s more than one way to solve a problem!
In Port Carling Ontario, work continues on Miss Canada IV in Tom Adam’s workshop. The latest installation will make the race boat a real “heavy-weight”! Enjoy the link below.
Harold Lorna and Miss Canada IV
Quincy Illinois: The 12th annual Quincy Classic Boat and Outboard Show concluded recently. This year’s show brought in over fifty classic wood and fibreglass boats. The Show is considered the premier Midwest region event. Each one of the boats comes with its own story. Please enjoy the video link below.
Video: Quincy Classic Boat and Outboard Show
The Lake Tahoe Concours D’Elegance This year’s theme was the Riva, but you’ll see video of Miss Catalina VI and Rum Runner, a Hugh Saint 37ft dual engine commuter, T_44 Wildhorses, a 650hp gentleman’s racer, some beautiful triple cockpit Garwood Launches, a couple of Chris Craft Racing runabouts in various hull colours, a Chris Craft Capri, Continental, and various Riva Aquaramas . This is a great pictorial overview of the show. (Click on the link below) Miss Catalina VI and Rum Runner Alpha Z is considered to be one of the greatest wooden boats ever built and it is a gorgeous boat. It was built by Van Dam boats in MI, and it is now nested in Monaco. Here is a link to Alpha Z and her time in Monaco. Alpha Z (See photo below)
Video: Buffalo Boat Show, 2011
Fine craftsmanship at Stancraft Boats has enabled the total restoration of these two beauties below:
Hot, steamy weather accompanied the ACBS boat show, in Clayton, this past August. Visitors were awed with the magnificent display of “woodies” on land, in the water and the Museum. Enjoy the show through the video below. (First of two parts)
Click here for Antique Wooden Boat for Sale
Fine craftsmanship at Stancraft Boats has enabled the total restoration of these two beauties below: Hot, steamy weather accompanied the ACBS boat show, in Clayton, this past August. Visitors were awed with the magnificent display of “woodies” on land, in the water and the Museum. Enjoy the show through the video below. (First Please enjoy Clayton Boat Show, (2012), Part II, below
Video: Clayton Boat Show, 2012
Grey skies cleared for the ACBS Annual Boat Show in Gravenhurst, Ontario, this past July 7, 2012. Enjoy the highlights of Canada’s largest antique boat show below.
Video: ACBS Annual Boat Show, 2012
Swarms of Sea Fleas flocked to n the static photos below, set one’s “ticker” aflutter with racing adrenalin! Swarms of Sea Fleas flocked to n the static photos below, set one’s “ticker” aflutter with racing adrenalin!
One of the interesting aspect of the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton NY is the workshop where volunteers restore boatsthat have been donated to the Museum for display. The Museum has the most extensive Wooden Race Boat collection building, as well as other a canoe building and their other buildings. It’s a great opportunity for like minded people to get together and pursue a common interest, wooden boats. The Wild Goose is a large triple cockpit that has undergone a one and half year restoration under a number of volunteers.It is a great project being undertaken in a wonderful building, the stone building. Check out this link in facebook to see a series of photos of this transformation. Wild Goose Restoration
Doesn’t this tell it all? This is what wooden boating is all about. (Photo below)
“Classic” fibreglass boat lovers will be interested in checking out Gary MacNorius “Fortuna. Please see below. Built over 5 years by Gary Mac Norius from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, the boat is built with balsa core construction laid over a mold, and glassed inside and out. It was drawn out on his garage floor and finished with automotive paint. Gary work is recognized as the Gold Standard for Fiberglass restoration.
The boat is 21ft, it looks like it is powered by a pair of old mercury engines which are really dual newer 115hp outboards retrofitted with engine cowlings from the 1950’s. At 230 hp this boat has the get up and go that its design reflects. Pictures of Fortuna On the west coast of the United States is Sierra Boat Works, on the shore of Lake Tahoe, the site of the Concours d’elegance which is considered by many to be The boat show in North America, if not the world for wooden boats. It’s worth visiting this fine shop. The number and diversity of wooden boats is the most extensive anywhere. The staff are currently putting a new bottom on the Ditchburn built Gentleman’s Racer Rainbow III that was designed by Harry Greening. Check out the video and the web site below Sierra Boat Company Lake Tahoe. For a look at Henry J. Kaiser’s amazing 1930/39 Garwood Race Boat on Lake Tahoe., click on the link. Hornet II 
(See photos above) Friday May 11th is the Paul Mikkelson auction preview in Wilmar Minnesota, at the Willmar Civic Centre and the full collection will be sold off on the Sat and Sunday. The auction is being put on by www.richpennauctions.com
Enjoy the video and if you are out Minnesota way go check out this auction, Paul Mikkelson auction
Congratulations to Nick Waters of Pewaukee WI. Nick spent three and a half years building a hydroplane racer from John Hacker plans he discovered in a 1920 Motor Boating article. Please see Nick’s explanation, photos and video link below:
The WA CHEE WE, a 1923 Ditchburn, Fisher-Allison Class Racer, is briefly dunked in Lake Muskoka to determine its waterline. The boat is being restored at Clark Wooden Boats, Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada and will be completed by June, 2012. It was recovered in 100 feet of water, 45 years after its sinking. Thankyou to Mr.Unsworth for undertaking such a significant project and sharing it with us. This boat may be repowered by a V10 viper engine. I am really enamored with the windscreen and the sheer size of the boat. Looking forward to seeing this magnificent boat when it is completed in late May.
Video: 1923 Ditchburn
The Toronto Chapter, ACBS, held it’s annual Muskoka Spring Boat Shop tour this past April 21, 2012. The shops were humming with activity…everything from a re-canvassed cedar strip canoe to a thirty-five foot Chris-Craft cabin cruiser. For your virtual tour, (and a feast of “wooden eye candy”) please click below.
Video: ACBS Muskoka Spring Tour
Okay, okay! We know it’s not a wooden hull, but we thought you’d be interested in watching the restoration of Peerless II from an gas hauler to a tourist cruise boats. Captain Randy Potts of Bracebridge deserves credit for working through a Muskoka winter to breathe new life into Peerless. See video below.
Video: Peerless II
The photo below highlights Baby Bootlegger, the 1924-25 Gold Cup Race champion. Powered by a Hispano-Suiza V8 aircraft engine, this racer was recently restored by Muller Boatworks. For further information and a video, please click on the link below. Baby Bootlegger
Captain Randy Potts of Bracebridge Ontario is at it again…taking a tired vessel and transforming it into a viable tourist cruise boat. Peerless II, (see photo below) will be the third vessel in Sunset Cruise’s armada, a smaller cousin of the recently refurbished Peerless. Peerless II will offer public cruises and charters on the Muskoka Lakes.
Harold and Lorna Docu Drama
Harold and Lorna Wilson were a husband and wife wooden boat racing team who set out to conquer speed. In the process they brought international fame to Canada from 1931 to 1950 as a young couple in love, who loved pushing race boats as fast as possible. They won the Harmsworth Trophy and were invited to the White House to receive the Trophy from President Roosevelt. They piloted a wooden boat built in Gravenhurst that could run up to 170mph and put Canada in the world spotlight. Enjoy the great pictures and video footage of some incredible Muskoka Wooden Race boat history. (below) Take some time to look around, there is lots to see and enjoy! Muskoka Wooden Race also take a look at Classic Boats for some fascinating photo’s of this grand era in wooden boating history March 16 to 18th marks the Classic Race Boat Assoc races in Wooten Park Tavares Fl which is a lead up to the Mt..Dora Boat show. This is a wonderful event filled with all sorts of antique and Classic wooden race boats and hydro’s.
In celebrating the Riva at the Concours D’Elegance at Lake Tahoe this year it is only fitting that we bring you an inside view of the
Revisione Assistenza Motoscafi in Sarnico Italy
Pirates and Privateers will have its world broadcast premiere on CBC Television’s Land & Sea on Sunday, March 4, 2012 at 12 Noon. Following the broadcast, the documentary can be watched on the CBC TV website at: www.cbc.ca/landandsea. Land & Sea is one of CBC’s longest running TV series and can be followed on Twitter: @cbclandandsea “The year is 1930. The place is Detroit yacht Club in USA. It’s all about Harmsworth Trophy – the motor boatings counterpart to America’s Cup. Gar Wood completes his Miss America IX and is getting ready. The two Swedes standing on the dock in white overalls are also ready. They put on their flight hoods and motor goggles and enters the boat. ”Sveriges” two V12-engines roar up with a thunderous rumble”. The words are Gits Olssons, a very well known Swedish journalist, and the scenario could have been a reality. A few members of the Swedish Royal Motorboat Club had real plans to challenge the “Silver Fox” Gar Wood about the absolute speed record at sea. Even then it was understood; the value of hosting the world’s fastest boat. However, the plans unfortunately stayed just plans at that time. But Ruben Östlund’s drawings remain. And the precise architectural description is preserved. So the possibility still exists today.? 100 knots was an almost unattainable goal, already at that time. Today it is still an incredible speed – something that few people will be fortunate to experience. And especially not in a boat made of mahogany! But now it becomes reality! In early August 2011 the contract was signed for the making of ”Sverige”. The construction of one of the most spectacular wooden boats could begin. The clients, two thrill-seeking men from Stockholm wants to realize the old dream of beating 100 knots with a Swedish-built boat. The boat will be built here in Holmsund, we have good experience of rapid wooden boats by having built the replica of Ivar Kreuger´s SVALAN and restored Max Gumpels lovely racer LAILA. The project is led by Anders Båthus with the goal of creating a classic record breaking boat completely without compromise. Welcome aboard on this year’s most interesting project!??
BY STEVE LAW The Portland Tribune, Feb 23, 2012 Some people just have a thing for wooden boats. Seth Vore is one of them. Starting Memorial Day, he hopes to find many others like him and offer them spins on the Willamette River. Vore is launching a new business called Portland Boat Tours. He’s among dozens of Portlanders who’ve turned to Kickstarter, a “crowdfunding” website that helps budding entrepreneurs and artsy types raise cash for a startup business or creative project.
Vore put out the word on Kickstarter on Dec. 3 that he needed $5,000 to carry out his dream and start the company. By Jan. 21, 71 people had pledged a total of $6,300. His vision? Offering guided tours of Portland’s stretch of the Willamette River in his six-seat Tollycraft, a 17-foot wooden boat built in 1961 that he purchased on Craigslist. Vore plans to store the boat at his Southwest Portland home, then pick up people who reserve tours at Willamette Park or other points along the river. Vore doesn’t expect to make a fortune, perhaps $20,000 a season if all goes well. But his modest venture could provide a new way for Portlanders and tourists to experience the Willamette, in a more intimate fashion than jet boats or Portland Spirit’s larger vessels.
It’s just the kind of thing Portland needs now that the city has completed its $1.4 billion Big Pipe project and ended most discharges of untreated sewage into the river, says Rick Bastache, program coordinator for the city’s Office of Healthy Working Rivers. “We have a river that’s as clean as it has been in 150 years,” Bastache says. “People justifiably want to claim their clean-water dividend.” Vore’s idea stems from his passion for wooden boats. His boat, made in Kelso, Wash., has a mahogany hull, with a top made of Alaskan yellow cedar. “It just has a very classic feel to it; they’re just gorgeous,” Vore says. “There’s a lot of hand craftsmanship that goes into it.”
The Antique and Classic Boat Society, Toronto Chapter, hosted a winter workshop on February 18, 2012, at the facilities of Peter Breen, (near Guelph, Ontario) To view some of the restoration work underway on a number of beautiful antique and classic launches, click on the video below.
Video: ACBS Winter Workshop
Pirouette II
Jim Hammond is a wooden boat builder, located on the shores of Lake Erie in a community called Long Point. He runs Inner Bay Wooden Boats and has just completed a 2 year restoration of a wooden 40ft sailboat called Pirouette II. This boat weighs 10 tonnes and is one of two boats built in the 1950’s using the cold molded method of wood boat construction. Jim is meeting the sister ship in Lake Worth Florida and together they will travel across the ocean towards the Bahamas. This is a first in a series of updates on this family adventure. Stay tuned for more great info and pictures. THE HACKER-CRAFT SHOWROOM ON LAKE GEORGE
Paul Brackley, of Brackley Boats in Gravenhurst Ontario, is undertaking the restoration of a 1936, 35 foot Chris-Craft cabin cruiser. To view the progress on this mammoth project, please click on the video below.
Video: restoration of a 1936, 35 foot Chris-Craft
WATER TRIALS CONTINUE EVEN IN BLIZZARDS
As the photos shot in January below show, the staff at Hacker continues to test new and used boats year round, even in snow and ice…until the ice becomes too thick to cut the ice apart with the bow of our utility boat. In the sequence below, Jay cuts through the ice (and then runs the boat back and forth many times to chop the ice into harmless pieces). Then Dave takes out a 1934 20’ Hacker for testing, running into heavy snow on the return trip.
PERLITTA TOO in 2011 is in the water again after over 30 years. The first Riva delivered to the United States, and the only remaining V-12 Scripps powered Riva and she is the oldest Riva Tritone built of 267 Our restoration has taken over four years yet the last 12 months have been a mind boggling experience of completing the many systems, re-confirming the previous 21 years of research for “1953 Italian correctness”, testing, and pushing everyone toward completion.
The dream is that Perlita Too will make her debut on Lago Iseo in Italy, where she was born in 1953 In late August, a very special 2012 event will take place on Lago Iseo; a celebration of 170 years of the Riva yard; Carlo Rivas 90th birthday, and the 50th anniversary of the Riva Aquarama introduction. This is particularly significant because the Tritone model was the precursor to the Aquarama; in fact the first Aquaramas were built on modified Tritone hulls. Perlita Too was the prototype for a significant part of Riva history.
Also, the fiftieth anniversary of the Riva Aquarama will be celebrated this summer at Lake Tahoe, USA. For further information, please click on this link: http://www.rivatahoe2012.com/ 
Come join Hacker-Craft CanadaLtd. at the TORONTO INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW at the Direct Energy Center for a special appearance by Harold Wilson Jr. and family members to reminisce on the incredible racing career of their father Harold Wilson, honoured member of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
When: SATURDAY / JANUARY 21 Where: HACKER-CRAFT CANADA BOOTH 124 Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 pm
John L. Hacker’s 3rd race boat design for Harold Wilson and riding mechanic and fiancée Lorna Reid gave Canada its first repeat World Champions. After winning the 1932 Canadian title in Little Miss Canada II, Harold & Lorna rode Little Miss Canada III to Canada’s 1st motor sports World Championship during the 1934 CNE, a title they successfully defended in 1935 in Little Miss Canada IV. Father Ernest A Wilson and his racing team were able to build the Little Miss Canada and Miss Canada series of speedboats into a dynasty of championship vessels.
Harold was the first Canadian speed boat driver to make a lasting mark on the international racing scene, claiming three world championship titles and setting numerous speed records over the course of his 20-year competitive career. The Wilson Racing Team is the subject of Muskoka Film Work’s Harold & Lorna, to be released in late 2012. The Wilson Family Racing Legacy and John L. Hacker Official 1935 World Champion photo of Little Miss Canada IV This dynamite little 13ft step hull racer (below) is one of the finest boats I have ever seen. The beauty of this boat is enough of a reason to get down to The Toronto.
International Boat Show at the Exhibition grounds and see some great boats including the ACBS display with 14 wooden boats. Spring is coming!
This 13ft boat (above)is a single step runabout inspired by the Century “Whirlwind” design built with oak frames and mahogany planking.
Looking for a cool winter boat building project? Why not skeedaddle down to Annapolis, Maryland this coming Feb 6 to Feb 11th, (2012?) You can buy a kit for $1199 and receive tuition ($750) from the Chesapeake Light Craft Company to build this “Skua” model hydroplane Cocktail Class Racer. (See photo below). Pop a 6 or 8 horsepower motor on the back and you’re in business. A lot of fun for a very reasonable cost!
Over the summer, students at the Tennessee Technical Center-Nashville and Nashville State Community College: prepared a 400-horsepower, 5.6-liter V8 from an Infiniti QX56 auto engine for seafaring duty in a 20-foot Chris-Craft. The engine’s transformation is nearly complete, but it seems the boat needs a great deal more work. The pleasure craft, which dates from 1962, has already has three other marinized engines from car manufacturers, a Lincoln and two Chrysler Hemi powerplants. The gents at Freeport Boat Outlet in Freeport, Maine are overseeing the wooden hull restoration and have said that 85 percent of the mahogany will need replacing. When it’s finally finished, the QX lump with water-cooled manifolds and a closed cooling system will be mated with a ZF/Hurth marine transmission and tested back at Infiniti HQ. Assuming all goes well, the hull will get an SUV’s worth of Infiniti luxuries and be married to its engine. In the meantime, the name of the boat is being put to the public. Come summer, keep an eye out for a very slick watercraft plying Tennessee’s lakes.
It’s hard to believe that the monstrous looking Infiniti engine below will actually fit into the Chris-Craft without sinking it!
The iconic Miss Canada IV, piloted to victory by Harold and Lorna Wilson, is undergoing a thorough restoration in Tom Adam’s Port Carling Boat Shop. This is a major restoration, including a newly discovered, rare replacement Rolls Royce engine. (See photos below)
Paul Brackley, of Brackley Boat in Gravenhurst Ontario, is undertaking some bright work restoration and possible engine replacement in this 1930’s Chris Craft. (See photo below). The problem? The “Chris” wouldn’t fit into the shop. The solution? Enlarge the doors, of course! A minor detail!. Stay tuned for more news of the restoration of this lovely classic cruiser. Now that’s what you’d call a tight squeeze!
Think excitement! The photo below highlights Will Hunter catching air in Muskoka
The owner of this Shepherd wrote: Shepherd Boats were built in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. This Shepherd (below) was on display at the Chicago Boat Show when it was purchased it new in 1961. In 1993 the boat bottom needed replacing at which time my Uncle debated on selling it. However he passed away right before doing so. A few months later I decided it was well worth saving the boat keeping alive so many fond memories of fishing & riding (getting soaked)in Uncle Muff’s Shepherd. The boat has gone thru a couple of restorations and still has most of the original wood. The Chrysler motor was rebuilt once and is still in use. The boat has been docked at Pier 1 on Geneva Lake for the last fifty (50) years.
The engines may have been smaller, but it was just as exciting to race in the 1940s as it is today. See photo below.
The Antique Boat Museum, in Clayton, New York, is undertaking a major refurbishment of “Pardon Me”, the John Hacker designed “World’s Largest Runabout”. Visitors are invited to drop by and view the progress. The museum has also acquired the Atosis, a 1907 raceboat in original condition. (Please see photos below).
For those who love watching wooden hydroplanes in action, (for a good laugh and a scare) check out this vintage film of wooden hydroplanes racing at break-neck speed. Obviously, safety considerations weren’t paramount in the “good old days.” Hydroplanes in action
In November 2011, Port Carling Boats undertook a whirlwind tour of a few of Muskoka’s premier wooden boat restoration shops, to investigate the current projects of the area’s fine craftsmen (and women). Check out the video below to see what’s going on in Muskoka!
Video: Restoration Tour
Miss America 8, currently undergoing restoration, will be auctioned off tin the Kissimee, Florida this coming Jan 24-29 (2012), along with Miss Universe. (Please see photos below. ) For a further look at Miss America 8, check out the link below. Miss America 8
Miss America’s twin 1929 Miller engines (above) have been restored to “better than new” conditions. This stunning photo of the Segwun in dry dock comes from the lens of Ed Boutilier. To view some of Ed’s other photos, please visit www.cottageblog.ca
ACBS Toronto Chapter Cancer Society Event: a one hundred mile Segwun cruise from Gravenhurst to the tip of Lake Joseph. Date: Aug 12, 2012. Watch the ACBS Toronto website for upcoming details. 
The deep beauty of mahogany…
Video: Niagara Fontier Antique and Classic Boat Show
The Toronto Chapter ACBS Annual Boat Show, held July 9th, 2011, in Gravenhurst, Ontario, attracted thousands of visitors. This show is one of the largest in North America. Please click on the video below to enjoy some highlights:
Video: Toronto Chapter ACBS Annual Boat Show, 2011
Attention wooden boat builders and restorers:
We have just received information from a British Columbia source regarding a significant supply of Honduran mahogany
Please see the email below:
Please click on the You Tube link below to view the construction and live footage of a gentleman’s racer in action.
Video: Construction and live footage of a gentleman’s racer in action
The 38th Annual Winnipesaukee Boat Show, under the auspices of the New England Classic and Antique Boat Society, included, two very distinctive water-craft, a wonderful multi-stepped Gold Cup Racer, and “Peter Pan”, by PennYan
The Bigwin ferry, used for decades as chief transport to the Bigwin Inn on Lake of Bays, Muskoka Ontario, was relaunched with great fanfare in the summer of 2010. The Bigwin should provide continued pleasure to tourists and cottagers for years to come. She is currently available for viewing in the hamlet of Dorset, Ontario.
Personal watercraft “drops in” on $250 000 wooden runabout. (See photo below).We hope that no one was hurt in this incident. At least the point of impact was above the waterline!. The moral of the story…be careful on the water.
Mike Windsor’s shop in Gravenhurst, Ontario, has produced this beautiful outboard engine powered gentleman’s racer. The twin Mercs provide plenty of power.
This unfortunate Greavette, below, apparently sank within one minute this summer at a the Greenwood Lake Antique and Classic Boat Show in New York. Many thanks to Matt Smith of Woody Boater for these photos.
Anthony Mollica Jr. (author of many wooden boat books) has created a display of the Thousand Islands boat building company, Hutchinson Boat works, at the Cornwall Museum in Alexandria Bay. If you’re visiting the Thousand Islands, this summer, a stop at the museum should provide a welcome treat. Pictured below, a hydrofoil race-boat in action.
Canada’s iconic Bluenose schooner is undergoing a major rebuild, below, ((2010 -2012) in Lunenberg, Nova Scotia. For a webcam view of this restoration, please click here: Web cam view
Miss Canada 1V, an iconic Canadian race boat, has returned to Muskoka for some restorative hull work. Enjoy the text and photos below of this record breaking vessel’s history:
Picton, Ont., Oct 2 [1949] (AP) — Harold Wilson of Ingersoll, Ont., drove his Miss Canada IV to a new North American speed boat record on the Bay of Quinte today.He made two official runs, being clocked in 138.8 miles an hour in the first and 139.5 in the second. Both surpassed the listed North American mark of 126.6 mph set by Jack Schafer of Detroit in his Such Crust at Gull Lake in Michigan last August.
For the many of our wooden boat enthusiasts who also appreciate antique and classic cars, the photos below were taken at the recent Father’s Day car show in Bracebridge, Ontario (Corvette, Thunderbird, Model T Ford and Roadster.)
Captain Randy Potts, operator of Sunset Cruises in Muskoka, is expanding his operations. Randy and his wife Debbie have been hard at work since 2003, transforming the Peerless II, a former 60 ft. long delivery vessel, into a passenger cruiser. Modifications included widening the beam from 12 feet. to 16.5 feet (a huge undertaking) and a complete rebuild of the rare Mack Marine diesel engine. Captain Randy hopes that Peerless II’s “sea trials” will occur this fall in Port Carling, Ontario. Stay tuned for further details. See photos below.
Peerless II is expected to accommodate 50 plus passengers.
The Muskoka Sea Flea Association, is a very active organization, with a comprehensive website, including directions for building your own Sea Flea. The club is hosting a regatta on June 18th, 2011, at Six Mile Lake Provincial Park. Over 70 boats will participate.
The crew of Woodwind Yachts in Nestleton, Ontario, recently completed a total rebuild of the 6 metre yacht Merneito, which was subsequently shipped back to Finland. Working with modern epoxies and wood preservatives should provide this sleek sailboat with a greatly enhanced lifespan.
This stunning, rare Chris-Craft Cobra was recently captured at the 2011 Lake Dora Boat Show. Sadly, a number of brand new Cobras were scrapped by the manufacturer when sales slowed in the 1950s.
Click on this link to view some unique footage and video of Miss America IX http://www.missamericaix.com/
The Toronto Chapter Antique and Classic Boat Society held its annual Spring Tour this past April 16, 2011. Enjoy the fabulous boats in the video of this tour (below).
Video: Toronto Chapter ACBS Spring Tour, 2011
Video: Toronto Chapter ACBS Spring Tour, 2011(2)
The striking photos below come from the Sunnyland Antique Boat Festival, in Wooten Park on Lake Dora, (Florida). This year the show was held from March 24-27 (2011).
The striking photos below come from the Sunnyland Antique Boat Festival, in Wooten Park on Lake Dora, (Florida). This year the show was held from March 24-27 (2011).
For colourful videos and photos of the Muskoka Lakes Association Bi Annual Antique Boat Show, click on the link below.
Check out this video of the Muskoka Lakes Association Antique and Classic Boat Show, held in Port Carling, Ontario, August, 2010.
Video: Muskoka Lakes Association Antique Boat Show
Video: Muskoka Lakes Association Antique Boat Show(2)
The 33rd Annual Niagara Frontier Classic and Antique Boat Show and Race Boat Reunion was held at Grand Island, New York, this past Sept. 10, 2010. This premier event in the antique boating world was well attended and showcased Dodge boats, as well as many other manufacturers. Enjoy the videos!
Video: Niagara Frontier Classic and Antique Boat Show
Video: Niagara Frontier Classic and Antique Boat Show(2)
The new Sea Hawks / Youth huge rowboat!
For a different perspective on the July, 2010 ACBS Gravenhurst boat show, click on the video link below:
Video: 2010 ACBS Gravenhurst Boat Show
Be sure to check out some of the beautiful woodies on display at the April 2010 Antique and Classic Boat Society (Toronto) Muskoka Spring Tour, (below).
Video: Antique and Classic Boat Society (Toronto) Muskoka Spring Tour
Click below to view part two of the ACBS 2010 Muskoka Spring Tour.
Video: ACBS 2010 Muskoka Spring Tour
The annual ACBS (Toronto Chapter) Spring Tour was held April 24, 2010. The tour highlighted Muskoka’s boat shops and the highly skilled craftsmen and women who build and restore wooden classics. Photos below: (left to right) Greavette I/O from Butson’s boat shop, 1930 Johnson in Curtis Hillman’s shop, Duke Playmate (available for rental from Stan Hunter’s Boat Livery) Port Carling Boats display at Port Carling, Greavette in Paul Brackley’s workshop, “Dippy” in the Gravenhurst marine museum. (Please see videos on Wooden Boats page of this website)
Check out this Cobra for sale on our Muskoka Boats For Sale page
This “Don’t turn your back” photo is from the 2010 “Muskoka Bare it All” calendar fundraiser for the fight against breast cancer. Proceeds from the calendar benefit the breast screening programme at the South Muskoka Hospital. The calendars can be purchased for $15.00 at…
http://muskokamarketing.ca/reorder/index.html
Below is a photo of Alex Neymark’s 15ft Glen-l cracker box with the side exhaust, chrome cut water and engine hatch vents. The hull was laminated with custom made clamps so the wood could be fastened without screws. Painstaking, meticulous work and Alex should be congratulated on his master craftmanship.
(Photos left to right: a gorgeous 2007 Dippy, , “Shania, a 1949 Greavette, “Artemis, a 1956, 23′ Grew Eric Seepa’s completely restored 20′ Peterborough Zephyr.)
Port Carling Boats was there, representing our customers, with a booth at the Buffalo Launch Club
(See below). This year’s wonderful show, comparable in size to Clayton, New York, featured a wide selection of Lyman Boats, originally built in Sandusky, Ohio. Two of this year’s highlights were hydroplane races on the Niagara River, and tours for children in a magnificent reproduction, 40 foot Gar Wood
(Photos left to right, Port Carling Boats booth pre-show, Lyman sedan hard-top, 40′ triple cockpit Gar Wood with bow thrusters, and exquisite Lyman lapstrake utility.
Left to right below: 1) the show grounds and various boats 2). Little Miss Canada built by Jeff Hughes with a step hull, and a
beautiful motor. (This boat will be running at the International Boat Show in September in Gravenhurst 3) Rich Hughes Greavette utility with the custom mahogany swim platform. (This 50+mph boat is brand new with aero framing built of Baltic birch plywood with mahogany planking.)
4. Chris-Craft and Mr. Hughes 16ft Shepherd with 60 hp outboard.
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/741049
Congratulations to Mark Harwood for successfully building a wonderful, brand new, electric “Dippy”. Using glued, marine mahogany ply, in a lapstrake design, Mark was able to eliminate ribs to produce a light, strong vessel. The original Dippy mechanism allows the prop to retract into the hull. Four deep cycle batteries produce 48 volts and enough power to move the Dippy along at 5 m.p.h. for hours at a time. Mark is marketing his Dippy, which is an environmental tour de force and a beautiful vessel.
Port Sydney area: 705-385-1452 Marc Harwood
(Left to right). Reproduction Hacker (Gentleman’s Racer), Billy Johnson runabout, a new custom launch and a brand new “Dippie”
The shops represented above are Traditional Boat Finishes, Stan Hunter, Butsons and Harwood Water Craft. The display (far right) highlights efforts made by Port Carling Boats to highlight our clients’ watercraft at various wooden boat shows.
I hope you will take a moment to view my Interests, let me know what you think
I was just looking at Dwight Boyds web site and it is a really clean and interesting site, take a look and let Dwight know I sent you by!
A couple of videos you might enjoy from 2007 Lake Tahoe Boat Show, The Thunderbird designed by Hacker built by Huskins of Bay City Mich
Keels & Wheels 2007 Concur’s Show from Texas features some great and unique boats and cars
The Antique and Classic Boat Society Toronto Boat Show, Gravenhurst Ontario, July 5th, 2008.It was a wonderful show, featuring over 100 beautiful wooden watercraft, not to mention floating cars, retro boats, the Segwun and a field of dreams with boats for every taste and budget. Well done, A.C.B.S. Toronto.
The Year of the Outboard was Toronto ACBS July 7th Boat show Theme. They have an excellent line up of fantastic Antique outboard speed boats, a exciting water ski show and we will have some great coverage for you.
DreamBoats of Muskoka in conjunction with Cottage Life magazine has put together 3 video’s on their site concerning B4, a Step hull high powered torpedo hull boat, Delta a hydro and Mineta. Click on the link, wait a few moments and then enjoy the videos.
Miss America X and other boats will be at the Old Chris Craft Plant for Michigan ACBS judged event Sat June 23 Algonac Harbor Club, 1999 Pointe Tremble Road, Algonac, MI. Tel (586) 978-7105.
2008 Muskoka Lakes Antique Boat Show, Port Carling
2009 ACBS International Meeting will likely be held in Muskoka. Stay tuned for Details.
Happy Halloween
Grain Surfboards builds custom wood surf boards in Maine in either finished or in kit form. Surf boards are custom crafted and built for the surfer, no foam here,just wood boards that look great and they plant 10 trees for every tree they use in building a board. They use white and red cedar grown on sustainable tree farms and harvested by local mills. Their plywood frames cutout using a CNC machine for exactness. The beauty of wood coupled with a fantastic ride because of the inherent characteristics of wood. Call Mike 802-598-7194 for pricing or info
An interesting series of photos of a 22 ft. steam boat with a beautiful fantail ..great photo’s and enjoy.
It was great to see Patrica Ross shop, “Traditional Boat Finishes” on the tour, she does a terrific job varnishing the boats with her dry technique. She has worked previously for one of Muskoka’s finest builders and decided she would start her own business and her level of craftsmanship is exceptional, I really enjoyed seeing the transformation of the rowing skiff.
How not to dock your woodie!
Some wooden boat builders for your Winter antique wooden boat work you might contact:
Stan Allanson near Peterborough has 24 years of experience working for shops in Muskoka and has just started out on his own, he has done work for me that has been complimented at every wooden boat show and his rates are reasonable, give Stan a call at 705-696-1481
Doug McGrath at 705-385-9072 is another builder who has done a lot of fine antique wooden boats in Muskoka
Michael Cook (705) 382-9088 has been restoring boats in his shop just north of Burk’s Falls for seven + years
Some wooden boat builders for your Winter antique wooden boat work you might contact:
Stan Allanson near Peterborough has 24 years of experience working for shops in Muskoka and has just started out on his own, he has done work for me that has been complimented at every wooden boat show and his rates are reasonable, give Stan a call at 705-696-1481
Doug McGrath at 705-385-9072 is another builder who has done a lot of fine antique wooden boats in Muskoka
Michael Cook (705) 382-9088 has been restoring boats in his shop just north of Burk’s Falls for seven + years
Tom Adams, with some 19 years in the boat building industry, has recently set up shop in Port Carling. (2009) He’s a highly knowledgeable restorer/builder. Call 705-765-7718 or tomadamsboatbuilder@gmail.com
Jerome Emory at 519-728-3798 has been building boats for years, he is just finishing Two 22ft Gentleman’s Racers wooden boats
Cloarec Young Boatworks, Clint and Dave are building a 22ft Gentleman’s Racer boats and have tremendous skills as well, Clint 705-526-6284 or Dave 705-762-2155 or by email dyoung at surenet.net.
Tom Echle has also been building boats for years call 416-834-0852
Heirloom Canoes, Rob von bitter, 416-652-7583
Check out The kazulin wooden boat web site, these antique boats are fast, exciting to run and offer superb performance. A beautiful kazulin built boat, nice lines, great speed
Michael Corrigan, Boatbuilder P.O. Box 292 Wolfe Island, Ontario K0H 2Y0 613-385-9937 builds fine boats give him a ring….
Anderson Boats works in the Dorset Area does wooden boat work and Tel 705-767-1021
Curtis Hillman, 1126 Hewlitt Rd, Milford Bay 705-764-0814
Kilpatrick Boat Repairs
Address : 318794 Grey Road 1, Owen Sound, ON N4K 5N6
Telephone : 519-371-0018
CW Marine
Address : RR 1, Dwight, ON P0A 1H0
Telephone : 705-635-1484
Chris has been doing all the wooden boats on lake of Bays for decades and does a fine job and he would be happy to give you a quote.
Prop-Doc at : 14-532 Industrial Mall, in Bracebridge, ON P1L 1C8 has a prop drop off box with 24hr turn around call 705-645-5483
New listing (2009) for antique boat parts, (some 25 000 to 50 000!), nautical gifts, and dock restorations, call GORDON GRANT after 7pm (705-722-8676) or by email: grant8676@rogers.com or write to R.R.#2, Ridge Road, W. Shanty Bay ON L0L 2L0
Now here is 1934 Hacker built Gold Cup Torpedo Hull antique wooden boat to admire
The The 2006 Muskoka antique Boat show was a great success.
www.johnslittleboatshop.ca in Omemee Ontario
Wooden Boat Memories sells all sorts of antique wooden boat memorabilia like Ditchburn, Duke, Greavette, Minett Shields, Sea bird and Shepherd burgees, decals,paddles
Wally is a 118′ motor yacht built in 2006 that has three TF50 gas turbines in a Combined Diesel Or Gas (CODOG) turbine configuration. (4,000 hp per engine). Wally is a 119ft boat with three gas turbines pushing 12,000 hp.
| The Electric Launch Co. | Aquamajestic | Disappearing Propeller Co. | Greavette Boatworks | The Rum Runners |
| Azzura Marin | Garwood | Ditchburn | Chris-Craft | Cherubini Yachts |
| Hacker | Pegiva | Dolvik | Riva | Van Dam Custom Boats |
Osburn zodel Kits has some great antique wooden boat models
Barefoot wooden boats on Gabriola Island, B.C. providing you wooden boat building, restoration, repair, educational programs, rentals and adventure charters
Take six 20 something year olds who all have a connection to Middlebury Vermont and someone says lets row and sail and open boat from the San Juan Islands to Alaska. On we need a boat, well we will build one. Here is the story of the Hunter Bay Boat Project which is the brainchild of Ben Brouwer and his parents, Molly Bill and Steven Brouwer. It began with Ben’s interest in sailing and rowing a small open boat from his home in the San Juan Islands to Alaska with a group of friends. Steven took the idea a step further and documented the construction and events. Enjoy!
Purdy 74ft Commuter Yacht Restoration by Brooklyn boat yard in Maine, a fascinating look at a antique wooden boat rebuild. Some of the best photo’s I have seen to date of a total restoration with superb craftsmanship! This boat can achieve speeds over 40mph, APHRODITE’S guest list over the years reads like a “Who’s Who” in the worlds of government, business and entertainment with such luminaries as Fred Astaire, Sir Laurence Olivier, Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, Henry Ford II, FDR advisor Harry Hopkins and Nelson Rockefeller aboard for summer day cruises down Long Island Sound. APHRODITE also once served as the site for a birthday party for Shirley Temple.
Whio , ( say feeo ) the Blue Duck.is an 29ft fantail Launch, that can travel 17 knots per hour which will blow your hat off if you are not in the curved cabin that follows a 1920’s styling cue. With a 55 hp diesel engine and unique slender hull this boat sips fuel and is a joy to drive. This boat only weighs 2,976 pounds and is trailer able. What a fantastic boat, click on the link and read more and thanks to Wooden Boat magazine for sharing this story !
For efficiently cutting the lawn or removing snow in Muskoka click here for more V8 powered info
You think you use fuel!
2,000 HP Outboard Inflatable ..
Here’s the latest drug runner toy from Europe …
This thing belts across the English channel 3 times per week and was just a blur on the radar of the British Coast Guard.
They were so astonished by the speed of the unknown craft, they brought in a
special high speed helicopter to chase it. Drugs were found on board. Of course,
you’d have to be on drugs to put the throttle down on this thing!
Bill Turners family has been building Aristocrat boats since the 1950’s, these sporty sleek boats are still being made today at very affordable prices, call Bill at 770-475-5455 and see his web site www.aristocraftboats.com
Starrigan is a Newfoundland expression to describe a thing of beauty or a work of art Read here about Father and son Wayne & Peter Brown restoration of a 1955 14ft Peterborough Water Craft Fisherman Utility boat.It was a great bonding experience for the pair, it taught 13yr old Peter many skills and the family has a new heirloom “Starrigan
These Ladies helped out at the Buffalo Boat Show and we thought this photo might help some of that Buffalo show.
Check out more of Bruce Amos Photo’s
Highlight photo‘s of the 23rd Wine Country Wooden boat show 2005
Australian boat builders and there 22ft Hacker Gentleman’s Racer featured in Wooden Boat Magazine.
Check out the photo’s of the New Hampshire Vintage Race Boat Regatta held in Wolfeboro. Great collection of photo’s.
This boat was built for an 84 year old gentleman who happens to love to drive this boat regularly..he loves the sound and I thought you would enjoy this boat !
Speed..at Least the Legal Limit… This boat is NOT FOR SALE
20ft 5step hydro, a 502hp turbocharged Offenhauser engine @ 8,000 rpm out of 160 cu inch motor
for some great reading and pictures of Muskoka Wooden Speedboats from the early 20’s to now
Rapture is a 24′ 6″ 350hp boat that you will enjoy
Gannon and Benjamin Marine Railwayis a shop in Maratha’s Vineyard that builds some of the finest traditional wooden sailing yachts in the world.
For Wooden boat building, wooden boats for sale in Muskoka Canada, wooden boat restoration and wooden boat pictures are all here at portcarlingboats.com Click on the links below.
A little photo section of a Gar Wood Gentleman’s Racer
A site with some excellent photo’s of some of the finest gentleman’s racers
Here are a few unusual boats:
Some Muskoka Antique Wooden Boats:
