Antique Boats Gathering for Annual Lake George Rendezvous
The Adirondack Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS) will present their 38th Annual Antique & Classic Boat Rendezvous on Aug. 27th from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Lake George Village docks. The rendezvous began in 1974 and was designed as a finale of the summer antique boat competitive and non-competitive shows.
The lack of competitive judging at the rendezvous creates an atmosphere of dockside fraternization. However, exhibitors and participants are asked to vote on boats in the different ACBS categories. The public also votes for the “People’s Choice” Award. According to Johnson, there will be a boat parade starting at 3 pm as well.
The vision of the ACBS is to provide an organization wherein people with a common interest in and love of historic, antique and classic boats can come together with friends and colleagues in a spirit of friendship and fun to share dreams, adventures, knowledge, history and experiences.
This year the boaters will be joined by the Adirondack Triumph Association. The car club was founded in 1978 and is open to owners of all makes of British Cars and motorcycles. Boat show registration chairperson Maria Johnson said they hope to have 15 to 20 cars on display roadside. Johnson said over 40 boats have pre-registered for the popular event as well.
“There will be a wide selection of boats for viewing this year,” Johnson said. “John Tully has registered “Caprice”, a 1926 Sound Interclub sailboat. George Balaschak from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida will display a 1954 22-foot Gravette Streamliner and an un-restored, rare 1942 16-foot Chris-Craft stepped hydroplane will be part of the land display,” Johnson said.
Johnson said the Mohawk-Hudson Chapter of the Antique Outboard Motor Club, Inc. (AOMCI) will have a land display of antique and vintage motors at this year’s show. “Club members will be on site to answer any questions. If you have an old outboard motor, bring a picture of it and the model number so we can identify it for you,” club president Mike Glenn said.
Glenn said the outboard display will feature two vintage racing hydroplanes. “We won’t be running boats on Lake George but we will have several in the water on Schroon Lake September 25 when we have our annual fall get-together,” Glenn said.
Johnson said a 1919 Old Town canoe owned by Allan Fosella will be one of the boats displayed on land. In addition to having boats on land and in the water, the show will have several vendors this year. “The Adirondack Chapter’s Ship’s Store will be set up on the pier,” Johnson said. “There is another vendor called Bar-Craft Boat Bars. The company sells barware in addition to making bars which resemble runabouts,” she added.
George Sperry, president of the Adirondack Chapter said the “Adironduck” will be in the water at the show this year. The “Adironduck” was a kit-boat built a few years ago by a group of junior-high students under the direction of chapter member Neil Slattery. Sperry will be offering rides in the boat throughout the day.