Jack Patterson and Marilyn Steiner were the moving forces behind the inaugural Wooden & Classic Boat Show in Pentwater in 1997. Hosted again this year by the Pentwater Yacht Club (PYC), the 28th annual Wooden & Classic Boat Show will take place Aug. 23. This writer learned that “classic” does not mean “antique.” The term classic refers to boats made of wood, fiberglass, or metal during the years 1943-2000.
David Peterhans (since 2002) and David Reynolds (since 2015) currently chair the event along with Frode Maaseidvaag. In an interview with Peterhans and Reynolds, they were quick to share the unique features of the Pentwater show. The location facilitates showing boats in the water surrounding the PYC as well as showing boats on the lawn of the Village Green. A large team of knowledgeable volunteers is available to help participants put their boats in the water, safely secure boats to the docks, position watercrafts for display on the lawn, and assist with loading all the boats for a safe return home.
“The participants consistently remark on the friendliness of the helpful volunteers and the community. They also love the setting and the food,” Reynolds shared. Peterhans added, “They pay only $30 to register their boat. That fee covers a buffet lunch prepared by the PYC staff, the gift of a handcrafted wood momento, and a full-color brochure of the show with a page for each boat entered.”
The owners are asked to send a photo of their entry along with a story or information about their watercraft which are then incorporated into the brochure.
Reynolds asserted, “Our show has a much wider variety of entries than many boat shows. We have canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, surf boards, old raceboats, sailboats, ice boats and power boats.” Peterhans was excited to report a first-of-its-kind entry this year. “We have a ‘one design’ Mirror sailboat registered this year. It’s an English design of which far more boats are constructed than any other design. On record 70,000 of them have been built, and most are built by the people who own them. We are thrilled to display one this year.”
Another special show feature is the workshop for children offered by the West Michigan chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association. It is an educational organization that wants to keep alive the memory of watercraft that predate boats with gasoline powered engines. The group provides kits to construct small wooden boats that the youths can take home.
While awards are common at boat shows, the award categories and the inclusion of voting by participants and public attendees at this show are worth mentioning. There are eight award categories. Best in Show is decided by exhibitors’ votes; The Peoples’ Choice is chosen by attendees’ votes; Best on Green is determined by the show committee; Best Classic, Best Wooden, and Best Century (a particular make) Boat are also chosen by the show committee; the Chris-Craft Stewardship Award is determined by the Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club, and a new award is being given this year for the Best Boat Name. Each award is a 9”x7” wooden plaque handcrafted by Peterhans.
The chairs leave their fingerprints on the event in varied ways. Each year a different poster marks the event, and Peterhans has twice also designed the event poster that is replicated on the front of the boat show brochure. Maaseidvaag heads a group that crafts the wooden momentos gifted to the exhibitors.
The average number of exhibitors is 50. Most entries come from within 150 miles, although one year an entry came from California. The event’s success depends on dedicated leadership and the support of many faithful volunteers. As the event grew, four team leaders were added to the co-chairs to manage the volunteers. The current team leaders are Doug Nelson, Mary Marshall, Russ Cross and Amy LaBarge. Ken Wiekal makes a video of the show each year that he posts on YouTube with musical accompaniment.
Interaction between exhibitors and attendees provides knowledge and pleasure to both parties. There is no fee to attend; the buffet lunch is available to the public for $20. Following the award ceremony, the exhibitors, with boats in the water, are invited to form a boat parade and take a short ride around Pentwater Lake for the viewing enjoyment of lakefront residents.
Reflecting on boat events in Pentwater, Peterhans smiled and said, “I guess if you describe the ‘Back from the Mac’ as a Mardi Gras event, you could describe the ‘Wooden & Classic Boat Show’ as an art gallery boat show.”
If you appreciate the art of craftmanship and value the history of boat building, be sure to attend the event in Pentwater next Saturday.
