Portage Lake – Great, Just Great, I Forgot One More Show In Two Weeks.

Lots of history!

What the hell? Can’t you all have shows on different week ends? Now, I have a show in Ohio that I want to go to. Ugh, and it looks like the YNOT gang is going to be there in full Fiberglass outfits. AHHHHHH, so you know its gonna be a fun time on the water. no static stuff for these guys. The energy on the water is electric.

Arron and their amazing Silver Arrow

This is a great show, and maybe if I drive to New Jersey on Friday Morning, Stop, say hi, then go to Ohio, and then to Michigan on Sunday morning, and haul home. What could go wrong? EEEESH! I think I will just stay with my boats this year at the Hopatcong show. Maybe next year try two shows in one weekend. Is it even possible? I smell an adventure.

Here is the official press release in all its glory. Take it away Walt!

Photo from last year

THE 42nd ANNUAL PORTAGE LAKES ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC BOAT SHOW SATURDAY, JUNE 24TH 2017

On Saturday June 24th plan to attend the Portage Lakes 42nd annual antique and classic boat show. This free event will be held from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the “On Tap at the Harbor” restaurant and docks, on Portage Lakes Drive in Coventry, Ohio, just 5 miles south of downtown Akron. There will be over 50 beautiful wood and vintage fiberglass boats, both in the water and on land which display the elegance and craftsmanship of America’s skilled boat manufacturers.

There will also be a “Field of Dreams Sale Lot” with boats for sale on display.

The Antique and Classic Boat Society, an international organization devoted to the preservation and recognition of all types of personal watercraft with over 55 chapters throughout North America and Europe. The North Coast Ohio Chapter with over 130 members are very active in restoring, showing, and using their unique boats. Many of these members will have their boats on display at this show.

In the last few years, there has been growing interest in the original fiberglass boats which became popular in the late 1960’s as wood boat production was phased out due to shortages of mahogany, production costs, and desire for easier to maintain boats. Those earlier model fiberglass boats had unique designs influenced by the finned automobiles of the late 50’s and 60’s. You will see some of those boats at the show.

One unique fiberglass boat from manufacturer Chris Craft, is the Chris Craft “Silver Arrow”. This is one of Chris Craft’s early attempts to make a fiberglass boat. The hull material is spruce wood covered with an outer layer of fiberglass. Made for two years, 1958 and 1959, the 19-foot boat only came in one hull color—silver, hence the name. At the time, no one would have guessed these boats would earn a cult following and become so popular. There were only 92 built and they all came with the same Tango Red & White interiors. There were three engines offered; Chris-Craft KFL 6-Cylinder, GM 185 Hp, 283 c.i.d. V-8 and the Dearborn Interceptor 215 made by Ford.

We will have one of the best examples of the Chris Craft Silver Arrow at our show. It is the 50th boat in this series made by Chris Craft and is owned by Aaron LeDonne of Ynot Yachts in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. His restoration and boat building company has lovingly restored this boat to a state of perfection. It is truly something to behold.

There will also be some award-winning boats from all around Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania at this year’s show.

Come and enjoy a lavish breakfast buffet and dockside dining next to the gleaming chrome and sparkling, varnished, floating works of art. The always popular collectable show posters and t-shirts will be for sale. Over 50 fine local businesses and organizations have sponsored this unique event that is one of the longest running antique boat shows in the U.S. Along with the North Coast Ohio Chapter our co-sponsor of the show is the Portage Lakes Historical Society.
Don’t miss this celebration of summertime and beautiful boats on the Portage Lakes, Saturday June 24th, “OnTap at the Harbor”. For show and registration information contact the show chairman, Gil Maringer, 216-310-7475. Or visit there website HERE

Walt Stashkiw
Publicity Chairman

8 replies
  1. Wilson
    Wilson says:

    I remember doing two in one weekend…Started at Charlie Cross old marina in Celeron, NY and then Sunday morning drove over to Keuka for the race to Hammondsport and back.I remember a chance meeting with Joe Fleming who put me in his boat and took me all over the lake. Those shows were a little closer than what you are talking about today

    • m-fine
      m-fine says:

      You could do shows on Chautauqua and Keuka lakes in the same day, but I don’t think Matt could spell either of them well enough to program his GPS.

        • Matt
          Matt says:

          HAHAH, actualy they also call it Lake Webster, and that was where Thayer IV and Mariah were found.

        • m-fine
          m-fine says:

          Lake Char­gogg­a­gogg­man­chaugg­a­gogg­chau­bun­a­gung­a­maugg. How hard can it be?

      • Wilson
        Wilson says:

        Not sure but I think I went before GPS…I remember trying to use a map to find the Buffalo airport so I could get home that night so I could be back in the office Monday morning.It was close but I made the flight.

  2. Wolfgang
    Wolfgang says:

    How about the Presque Isle wooden boat show this coming weekend at the Presque Isle Harbor. On Friday they do a hour long parade lap of Grand Lake. Plus many other happenings, like model boat and airplane show, Model T’s, Corvettes and more.

Comments are closed.