It’s Always Warm And Inviting Up In Minneapolis.

classic boat shows

if you squint, it kinda looks like water? Water made of carpet.

A huge thanks to Dane Anderson for sending us in a great report and link farm from the Land-O-Lakes which this time of year is relegated to the Land-O-Indoor Boat Shows. Just a reminder to all of us that you can sniff the varnish all year around no matter what the temperature is.

It’s as if Dane is floating above the show. Watch out below. Dane had a couple hot dogs and nacho’s in the food court.

All kidding aside, I love this perspective. Love the escalator dock!

Last weekend was the annual winter Minneapolis Boat Show. The Land O Lakes Classic Boat club was in their customary spot in the front lobby with 10 classic boats on display and lots of volunteers to answer questions and promote all aspects of the Hobby.

WOW! I call this Plastic over Wood, next to Wood over wood on plastic over carpet

According to the NMMA, this event draws 38,000 attendees over the four day run of the show and is responsible for half of the annual 860 million in new boat sales in Minnesota.

RIVA perfection. The Play Pen says it all.

The Land O lakes group invites several related organizations to help round out the display space. This year the Legacy of the Lakes Museum  brought Dixie Baby, a 1921 Ventnor race boat on loan from the Antique Boat Museum to the show along with promotional material to hand out for both museums.

WE ALL BOW TO THE DIXIE BABY!

The Gopher Chapter of the Antique Outboard Motor Club was there with several motors on display and representatives to answers questions.

I have a feeling this is how all the meetings are, only beer, may be involved, oh and these shirts are clean..

perfection

The Museum of Lake Minnetonka brought their traveling display for the steam powered streetcar boat Minnehaha including a detailed scale model of the 70 foot boat. You can see more here.

WOW

Preaching to the Red Bag crowd

Urban Boatbuilders displayed a completed kayak. Their non profit mission to help youth prepare themselves for success in the modern world has been going on for over 20 years and continues to expand.

Bug Bite and Dixie baby

Two Woody Boater sponsors were at the show. Kevin Fitzke had Bug Bite in the Classic Boat display and also a booth on the main show floor.

Dave showing off his new pants collection.

Of course, Dave Bortner  from Freedom Boat Service was there showcasing the latest fashion trend of red corduroy trousers and a nice 18′ Cobra.

Best Spare tire cover of the entire Boat Show

And Honey, this is where you will wind up if you cut back on the throttle to fast

And what would any Minnesota anything be without a Falls Flyer?

A huge thanks to the Land O Lakes chapter for doing what they do best. And Dane for capturing it and reporting it to the Woody Boater authorities. And best yet, with no captions. Just the way I like it.

18 replies
  1. Greg Lewandowski
    Greg Lewandowski says:

    Nobody does indoor boat shows like the Land O Lakes gang. What a great display of watercraft. Congrats to them!

  2. George Emmanuel
    George Emmanuel says:

    So nice to see the Antique Outboard Motor Club represented!—But where were the motors displayed?

    George Emmanuel
    Treasurer, AOMCI

  3. Rabbit
    Rabbit says:

    Thank you, Dane. Thank you, Dave. Thank you to all the BSLOLers who brought such an amazing line up. But most of all, thanks to Al Lindquist, who chairs this event every year.

  4. Fred Bursch
    Fred Bursch says:

    Thank you Dane for the pictures and Dave for getting Dixie Baby down to MINNEAPOLIS. The Legacy of the Lakes Museum appreciates all of the exposure to the general public.

  5. floyd r turbo
    floyd r turbo says:

    Wow, That is a lot of work to put together, coordinating whose boat to display, cleaning the boats from winter travel layout before and after, inviting the different clubs and negotiating square footage with promoter. BSLOL has some major arm twisters apparently or their boat show group recognizes the interest woodies can generate. And who built that awesome dock/walkway and railing?? We always had issues trying to get square footage for Atlanta Boat Show. Very short sited organizers.

    • Dane
      Dane says:

      Floyd,
      All of the above. The BoatShow organizers treat the club as a featured exhibit and include the classics in their marketing campaign. Land O Lakes leadership works hard to set it all up including organizing lots of volunteers to answer questions on the floor. The walkways come from Niccum Dock, one of our key corporate sponsors.

    • Dane
      Dane says:

      Good eye Dick. The Gar belongs to Ray Ellis and it was in the water at the Minnetonka show last September. 1936 20′ Utility Sedan

  6. Brad Ernst
    Brad Ernst says:

    Yes it is a lot of work taking your boat out in the middle of winter with snow road salt but luckily BSLOL Has a lot of members that realize the value of this event and are more than happy to participate in bringing their boat. I have done so four times and have greatly enjoyed it hats off to all the volunteers what made this a success you’re after year.

    Brad Ernst

  7. thomas d.
    thomas d. says:

    nothing but plastic boat showa around here. water witch, polished when they’re perfect, bondo and paint when they’re not.

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