Antique? Classic? Or Vintage Boating?

These are terms that are thrown around alot these days, and especially in our little universe here in Woodyboaterville. This all struck me while cruising ebay for “vintage ” stuff, and I came upon some ads that I had done, and others that I know who did.  Like magazine ads from the late 80’s. Remember magazines? WHAT? And it hit me. And I am sure Rabbit right now. We are vintage. And yes, you reading this are vintage.

It was new and cutting edge back in the very early 90’s. Now, Vintage. Yes thats the Alps, with a factory Z1 that I was allowed to drive for the day while working on the BMW account. I had a day off, I drove the hell out of it and loved it. I was on a photo shoot for the new BMW 850 V12 Engine.  BTW, that 850 V12 is an insane car. But I would take a Z1 over it any day. Funny how a simple snapshot taken in fun at the moment would evoke a vintage vibe one day

Thats me in the back, Paris France 1964 ish. I think? Maybe Munich 1966? I still have the sled, and sister. Nina the Russian Poodle was my best friend. That would have been just 20 years after Paris was recaptured by the USA in WW2.

It’s shocking to start doing the time game BTW, when I was 12 and fascinated by the Civil War, that was just 100 years earlier, AND WW2 another fascination was just around 20 years earlier.

Paris 1960’s By my Mother Mary R. Smith she was an artist for her entire life. We just found this painting. Looks very vintage to me now.

WHAT?  To be clear, I am still wondering what I want to do when I grow up. I am not kidding. I am mentally still 12 in many respects. So, to clear my head I did some internet searching. YA. I know. I didnt go to the library, I just typed in VINTAGE, ANTIQUE…. And up came Martha Stewart. YUP, Say what you want, but she does know this stuff, and according to her, and many others.

Vintage is like 20 years old to around 100 years old, an all around term for stuff that is nostalgic and evokes a memory. We all are in fact VINTAGE BOATERS.

Where as antique is over 100 years old, something that is now art, and should be preserved, not restored and transcends its usefulness as what ever it was to, well art. There are desks, and then there are ANTIQUE desks. One you use and then leave out at the curb, and the Antique one just sits there and gathers old papers in the drawers.

Classic is kinda of a mash up of it all.  In the boat universe its over 20 years. BUT, I have often thought of the term Classic as more of a “timeless” reference, that somehow the object has stood the test of time and still holds up. Like a U22, a Barrel Back, Those are classics, while a Sea Ray, Vintage, and so on. Pontoon boats will be vintage, and I wonder if ever become classics. But time is a very strange thing. It marches on, leaving the stuff of memories behind. And then one day, you see it, feel it, and start a website called. MR MICROHONER. OH ya, we are going there.