Reedville Classic Boat Show Breaks Record!

Andy Cockrell’s of Cockrell’s Marine Railway. amazing Matthews, It’s a very original nice running boat. We spent Sunday out on the bay. Never been up on a roof control.. Fun stuff for sure
Here in tiny little charming quiet Reedville Virginia, 45 Antique and Classic boats filled the docks behind folks homes for a spectacular day of sunshine, wind and great conversation. The live music at the end of the day had to be canceled due to a nasty storm that came in. But overall, an incredible day. This show has been the dream of one man, Clif Ames, who had led the charge for 9 years. Turning the town into a fun day of celebrating antique water craft at the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum. He is a task master and works his patootie off.
With a cast of over 20 volunteers from the museum, they seamlessly pull off a wonderful weekend. The mix of boats and historic homes is fantastic, from old by boats, a skip jack, cruisers and .. well, anything cool that floats.

The show centered at the Reedville Fishermens Museum is a mix of vintage boats, cars and buildings. Even a very very nice steam launch, hydro’s
This year was the largest and most entertaining. The parade is always crazy, and a ton of fun.. It’s more like 40 or so old boats all floating around missing each other and breaking down..Then somehow miraculously getting in a line as they pass by the dock, and then it’s chaos again.

This little Elco is a dream boat. 2 owner boat, new volvo motor.. Very very nice cocktail cruiser for the lake
The Gales Band B is a fixture here in Reedville , rich in history and fun just to tour. The up stairs is built like a ship. Center mast and all. Each gable is a part of a compass. It goes on and on.. You can see more right here. Click
Now of course, its not a boat show until someone gets towed.. And yes, thats Clif Ames being towed by Jim Schafer.. Jim of course can tow with his teeth. Apparently he had eaten his spinach in the morning.

As the weekend came to a sad end, folks were motoring home. Here is the Elco with her Whaler dingy heading out to the bay
Just another Matthews Monday. A seriously beautiful boat is that.
Also love that Elco. Perfect for cocktails, but fun to sleep aboard I’ll bet.
Re the “man tows boat with teeth,” I believe those photos capture an even more remarkable feat: “man lets wife drive boat.” Sorry Ranger, Gal, Boatress, et al, but for some of us, surrendering the helm is like a tooth extraction.
Maybe I’ll let my wife drive me around in the car 1st and then maybe give let her take the TV remote out for a spin before I relinquish the wheel to the sportsman. As for that two rope it looks like a commercial for Denture Polygrip. “STRONG ENOUGH TO TOW A BOAT!”
OK Alex, no beer for you at Tablerock!
Oops. Forgot one. Sorry Karen.
BTW, no gender disrespect implied.
It’s part control thing, part simply-love-to-drive thing.
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, Matt, you could make the best woody coffee table book ever just using your header shots. Of course, the book would need to have the same proportions. It wouldn’t make you rich but it would make a lot of people happy.
I hear ya Rabbit. Come on Matt.
YES to the coffee table book!
Looks like a fun VA time.
Gotta luv those boat parades, the one in Manistee was like rounding up wild horses (or dumb donkeys!).
Looks like a ton of fun. Will have to put that show on my bucket list
My bucket list overflowed the bucket long ago, I’m working on my second vat now. I’ve got so much I want to do I figure I need to stay active until I’m at least 150 years old. Just not checking things off as fast as shows like this and Mathews in the header are added on.
I know the feeling Rick, shooting for 125 but might have to live longer to even finish all the boat projects in my garage
Here on the West Coast, it’s alright if your wife even owns her own boat.
Dear god! How does that work?
damn liberals.
Just like it does in any other state. You guys are in trouble!
I never gave up the helm, I was still controlling the boat with my knee. I think the that the 14 foot “Wirlwind” with an 18 horse Johnson towing a 17 foot Chris is the real statement being made here. Just glad my bench seat didn’t pull out or I would have been in the water – teeth or no teeth.
It was indeed a spectacular day with so many great boats. I was really impressed by the number and diversity of the cruisers in attendance!
The high point however was going for a ride with Matt aboard his Chris-Craft “Suzy” with my wife Cindy and our friends Mike & Michael!
Thanks for a great day Matt!
See WoodyGal? Jim couldn’t give up the wheel either.
Easy for you to say, your not going to Tablerock…
Great event, always fun to see the gang and “go boating”
John in Va.