An Overview Of The Minneapolis Boat Show – From Overhead, By Dane Anderson
After receiving a few fresh coats of varnish by Freedom Boat Service, Dave Bortner was on hand with “Ondine” – Kermit & Jenny Sutton’s beautiful 1926 30′ Belle Isle Super Bear Cat.
Groundhog Day began on Sunday with Punxsutawney Phil emerging from his burrow in Pennsylvania and predicting six more weeks of winter, much to the chagrin of those hoping for an early spring – but classic boaters are a tough bunch and don’t let winter get in the way of promoting the hobby.
Despite the frigid temperatures and less than perfect road conditions in Minnesota, the hard working, dedicated people from the Bob Speltz Land-o-Lake Chapter ACBS were in high gear this weekend at the 2014 Minneapolis Boat Show. This year we received two reports from the floor of the Minneapolis Boat Show, the first was a Live-ish report on Saturday from fellow Woody Boater Eric Sandin and then a follow-up report from Dane Anderson on Sunday, with a mostly aerial view of the classics at the show. – Texx
The elegant Super Bear Cat is powered by a spectacular 1929 Hispano-Suiza V-12 Nbr. The big V-12 develops 650 HP / 2,000 ft. pounds of torque @ 2,000 RPM.
As floor space is at a premium for many of the winter boat shows, some ACBS Chapters are having to deal with smaller areas for their classic boat displays, which was the case at the Minneapolis Convention Center this year. But the Bob Speltz Land-O-Lakes Chapter presented a nice variety of boats, reporting good spectator traffic throughout the weekend.
Worth the price of admission just to see this immaculate boat in person, and great to have Dave Bortner there to answer questions from the cockpit.
Shipwreck Boat Works from Princeton, MN & Dresser, WI specializes fiberglass boat repair and restoration. Their display this year included a great looking 1958 Fall Flyer – flying high in their booth!
The ’58 Falls Flyer looked great inside as well, with the period Attwater components. Scott McInnes from Shipwreck Boat Works knows his way around a fiberglass classic and is a highly skilled fiberglass guy.
And we all know you can’t have a good boat show in Minnesota without including a classic wooden outboard. Conner and Peter Slocum’s great looking 14′ Peterborough was featured with the Bob Speltz Land-O-Lakes Chapter ACBS display.
From above, adjacent to “Ondine” – Dane captured a nice shot of “Persistence” Bob Buttery’s award winning 1958 Century Resorter 19′ powered by a Graymarine 225 V8.
Restorer Del Van Emmerik from Maple Grove, Minnesota specializes in unique, early fiberglass boats, and brought his perfectly restored (and unusual) 1966 7ft Cir Craft to the show this year. The little outboard stops everyone in their tracks.
“Jenny C” a rare 1932 Dodge 25.5′ Triple Cockpit Runabout was recently restored by David Watts at Little Rock Boatworks in Rice, Minnesota.
Powered by a Lycoming 165 HP / 420 CID straight 8, the 25.5′ Dodge runabout (Hull #109) was originally sold to a family located on Lake Sunappe, New Hampshire. She is now owned by Russell Hagen from Minneapolis, MN.
And last-but-not-least, the always popular StanCraft Edition Beninngton Pontoon Boat was also on display at this year’s show.
Another shot of the neo-classic StanCraft Edition Beninngton Pontoon Boat. I think we should test drive one of these next summer – preferably in the late afternoon / early evening, just before sunset… – Texx
Special thanks to both Eric Sandin and Dane Anderson for taking the time to send us a report from the Minneapolis Boat Show, we appreciate the effort. Also congratulations to the hard working folks from the Bob Speltz Land-O-Lakes Chapter on another successful winter boat show!
Texx
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From 1961 – Here’s Punxsutawney Phil announcing six more weeks of winter. (The National Weather Service says Phil is usually WRONG). Let’s hope…
We also heard a rumor that there were a couple of Canadian’s down in Minneapolis for the boat show this weekend… Did anyone see these guys?
now that takes all the frustration out of my day. nice one.
Love the perfect mix of wood and glass by the chapter.
Love Del’s Tricked out
Tee Nee trailer every time! Still working on mine.
Relying on a woozy rodent doesn’t seem like a very scientific forecasting method. Probably more accurate and less political than some of those global warming models though. Ever seen a groundhog (aka land-beaver, whistle-pig, or woodchuck) “follow the money?”
Here’s an idea. Suppose we ask all those people in the southern hemisphere to aim their fans north this time of year. We’ll promise to return the favor when it’s summer here. Wouldn’t the whole planet’s temp even out?
But this is about boats. Such beautiful ones in MN. I’m a little confused tho. The sentence reads: “After receiving a few fresh coats of varnish by Freedom Boat Service, Dave Bortner was on hand with “Ondine.”
Exactly who or what got the varnish treatment? Dave or the boat.
Reminds me of that t shirt that reads:
Let’s eat grandma.
Let’s eat, grandma.
(Commas save lives.)
Maybe if we threatened to start using groundhog hair brushes for applying varnish during especially long winters they wouldn’t be so quick to forecast 6 more weeks of varnish time. Those show pictures make me want to go out and hug Panther, but too much snow in the way today. Damn groundhogs!
Winter classic boat displays at NMMA Boat Shows by ACBS Chapters are worth the time and effort. The Mississippi Valley Chapter, ACBS are given space to display our classics at the St. Louis Sports & Boat Show every February and receives acknowledgement for being the most popular display year after year. It’s a lot of work in the dead of winter but has proven to be the single most successful method for signing up new members to the ACBS and our Chapter.
Ground Hogs are cute but they are still a rodent. There’s one that lives in our suburban neighborhood that also didn’t see his shadow. This little guy stops, looks and listens before crossing the road. Wish the kids would learn to do that as well. A skateboarder T-Boned my wife’s Mustang not long ago right where this Ground Hog crosses frequently. The kid was ok but his skateboard didn’t survive. The kid could learn a thing or two from the Ground Hog, but still don’t think that the rodent can change the calendar.
I say filet the rodent and SEE if the weather improves. Worst that happens is one less rodent and the associated holes. Only kidding, but not really.
Hi,
Where can you get thoose kind of hatch stays that are seen i the pics above with the Hispano engine?
Lee Valley Tools sells a variety of different stays that may be suitable for this purpose , including these “old-timey versions made from 1/8” steel stock with an antique finish…. which may need plating for marine use .
Thanx, I’ll check them out! 🙂
Just checked and they are close but no cigar! 🙂
The ones above are bigger and better looking!
Anymore suppliers out there?
Hey, nowbody??
Hi,
Classic Boat Connection has hatch supports that look exactly like the hatch stays on Ondine. They come in two different sizes:
11 1/4 inch or 12 7/8 inch (HATCH1114 or HATCH1278) The one on Ondine may be a little longer but not sure!
Thanks Phil.
My friend John Allen in San Jose, CA restored and marine converted that Hisso. Awesome.
Brian,
It sounds pretty good too!
Super photos! Thanks!
Great photos Dane! Your smart phone camera is way better than mine! Ha!
Just catching up on the stories from the weekend.
GREAT stuff as always.
THANKS!
Thanks Eric & Dane!
It’s hard to find well-informed people on this subject, but you
seem like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks