Lake Dora – Pre Week To The Worlds Largest Classic Boat Show!
Today marks the beginning of the pre week to the 2012 Sunnyland Antique & Classic Boat Show. Normally as you know this week is marked with fun and joy mixed with the anticipation of seeing friends and hundreds of the nations top boats. Sadly as you know, this weekend had a horrible series of tragedy’s play out. Starting with one death on Saturday in the Jersey Skiff demonstration and yesterday with two deaths in the Hydro demonstration. The only silver lining in all this is that clearly all three men died doing what they loved to do. With that said, there are hundreds of classic boaters showing up each day to take full advantage of this time of year in Woody Boater paradise.
We are all set up in our headquarters on Lake Dora between Tavares and Mt Dora. Just look for the sons of varnish banner. Suzy is running great after her winter nap, and the gang is getting under way on the water.

Suzy out on Lake Dora, Paul and Karen Harrison and The Woody Boatress with me at the helm, Photo LArry Nichols.
This week we will be running around and taking advantage of the Canals and other water spots around the area. Stay tuned for more woody boating!
Looking forward to the show!!
Ha. Love that Sons-Sunrise photo. Worth getting up to capture that moment. It’s a statement of defiance isn’t it? “Hell no, we won’t g[r]o[w] (up)!”
Tavares North (the tropical town of Hessel) might just hit 80 degrees today. With ice still on Hessel Bay, the whole area will feel like one giant rum punch, with sweat running down the side of the glass. Minus the gators.
i dont know wo owns the boat in the header pic but i can tell even in that distant shot its got the wrong zipper tap on the top
That’s why the guests are sitting in the back. They’re trying to distance themselves from that zipper pull.
Have fun you guys, we wish we were there with you.
Hmmm. Paul’s in the boat with you? Any kissing going on? Oh wait. Mayer’s not there yet. Scratch that.
30 degrees this a.m. in Seattle. We are envious! Enjoy yourselves and let us know if someone comes up with a good idea for something that we all could participate in that would bring some comfort to those who who survived the terrible tragedies over the week end.
Have fun guys, and make sure you tell us all about it.
Also, how is the lake level? Looks low in that dock pic, are there still issues with the damn and water levels in the area lakes, or is that dock built super high for flood levels?
lake is about 2-3 feet lower than last year, but not causing huge problems. It has apparently been a very dry winter here. I think the issues with the local dams and lake level control have been resolved, but this dock is built very much above even normal lake levels. i am not sure why and it makes ingress/egress difficult to manage at times.
I think I would need a ladder to get in and out of the boat, and I am much younger and thinner than some of the other Matts who post here!
… and you have to put up with this kind of abuse for what, another week??? I have to admire your courage to face the kind of hardships’ you do to report on these shows for the ‘rest of us’.
Do they still have the cruise down the St Johns River from Palatka ending up in Lake Dora?
That always sounded like a great cruise prior to a great event!
yes, it is going on now. We are meeting up with them for a day of cruising tomorrow as a matter of fact, courtesy of Jim Staib.
I did the the cruise the week after the show last year and despite poor weather we still had a great time.
Can’t wait to get there!