Splash Mob! With A Special Reunion!
Rabbit and his herd.
A huge thanks to Rabbit for sending in this great story. And the best part is a special gift for me without knowing they gave me a wonderful memory.
SPLASH MOB ON SCONNIE’S CHETEK LAKES
I bet it sounded like an air raid!
Boat shows and winter clinics are great, but hands down, my favorite boat club activity is just spending a day on a great lake with fellow Woody Boaters. It’s also the perfect antidote to being cooped up so long during this pandemic.
Hail to the wave
On Saturday, June 20th Jay and Kate Fleck along with Scott and Molly Martin and their families hosted a crew from the Bob Speltz Land-O-Lakes chapter to a day of cruising and lunch on the Chetek chain of lakes in Northern Wisconsin. Under threatening skies, which finally opened up during lunch, there were seven woodies in all and that was just about perfect.
looks like a painting
The Chetek chain is a little over two hours from Minneapolis St. Paul so, with a thermos of coffee and couple of nuts of dough, it’s an easy day trip. With six, long narrow lakes -almost in a row- and 3,800 acres, it also makes for a perfect long day of cruising. And the chain just exudes classic Up North Sconnie charm, with tons of mom and pop resorts, boat-up watering holes, and a shoreline that so far hasn’t suffered the teardown mania common on so many lakes so close to major cities.
But speaking of boat-up watering holes, our original lunch spot closed during the pandemic, so Jay, Kate, Scott and Molly ended up hosting a wonderful BBQ lunch in Jay’s plush and open garage, allowing for fresh air and social distancing. Jay and Scott also treated us to a hike across the road to Jay’s work shed where Scott’s recently acquired and stunning 1928 Chris Craft triple, was getting a new transmission.
Hiding from the rain
Unfortunately, the steady rain started during lunch and showed no signs of letting up, so half of us cut our day short while the others cruised for several more hours. But rain or not, everyone had a great day. Including my daughter Katherine and her fiancé Eric, who left their home in Brooklyn and have been “working from our home” in Minneapolis and our cabin in Balsam Lake, Wisconsin, which is a short drive from Chetek. Other than the annual Fourth of July boat parade on Balsam, they had never experienced a splash mob, which they absolutely loved.
Perfection
Looks like fun
Quiet moment
Hale to the rain
Rumble rumble
More Rabbit fun
Beautiful lines
Wait.. I know that boat on the right
Not that one, but it is cool
THAT ONE! Holy crap, thats my first boat! The boat that started Woody Boater. She is still out there!
Wait, come back! And wearing the shirt! AHHHHHHHHHH!
Long live the Woody Boater Flotation Device shirt!
Yep, most of the boat shows are cancelled this year due to Covid. But, rest assured, there’s an antidote: Water, fresh air and mahogany.
Some of the boats in attendance:
Jay and Kate Fleck – 1947 Century Sea Maid
Brad and Rachel King, Lauren Fleck – 1960 Chris Craft Custom “Happy Landings”
John Humphrey – 1967 Century Resorter
Al and Barb Lindquist (with Jerry and Sue Low) – 1957 Chris Craft Sportsman “Blue Heron”
Ian and Annette Sandercock – 1955 Shepherd Runabout “Sandy’s Mistress”
Scott Martin – 1947 Chris Craft Runabout “Just Swell”
Bruce and Mary Bildsten – 1947 Gar Wood Ensign “Rabbit”
Photos by Rachel Fleck
A HUGE THANKS AGAIN TO RABBIT AND RACHEL FOR THE WONDERFUL REPORT AND MEMORY!
Here is some older photos of Just Swell as reference.
She is a wonderful boat!
My first ride ever in a classic speed boat. I was hooked at first rumble
My first classic wave
2008 I think?
This is the base art for the first logo for Woody Boater
The little boat above the door art is Just Swell ! And I feel Just Swell knowing she is still loved!
The first logo for Woody Boater.
What a great time! “There is nothing so much worth doing as messing about in boats”
I also agree that the CC post war Deluxe is a great boat!
This is Just a Swell story!
Thanks Rabbit and Rachel!! (and of course you too Matt)
Lots of fun the get togethers are more fun than a show. A great regatta to do is get together with someone who has a Dippy and go on the Dispro regatta in September. So much fun
Any photos of the 1928 Chris?
What a cool story ! Creat pictures, Looks like as good time. Sconnie Chetec lake is now on my travel bucket list. I would imagine that it was really neat to see your old boat Matt. How did it go all the way from Va to Wi.
For the record. I just noticed the SPASH mob header typo. Now one of my favorite typos so I am leaving is up.
Matt we are sooooooo used to you’re speling we don’t even notise it any longger.
In another league, that being the “classic” part of ACBS is our 1978 Glastron GT-150. My wife, Tracy (Jay Fleck’s sister), and I were part of this parade around the chain. We scooted ahead to take photos from time to time, but enjoyed the pride of being part of such a cool event. Watching people sprint to their docks to see us go by was very heart-warming and I am glad we were invited to join in with this wonderful group of people and their fabulous antique boats.
Silly Mike, it is a 1977 Glastron.
Here is the brochure page for the 1977 GT-150
Thanks to Rachel and Brad for the great photo’s!
The award for most beautiful split windshield in the woody boater world goes to Gar Wood Ensign “Rabbit”. Just the right proportions, delicate but strong hardware and perfect rake. Second is CC Riviera. These gatherings are what I want to do when I retire. Ok, I’m 70 and still working, I guess my wife will just have to place my “remains” in my boat and haul it around to these events by the time I stop working.
Mike: Sorry I overlooked your Glastron! It was so cool. But you were always buzzing ahead of us and Rachel didn’t catch you with her camera. Classic glass rocks.
Great photos Rachel. Looks like a great day on the water.
Rabbit has a trailer??
Dane, I get lazy with the trailer. I never get sick of Balsam Lake, where my cabin is. And when you’re lucky enough to have a boathouse I don’t even have to pull Rabbit for the winter. I guess I prefer water to asphalt!
I blowed up the shot real good!
Really cool story and great photos. Looked like a lot of fun.
I would love to boat Chetek in my Chetek!
Looking good, Neil. Sadly had to sell the Middy May. She’s in good hands up in Sparta, WI.
Blast from the past! Great to hear from you. My time is not always my own, unfortunately, but after a few years of adding bits and pieces I now at least have a decent trailer, cover, rain top, etc. and can now go places when time permits. I think they dropped the event in Chetek a few years ago, but still would like to boat there someday.
I had to work