What Would BOB Think? By Rabbit
The Gull Lake Show has become one of the largest in the country..world.
While writing the WoodyBoater story about the huge bash the Land-O-Lakes chapter is throwing in September in honor of Bob Speltz and I couldn’t help but think, WHAT WOULD BOB THINK? I mean, some of these amazing shows with hundreds of boats, that website called WoodyBoater… and all of US.
To back up, Bob Speltz is one of the true pioneers of our hobby. The first wooden boat show on Lake Minnetonka in 1976 was spearheaded by Todd Warner with help from Orly and Lucile Thornsjo, but Bob quickly joined them. That same year, Bob started a boat show in his hometown of Albert Lea, Minnesota. A year later Bob was a co-founder of the Land-O-Lakes chapter. We’re talking the mid 70’s folks, when any wood boat that dared bare its transom while backing out of a boathouse or a barn was sent directly to the burn pile.
The book series. A colossal undertaking and the most important book series to our community
Of course, Bob also authored the six volumes of The Real Runabouts, beginning in 1977. He simply didn’t want those hundreds of boat builders that he chronicled in perfect detail to be forgotten. Well, they haven’t Bob! And, in no small part, thanks to YOU. But back to our boat shows in this the year of 2026. Yes, there will be a huge Bob Speltz 50th anniversary celebration on September 11-13 on Lake Minnetonka at Lord Fletcher’s, the unofficial home base of the Land-O-Lakes Chapter. (Just GO!) And because the chapter was founded a year after that first show, the celebration will continue into 2027, concluding at the Gull Lake Classic in August of 2027.
Gull Lake
Speaking of Gull, The 2026 Gull Lake Classic is coming up on the weekend of August 29th at the beautiful Bar Harbor Supper Club in the Brainerd Lakes area of Northern Minnesota. And for those of you who have only attended when Gull hosted the ACBS International show, well, every year is about 90% as spectacular as that. And that’s saying something. All those photos from Steve Lapkin, Dane Anderson and others can attest to that. This year’s show honors a “Century of Century,” BTW.
This years poster for Boat The Blue. You can thank me later Greg
Imagine Bob looking down from heaven and see us giddy with joy at Lake Minnetonka, Gull Lake, Lake Dora, Hessel, Muskoka, Lake Tahoe, Boat the Blue, Clayton… I could go on and on. So many amazing shows all over the US of A and Canada. Bob, you and your contemporaries really started something wonderful. You left us too soon, just as this little hobby was turning into a full-scale movement.
Bob, at the helm in heaven.
And when we all gather in Minnesota this September to honor you, we know you’ll be looking down on us, in your signature skipper’s hat, with a big ole GRIN.
Bob and his hat
Registration and details for the Real Runabouts Rendezvous honoring Bob Speltz, including accommodations, are right here: https://lolcbc.org/annual-bslol-rendezvous-event/
Information about The Gull Lake Classic Boat Show at Bar Harbor can be found here: https://lolcbc.org/gull-lake-classic-at-bar-harbor/
You can learn more about Bob here https://www.woodyboater.com/classic-boat-art/who-is- bob-speltz-were-glad-you-asked/ There’s also a great read by Land-O-Lakes historian Lee Wangstad right here: https://acbs-bslol.com/boating-history/bobsboathouse/505albertlea/
Thanks Matt!
Many wonderful events that I wish I could attend, but we are too busy gearing up for Boat the Blue in Port Huron.
And thank you Bob Speltz for your vision and passion!
Wow! What a great story and plug! Greg, nicely done, a plug on a plug you guys are great! The story was really cool. I do love the photos. Thanks Rabbit!
Bob was definitely a pioneer in our sport. I have his first book The Real Runabouts. It is nice to see a gathering honoring him. I am sure these will be some good shows.
Speaking of plugs, thank you Matt for including a photo of a Faribault map throw of Lake Minnetonka. That was not expected. In 2012 my wife and I invested way too much of our carefully saved retirement money to become a partner in this 160 year old woolen mill in Minnesota. We should have bought Apple stock or even an index fund because staying in the black with an American textile mill is a challenge every single day. But 100 people craft these wool blankets in ways that would remind you of the creation of our wooden boats. And just walking through the mill often brings a tear of joy to my eye. I designed the first lake map throw and they’re some of our most popular. I even designed one for my home lake of Balsam Lake, Wisconsin (as a fundraiser) and hid an Easter egg of Rabbit in the bay in front of our cabin. Not a plug! I’m just proud of what the people make there.
This is a wonderful connection coming full circle! In 2014 I was long distance with my the fiancé (now wife) and to keep her warm in my absence I bought her a Faribault Weekender Throw. It is a family favorite amongst our children now and will likely become a family heirloom…. only problem I am going to need to buy one for each child…. along with a wooden boat each I suppose..
Hope as a family to make it to one of these shows!!
From your mill
Special thanks to Terry Young for the BOb Speltz photos!
I was hoping Lee Wangstad might contribute today.
He was a very good friend of Bobs, and if I recall his story, Bob sent him up to the attic when he was visiting one time, and told him to take all the Fiberglassics brochures, because Bob would not have time to write that last book…
Which explains why Lee is the guru of Fiberglassics!
Lee is an amazing font of information. He needs to write that fiberglass book!
More Bob pics tomorrow..
Outstanding article, Matt. You’ve really captured the essence of our pastime. And Bob Speltz – and now, his BSLOL chapter of the ACBS – continues the excellent work he and others back in the day started. This is what it’s all about.