Pacific Northwest ACBS Celebrates Family Fun Day On Mason Lake – Part 1

The Pacific Northwest Chapter is located in a unique part of the country where they are active (on or near the water) year round, and as Chapter President Robert DaPron says – “We always have something going on here… Our focus this year as a Chapter was to have more boating related activities, getting away from the elaborate planned events. We have had many gatherings at various locations where we just get together, run around on the water and have fun with our classic boats.”

“We really have had a great year, everyone has been supportive and I give all the credit to the fine people within our Chapter.” – Robert DaPron

Today’s (and tomorrow’s) story from beautiful Mason Lake gives us a glimpse into one of the Pacific Northwest Chapters fun events. – Texx
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A Family Fun Day on Mason Lake, Washington
By Ron Stevenson

Wow! This opening shot says it all!

Above is Pacific Northwest Chapter member Craig Magnusson (old guy) WATER SKIING! On an old O’Brien water ski, with father/son team John & Brian Flaherty who own this great 1969 Chris Craft 17′ Cavalier Ski Boat – Doing exactly what it was designed to do in 1969. Brian left his wife Michelle ashore, who is expecting in November. Are you picking up on the Family Fun Day yet?

And, here is a shot of Janet Cathcart with hubby Tom, is she taking that picture of Craig? Lois and Karl Hoffman are along for the ride, Karl was the “Launch Master” and spent his morning in the water at the launch ramp.

Club members Rick & Jan Means, with able assistance from Mr. OCD Jim Geisy, organized an outstanding event for us and the community at Mason Lake here in Washington State last Saturday at the Simpson Employees Recreation area. It could be renamed the “Mason Lake Keels and Wheels.”

There were about 35 boats, and I don’t know how many cars (guessing around 100+/-?) in attendance. Now Mason Lake is out in the middle of NOWHERE. People weren’t complaining about no Internet, we were complaining about NO cell service at all… Which quickly turned into “who cares?” Lets go for boat rides! Which also resulted in everyone having way too much fun, and way too much food!! Boy, did they feed us! Three hundred burgers, and 200 brats were brought together for all the boat owners, car owners and oglers. Not many oglers though, this was an event for owners.

Let’s talk more about NOWHERE, where there are no people, just trees and tree farms:

or you can Click Here to see the big picture thanks to Google Maps.

Closest town is Shelton (to the south) of about 9,000 people. Most people drove the two hours from the Seattle area. But of course people came from all over… Or you can take the ferry, about another two hours ride/drive plus pay a ton to ride the ferry with your boat trailer. We even had people come up from the Portland area (Columbia-Willamette Chapter) and the Inland Empire Chapter (Eastern Washington). Co-organizer Jim Giesy has a way of telling you “you WILL be there”. Jim lives part time on the lake, and it is rumored that he has a perfect Chris-Craft Cobra, and a perfect Chris-Craft Capri; in his garage…

We were guests at the Simpson (Timber) Recreational area, a great facility with a boat launch, trees, a separate tie up area, with trees, playfields with tree borders, swimming area, all set in a wooded (duh) area. Beautiful, yet shady, and does not make for great photo ops. So some shots are a little shady. Like some of the boat & car owners.

Here is a shot the tie up area, notice the wonderful trees and shade? And the swimming area in the background in the SUN? And TWO oglers looking at the boats? Rick and Jim did get the good weather though. As I write this, the Pacific Northwest is in its 40th day of over 80 degrees, a new record!

We also had the Northwest Classic Boat Club in attendance, bringing in some great Fiberglassics. It was nice to include these folks!

From the Northwest Classic Boat Club website:

The Northwest Classic Boat Club celebrates vintage and classic boats of all types, including fiberglass, wood and aluminum construction. Our main focus is classic powerboats – runabouts, launches and cruisers of all sizes – but all types of vintage boats are warmly welcomed. Our member’s craft range from rowboats to large cruisers, from the family fishing boat to white-knuckle speedboats. What we all share is a love of vintage boats and boating with friends.

Our motto is “Good Boats, Great Friends”

We have more “on-the-water” events than any other boat club in the region. We love to get out on the water with friends who share an interest in old boats, and constantly stress boating safety, family get-togethers and inclusion of the next generation of classic-boat lovers.

You can Click Here to check out their great website.

Brian Flaherty (and his 1969 Chris-Craft Cavalier) is a member there, and also is a member of our ACBS Chapter. Brian’s Boat:

Brian snapped some great shots of some the Fiberglassics, these are 1958-59 Uniflites, owned by John Joe and Kelly, and built in Bellingham, Washington.

Here is a shot of Chuck’s 1959 Skagit with Kelly’s Uniflite in the foreground. Skagits were built in La Conner, Washington.

We ran out of room quickly, so some boats were beached, like this very nice 1959 GlassCraft.

Some were left on trailers but still Woody Boater worthy… Everybody is welcome here.

…and a nice 1956 Reinell, owned by Joesph Govednik;

Joesph is an important guy at the Foss Waterway Seaport Museum, in Tacoma, Washington.

From the Foss Waterway Seaport Museum website:

“Celebrating Tacoma’s rich maritime heritage—past, present and future.”

In case you missed it, here’s a link to the story we did on Woody Boater featuring the Foss Waterway Seaport Museum.

Kind of all one big boating family gathered together at Mason Lake, right?

But wait, there’s more! Stay tuned tomorrow for Part 2 of Family Fun Day on Mason Lake presented by the Pacific Northwest ACBS Chapter. – Ron Stevenson

Great report Ron – looking forward to Part 2 tomorrow!

Texx
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