Growing The Classic Boat Community – Clubs
The Knights Of The Round Work Table
First of all, I am not trying to stick my finger in anyone eye right now. I am trying to be objective and helpful. That was a disclaimer. As I wondered about the Willys universe I noticed something missing. A CLUB. Oh, I am sure there are a bunch of them, like web forums and so on. It’s all over the place. But clubs seem to be not in the top of mind area. Which I find very interesting. AND, to also make a point, wouldn’t join the club even if it did have one. I have Facebook as my club, and various web forums, and the parts guys all do content which takes all the value away from any club like thing. In other words, clubs are kinda obsolete. WAIT WAIT WAIT.. Jesus, give me a chance here!
A layer of decals means something
NOW, our clubs. The ACBS, CCABC and all the local chapters of the ACBS. We are a very spread out community and very small. A club makes sense. BUT, maybe not great for growing the passion, but great for retention in the community of classic boats. Facebook, Woody Boater and Classic Boating Magazine do the intro and emotional dream well. Only Facebook and WoodyBoater are free to new readers. We are the crack dealer that gives it away to get them hooked. YA I went there. Dark, but you are agreeing with me, so keep reading.
Shhh, Professor Woody is about to spew some varnish gold. – Roy Furchgott Photo
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
The ACBS is great for events, and a place for people that are in the know to act as ambassadors in a group setting. I always felt, and still do, it’s a privilege to be part of the ACBS. It’s a higher / serous level of passion. Which may be some of the emotion that is confused by any continual ask for joining. And maybe thats not a bad thing. Maybe you need to be invited? Make it more special, and possibly more expensive. Cheaper isn’t working? After all I can get all that clubs give me for free. Maybe being in the ACBS, or CCABC is a badge of honor, a symbol that you are in the know and someone that can be asked questions etc.
I’m waiting for you to stop sipping your coffee. – Roy Furchgott photo And yes, I find this embarrassing to show photos of myself. But dam, Roy nailed it. I dont look fat, miserable, have to pee and crazy. NO photoshop. Dang!
Maybe there is a tear level thing. First year is free. And you are served up basic stuff and helped, coached, have a mentor in the club, Then graduate to a second level and so on. I know sounds counter intuitive. BUT, do the Marines want everyone? NO. Only The Few, make a club more special. Make it mean something, and a place to rise to. Then the information, magazines, content is placed on a higher pedestal. Sure information is out there in gobbs. But as an ACBS member you have a qualified opinion. Like a Bloomington Gold Corvette thing. We all need a place to feel like we have achieved something.
Make the awards have deep deep meaning like they do at Lake Tahoe
I think you are on to something here. Make an introductory rate or junior membership class. Free access to the forums calendar, etc, no glossy magazines in the mail. As you get more involved you can get the full membership for discounts on merchandise and entry fees, etc. Having a free or very cheap option will keep lurkers on books until they have time or actually get a boat and want to upgrade. It’s good for the community.
With all my passions, it’s a full time job just renewing membership in everything I want to support. Often I drop off without realizing it. By the way, ‘auto-renew is a good thing for everyone, as long as you can easily stop it when the time comes.
Wow, professor Woody is really in deep thinking mode. I usually don’t comment on stories like this as I like to keep my WoodyBoater involvement a simple thing, but you have lured me in this morning.
I think the demographic of classic boaters benefit from ACBS and CCABC membership, but that is part of the issue. We grew up with and enjoy club activities. However, the younger people, even if they are attracted to classic boats, don’t like formal meetings, extremely organized events and just viewing docked boats. If we want to attract them into our passion we have to make some changes without ditching the things we already do.
More informal rendezvous/cruise kind of events. Spontaneous destination launch parties with “on your own” get together at fun spots. Workshops that are truly hands on learning experiences to maintain an interest in learning more. And yes, social media interaction that crosses demographic lines.
Matt, I can’t believe I wrote all of that, but I guess it’s just my two cents for today’s story!
Right on, Greg. By the way, I know the Michigan gang has a lot of get togethers during the summer but I never seem to know where to find out about them. I asked once before in the response was Facebook. Apparently I’m not looking in the right spot on Facebook. That’s on me, I should spend more time trying to figure it out. I think everyone has so many interests these days that you can’t commit 100% to any of them. That is the blessing and the curse of the internet
Steve, the most up to date info is in the monthly email blasts that go out to all chapter members.
Add something for our youths who show an interest, someone to carry the torch when we are gone, and someone who will keep my boat alive.
Sucked you in. See! It works
Useful to this discussion is we of the “fringe” who love and encourage our obsessed brothers in their wooden quests while having honestly faced the harsh reality of wooden boat ownership in a salt water world. We towel off his decks and share despair at his last coat of varnish, we drag our wives to the Clayton museum (again) and attend shows but ownership? I’ve got six classic plastics but this porch light Thompson is as close to wooden ownership as sensible judgment allows. I’d join a club, but the first question would be “why are you here but no wooden boat?”
Love your light shade entrance. Penn Yan’s make great decor accents.
Great lampshade Gary. Penn Yan’s make good dockor art also Floyd.
I agree. I have 2 more in storage that are waiting for canvas and minor wood repair along with 3hp o/b’s.
Gary: I used to think that if I didn’t own a Chris-Craft I would be a poser if I joined the club. Later on I joined (spent a couple years as president) and learned that the CCABC (Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club) would LOVE to have you as a member regardless of if one owns a wooden boat or not.
Please give up this thought process! “why are you here but no wooden boat?”
PS: Love the Thompson light!
Hi Troy, You probably know that the photo is of the Chris Craft Rondezvous back in 2015 on Puget Sound in Washington state. Ron Stevenson took that photo. The 57 Continental in the forground was my boat, Analog. That was a great event and a great day!
Also, for Matt… it was the socks that really got my attention! Ha ha!
Using the Marine military analogy…we have to take new members away from family and friends for a period of time, total break them apart and rebuild them just the way we want them. I’m out!
Seriously, I agree with several other folks that have responded. I have kids in their 30s and 40s. They want nothing to do with anything “formal”. It turns them off.
I believe, and it is just me, that this is not an organizational thing. Potential new members want to join by talking to folks that have wood boats and are members. I joined boat clubs to read, watch and learn. Even if you do not have a boat, you get to “pick” someone’s brain that knows stuff! This causes interest! I know because that is me! In “formal” get togethers, I often feel like an outsider. Now, if I come across someone just out for a boat ride I am very inclined to talk with them and learn something. Quite often, that is a very pleasant exchange! That one on one conversation is what causes interest and excitement. That is the way I look at WoodyBoater…a place where I can learn and listen to guys that know stuff! That’s my 2 cents worth.
That’s the coolest porch light I’ve ever seen.
Regarding community, being newer to it, I appreciate having a local chapter I could join and get to know and understand what events are out there to get involved with, help and begin to get to know people with a similar interest and a close source of knowledge. From there, the relationships can begin to branch out. Since the biggest apparent hurdle to people getting a wood boat seems to be fear or the maintenance work involved, I think the availability of a mentor program in these local chapters for newbies would help alot in getting new members in this hobby/community
and…Matt you look good in plaid flannel. You ever think about being a model!?
A side note: several years back i was asked to create a trophy for best engine. The one shown above was sponsored by Dave Olson who was a big deal kind of guy for the Tahoe Concours d’elegance. The invoice presented to Dave for the work on the trophy was: one high speed ride in Wild Horses.
I should have known that is your Art! Not Art that we know!
Hmm, like Boy Scouts? I mean Scouts, come in as a Cub, graduate to Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Eagle. Could be complicated but possible. As you move up in Scouts you have to show proficiency in each position, its been a long time 65 years ago for me. Things may have changed.
I hear ya, Matt. Most young people are not joiners. The future of ACBS is dependent on making it easier and more inviting. And what’s the value of ACBS? I’m reminded when I go to a breathtaking event like Woods & Water II this fall. Or for that matter, any Gull Lake or Lake Minnetonka show our Land-O-Lakes chapter puts on.
Had to comment—-I have been a member of Toy Train Clubs—-Model A clubs—-Street Rod Clubs—–Vintage Pick up Truck Clubs—Boat Clubs—-ACBS—–CCABC—–AOMCI—-The club I have enjoyed the most is the “People Club”——What I have learned over the years is that all these hobbies boil down to People. Boats—Cars etc are the glue that holds us all together and gives us the opportunity to bond. But, with out people or passion, there would be no comradery or spirit.
The Annual Sunnyland Antique Boat Festival evolves from a club, but its really a huge people event. we draw from 27 different states to include Europe and its compatible to a High School or College reunion. We encourage everyone to use their boats and we have three social events to promote friendship and Unity. Professor Matt—–Great lesson this morning—-Spot on!!!!—–Its about People
MS et al – the (your) mind is everything. “what you think you become” (Buddha)
Our PNW ACBS chapter has folks that contacts new members, assigns a mentor, who follows up. At the Seattle Boat Show, I try to encourage people (and they are younger) looking at the boats to join. “We don’t have one!”. Join anyway, we can help you figure what you want, help find one, and provide the network, etc. The start of the relationships about the people. We also created “Meetups!” sometimes a scheduled event, sometimes a last minute on-the-water event.
The Seattle Yacht Club has a sliding scale membership fee to join, based on age, you can join as a junior member at a greatly reduced initiation fee, and yearly fee. My Queen City Yacht Club has an “Intermediate” membership, same thing. Yacht clubs need younger people too!
Okay, someone has to be the nay sayer and I guess that’s me. So you want to grow clubs by making membership more exclusive? I used to be a member of ACBS and the Chesapeake Bay chapter. Took my plywood boats to St Michaels and even won an award one year. One year I managed to join a river run with club members and enjoyed the day. But my enthusiasm petered out because sitting in St Michaels for 3 days just got tiring. Yes, I enjoyed seeing the other boats and met some great people who were very welcoming but they seemed to be the exception. Maybe it’s that I’m generally not a “joiner” so I didn’t hang around at night after the show closed. But if you told me that I could join ACBS only on a trial basis and maybe if I participate enough by someon else’s standards I’d be allowed to get something for my club dues, well, that’s a complete disincentive. I thought I recalled a series of posts a year or so ago on how ACBS membership was dwindling? And this is a plan to grow clubs? It just sounds like an idea to make more exclusive clubs.
Well said! Thank you Walt!
We are 100% about the people here in the cold Northeast and we have a great group. I feel we have done a lot of ideas to get new members and its tough. We have been armed with our business cards, QR codes and pre-stamped registration envelopes in our back pockets ready to hand to people walking by. Our enthusiasm reeks of setting up the perfect blind date when no one is requesting one. Our new calling card will be a take on the Jeep club with the rubber duckies, we will get sailor duckies or duckie boats with contact info on them. Placing these on qualifying boat dashboards will make owners aware we exist and they have resources. Who knows, maybe it will catch on and become a known visual for us that extends far and wide. Maybe they will be collected and shared to bring more new people, like a chain reaction. One thing for sure is it will be more fun! And fun brings people of all ages.