Live-ish From The Bell Street Classic Weekend At Seattle’s Pier 66 Bell Street Marina

ITCHIN’ – A Classic 1953 35′ Chris-Craft Commander powered by twin 350 CC “Q” motors.

Earlier today (Saturday) we received this Live-ish report from fellow Woody Boater Ron Stevenson in Seattle. It seems like almost every day we see or hear a story about another classic wooden cruiser for sale, deteriorating on the hard at a marina or sadly left abandoned to die by it’s owner. It’s stories like this that make us appreciate the folks who are keeping these fabulous classics alive, and maintaining them with the TLC they deserve to see another day. – Texx
_________________________

Are you ITCHIN’ to do something in Seattle this weekend?

How about stopping by the Bell Street Classic Weekend at Seattle’s Pier 66 Bell Street Marina?

Renowned glass artist and long-time Classic Yacht Association member David Huchthausen creates each poster for publicizing the CYA rendezvous held each Father’s Day Weekend at Seattle’s Bell Harbor Marina.

Here is a shot over the bow of ITCHIN’ (Thanks Dave Ellis!) of some of the Classic Yachts that are on display.

But this story is not about ITCHIN’ (the $100 boat); this is about:

The Pacific Northwest Fleet of the Classic Yacht Association in conjunction with the Port of Seattle will once again sponsor the Bell Street Pier Classic Rendezvous as part of the Seattle Waterfront Classic Weekend, June 15 and 16 at Pier 66 on Seattle’s downtown waterfront.

Over fifty-six classic motor yachts, many of them built prior to World War II, will welcome visitors throughout this Father’s Day weekend. This event represents the largest gathering of classic yachts on the West Coast.

The Bell Street Pier Classic Rendezvous will again highlight a Marquee Class of yachts – which this year is the iconic Richardson Boat Company.

From the Classic Yacht Association website: Richardson Boat Company was established by George Reid Richardson in 1909 and ran until 1962 in North Tonawanda, NY. Over the course of those 52 years, Richardson established the company as a major boat builder, implying at times over 200 workers, and earning commendations from the Federal government for it’s work during World War II. The Richardson line included a full range of custom and production cruisers, sailboats, and runabouts, in addition to work boats and military craft.

Vintage 1931 Richardson Cruisabouts AD – Courtesy Classic Yacht Association

In the 1930’s, the company began a tradition of promoting sales with Richardson “Sailaways”, where groups of new owners could pick up their boats at the factory in North Tonawanda, and cruise together en masse along the Erie Canal and down the Hudson River to New York City.

For more about Richardson Boats you can Click Here to go directly to the Richardson Boats website.

But, before the show can begin, the boats have to get there first! Which includes a parade along the Seattle waterfront lead by the fireboat “Leschi”, built in 2007 – a 108-foot fireboat stationed at Fire Station 5 on Elliott Bay. It can fight fires with 22,000 gallons of water per minute and travel at 14 knots.

Here is a shot of the Marina (Dave Ellis) with our new Ferris wheel in the background. The informative Classic Yacht Association website has a great gallery of a photos featuring classic yachts from around the country.

Photo courtesy Dave Ellis / Classic Yacht Association.

For more information on the Bell Street Classic Weekend and to see an impressive list of boats (including photos and descriptions) attending this year’s event you can Click Here.

Also, you can see the entire series of beautiful Bell Street Classic Weekend posters which have been created for this event over the years by Classic Yacht Association member David Huchthausen by Clicking Here.

Thanks to fellow Woody Boater Ron Stevenson for sharing this Live-ish report from the docks in Seattle with us today.

Texx
_______________