Not Just Another Classic Boat Auction – It’s The Mikkelson Collection Auction! – Classic Boats

The Mikkelson Collection Auction presented by Rich Penn Auctions was an enjoyable experience on Saturday. The event had a different feel about it, almost like a local town hall meeting, or a gathering of fellow enthusiasts coming together to help Paul Mikkelson and his family pass his fabulous collection on to the next caretakers. Everyone there on Saturday had smiles on their faces, a kind word for Paul and many had specific plans to bid on an item / or items that interested them.

The folks from Rich Penn Auctions were very organized, very professional and helped create a wonderful, stress free environment for bidders and spectators alike. They also created a certain feeling of being trustworthy and respectful towards Paul Mikkelson and his family, as well as the participants and spectators. The bidders assistants working the floor were alert, but not over aggressive which, in my opinion, made the event an enjoyable place to be.

At the end of Day 1 (almost 10 hours of auctioneering) fellow Woody Boater Jim Staib and I were summarizing the auction / pricing over dinner – Jim put it best when he said “It was quality pricing for quality pieces.” And I agree with that statement. Regardless if it’s classic cars, motorcycles or, in this case, classic boats and marine related equipment, we all know that auctions can be hard to predict. But when the items are high quality, highly collectable, and unusual or unique – if it’s presented properly and respectfully by the auction house, the outcome is a bit more predicatble (and comfortable). This was, for the most part, the case during Day 1 of the auction.

Of course the main attraction of the Mikkelson Collection Auction is the wide variety of Larson Falls Flyers that Paul has assembled over the years, that’s only one apsect of the collection. Taking the time to stop and really look through the collection items is like taking a step back in time, when average folks throughout the mid-west enjoyed all the small lakes and waterways for both recreation and as sportsman. When product branding really meant something and was easy to identify and relate to by the consumers.

It’s always fun to ask Paul Mikkelson to describe what boats the equipment was from, what company manufactured it and what year it was used – He is like a walking classic boat Encyclopedia…

The collectible marine signs brought strong money all day long… The vintage Mercury Dealer signs were extreamely popular. An original Chris-Craft Dealer sign brought over 5,600.00. In most cases, as soon as the signs were introduced on the block, the price almost immediately shot up towards 600.00 – 800.00 and the bidding was always fast and furious on the signs.

What also makes the Mikkelson Collection Auction “Not just another classic boat auction?” When you buy a boat from Paul Mikkelson, your not just buying a classic boat… Your buying a boat that was formerly owned and maintained by Paul Mikkelson. For example, this early rear-steer Falls Flyer. It’s complete in every way…

And when you look inside, the bow pole, stern pole, burgee, and all the removable accessories are all there neatly stored in a cardboard box. It’s those details that makes buying a boat from Paul Mikkelson an enjoyable and memorable experience. I know, he would have it no other way…