The Tahoe Maritime Museum Announces – “Woody 101 Boating Series” Of Seminars

Florence - MII, 1925 Stephens Image Courtesy Tahoe Maritime Museum

Dedicated to preserving the rich maritime history of Lake Tahoe, California – The Tahoe Maritime Museum in Homewood, California is a must visit if you are in the Lake Tahoe area or planning a trip to the area. The ever changing exhibits and immaculate boats take you back to the earliest days of wooden boating, leaving you with a genuine understanding of the history of Lake Tahoe and the significant impact wooden boats had, and still have, in the area.

The museum website notes – “The Tahoe Maritime Museum hosts a vast collection of photographs and objects that span Lake Tahoe’s maritime history. Our memorabilia reach back into the late nineteenth century. The Museum’s boat collection rivals many maritime museums in the nation. Currently there are over 25 vessels, which are historically significant not only to Lake Tahoe but to the maritime community in general. Many of the boats are lake-worthy and see service on Lake Tahoe’s crystal blue waters during the summer.”

“Our Mission To stimulate an interest in, increase knowledge of, and maintain watercraft and marine artifacts significant in Lake Tahoe’s maritime history through the highest standards of historic preservation, innovative interpretation and public education.”

Florence - MII 1925 Stephens Image Courtesy Tahoe Maritime Museum

The Tahoe Maritime Museum “Woody 101 Series” of Seminars

Greetings! – The Tahoe Maritime Museum is excited to announce that sign ups are now open for the “Woody 101 Boating Series.” This informative and interactive series will be held on three dates throughout the summer by experienced industry professionals. The series is designed for boat lovers of all experience levels, whether you are a new boater or a seasoned captain, all can learn from these boating experts. Space is limited so sign up early. See below for class details.

Start Your Engines
Saturday June 2, 10:00 AM

Engine expert John Allen of Allen’s Marine Engines along with Tahoe Maritime Museum’s Christine Shook will talk about what it takes to get your boat ready for the summer season. The presentation will take place in the museum’s Truckee Annex (in nearby Truckee, California) while Allen activates the museum’s ride boat engine, other engines, and answers questions about engines in the museum’s collection.

John Allen On Board Houston Girl - Lake Tahoe Concours 2010

Wooden Boat Care
Saturday, July 7, 10:00 AM

Professional restorer Tony Brown, of Western Runabouts, in Auburn, California will talk about the unique peculiarities of wooden boat care. Learn about important safety and care tips for all boats. Tony will walk participants around the Truckee Annex(the museum’s storage facilty) to share his experience with restoring boats in the collection and sharing stories.

Tony Brown On Board Miss Tahoe - Lake Tahoe Concours 2011

Woodies on the Water
Saturday, July 14, 10:00 AM

Tahoe Maritime Museum Ride Boat Captain – Don Leutz will talk about how to start, safely maneuver, and basic etiquette of Woody Boating at Obexer’s Marina. From fueling up to leaving the slip, there are right and wrong ways of doing things. This will be a great time to ask Coast Guard Certified Captain, Don Leutz, any boating questions you may have. Each participant will get to take a short ride out on the Tahoe Maritime Museum’s ride boat, “Lemme Go First”, a 1929 Garwood, and experience the difference of boating on a woody.

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“Lemme Go First”
1929 28 foot Gar Wood Runabout – Hull Number 117

“Lemme Go First” is a fine example of the classic raised-deck “Baby Gar” Model 28-40 manufactured by Gar Wood in the 1920s. “Lemme Go First” was originally purchased from Jake Obexer of Obexer’s Boat Company and was the first Gar Wood delivered and sold at Lake Tahoe.

The original owner was Edwin Letts Oliver, who named her “Hey There III”. Three of these 28-foot, raised-deck “Baby Gars” were delivered to Lake Tahoe. The other two raised-deck boats are “Jim Jr.” and “Navaho”. Oliver, who was the Tahoe Yacht Club’s first Commodore, raced “Hey There III” from 1929 until 1938 when she was sold to Henry J. Kaiser Sr., who named her “Lemme Go First” and campaigned her in Tahoe Yacht Club races for several years. During Kaiser’s racing campaigns, she received new power in the form of a Scripps Model 302 V-12 engine. When finished with racing, “Lemme Go First” was heavily modified and did service as a work boat and fire boat at Lake Tahoe.

She was acquired by Alan Furth and in 1991 passed on to Lou and Martin Smith, who researched and did a complete restoration project in the mid 1990’s. In December 2001, Lou, Lee and Martin Smith graciously donated “Lemme Go First” to the Tahoe Maritime Museum to assure her permanent participation in the California boating scene. “Lemme Go First” has been repowered with a Scripps Model 202 6 cylinder marine engine.
(story reprinted from the Tahoe Maritime Museum website)
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2012 “Woody 101 Series” of Seminars

The three class series is $75.00 for members and $125.00 for non-members. Sign up today by calling or e-mailing Katena at (530) 525-9253 ext. 103 or katena@tahoemaritime.org.  You can also visit the museum website by clicking here.

Museum Photo of the Famous 1924 40' Nevins - Teaser

If you have the opportunity to attend any of these informative seminars throughout the summer, or simply stop by the museum for a few hours, it’s time well spent and your support for this great facility will certainly be appreciated.

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