Fun With Our Woody Boats – Muskoka 2016 – Over 30 Amazing Photos!
Three gentleman’s racers thunder around the bay near the show docks. Boats in Motion was a program designed to get boats away from the docks and moving, so spectators could watch them in action. Basically, another boat going out every 15 minutes. Top left is Scott Dunsmoor in Falcon, a 1960 Hacker-designed boat. Bottom right is Chris Bullen driving in Riot, a 1993 25′ Clarion Boats creation.
Thanks to the Kentucky Wonder and Chris and Julie Bullen for an amazing Muskika Show report. The images are fantastic, thanks guys. Take it away today is all aboot Canada!
After a tow of nearly 800 miles, the gateway at Gravenhurst was a welcome sight. No problems along the way, but the state of Ohio REALLY needs to improve its roads. Especially in Toledo.
To encourage more people to use their boats, see our wonderful lakes and come to the show, our friends Jim and Rich organized some pre events prior to the big Antique and Classic Boat show event in Gravenhurst Muskoka. This helped to bring in a few out of town guests, one being fellow woody boater writer Kentucky Wonder and his wife Anne. They were a delight and they have a beautiful Greavette, which came home for a visit.
Kentucky wonder and Mrs Wonder in their 1949 greavette
The view from the Beaumaris Yacht Club clubhouse Sunday morning as boats arrive for the Awards Brunch event. The boat at left is Crusoe, a 1936 24′ Greavette owned by Alan Cranfield. Out in the bay is T-Rex, a 1948 22′ Shepherd owned by Brian Norman and Lynn Hill.
John on Gloucester pool 1973 XK22
Jim our co pilot in his 85 Century Arabian
The view through a navy top, a feature rarely seen on anything but a Canadian boat. Would have come in handy when raining, but not really designed for high-speed boats.
With the threat of storms and lighting all week each day we manage to dodge the rain. Wednesday we had a group of boats trailer over to Gloucester Pool. This was like an Amusement park as the boats took a ride on the Big Chute Railway. No locks here you just drive on and go for a ride, it’s quite a view from the top. After touring the waterway it was time for lunch and another special ride in a boat from 1894. The Traveller took us all across the bay to visit a remarkable collection of motors and much more marine paraphernalia.
Scott Dunsmoor, red cap, ferries a group of boating tourists from the Kennedy cottage back to the Dunsmoor cottage during the Gloucester Pool tour on Wednesday. The Traveller was built in 1894, and been in continuous service on those waters ever since.
All aboard the Travaller
The “Traveller” is a 31’ Captain Jake Swartman launch built locally in Waubashene with a 1929 4cyl 45 HP Buchanan Junior. She was a work boat delivering farm produce from King’s farm to the other cottagers/patrons on the lake during the turn of the century. Scott, her current custodian has many memories of her as a child and pics of his mom as a youngster on the boat. She is a treasured family member.
Day 2 locking through in Port Carling to Rosseau
loading the marine railway
going way up
It is a bizarre sight, looking off the back of your boat and seeing several hundred feet of dry land between you and the water.
The marine railway carries several boats back down to the lower Gloucester Pool. The system was desined to keep invasive species from entering the Trent Severn waterway by eliminating a water connection between levels. The railway can carry up to nine small boats at one time. There is a 65-foot difference between water levels.
Thursday we again had a threat of rain for our 70 mile trip from Gravenhurst up lake Muskoka through the locks and a guided tour of some remarkable places on Lake Rosseau . We had a stop for lunch at the Windermere House, a long standing hotel on the lake.
10-lunch at the lady of the lake Windermere House
With more history and sites to see, the very hot sun and high humidity beating us down we picked up the pace a bit as we headed back to the locks.
No Golf Today, a 1947 19′ Greavette with owners Moss and Shelley Cartwright aboard, blasts through the chop Friday during the Poker run.
Chris Bullen guides Riot as it slices through the wake of the group touring Gloucester Pool on Wednesday. Riot is a 1993 Clarion Boats gentleman’s racer.
Aqua Velvet, owned by Linda and Rich Hughes, jumps through the wake of the group touring Gloucester Pool Wednesday. Aqua Velvet is a fully restored 1968 22′ Greavette.
Nusince out creating…well.. a nusince! Floor it!
We just got going on Lake Muskoka when we had another break down. We lost a classic glass on Wednesday and now another on Thurs. No it was not me. But I am protecting the Captains as the break downs are disappointing enough.
Canada Goose, a very rare 1939 20′ Peterborough triple cockpit, gets a tow after overheating. Because of its construction materials, it could easily be labeled a spruce Goose.
Friday was the 4th annual Classic Poker Run. This year won by the Martins in ‘Campaign Taste’ a Fletcher boat which I have never heard of and did not get a chance to ask about.
12-poker run winners in their Fletcher
Pokerun – Falcon
Again we missed the rain but after towing in another boat 9 an old Woodie this time) we got hit with a huge storm, it was a spectacular light show as we finished a yummy boat show organized dinner but the storm took down many trees and the power as well.
Sandy Kennedy, center, shares stories about his collection of outboard boating gear and memorabilia Wednesday during our tour of the Gloucester Pool.
A cottage, left, and boathouse seen during our travels around Lakes Muskoka and Rosseau.
A “modest” boathouse and cottage scene on Lake Muskoka. The lake has been a popular summer playground for nearly 150 years, and seemingly every cottage has a permanent structure sheltering its boats.
One of the stops during Friday’s poker run was Murray Walker’s boathouse, which houses a collection of historic mahogany vessels. A serious hit for the varnish junkie.
The lasting effects of the storm lasted a long time, Saturday morning the power around the lakes was still out. Many who had boats on lifts could not get them down as there is no emergency release switch. The ones that could boat to the show found themselves in a very heavy downpour – a free facial. Despite all the wet we had a good turnout. Gravenhurst was the only area in Muskoka that had any clear skies on Saturday – the boat gods like those classics.
An overcast day for the show. The rain held off until the last 30 minutes of the posted hours. Then it poured for an hour. A storm on Friday night knocked out electric to power to many homes in the area, keeping several classic Muskoka boats from appearing at the show because they could not get off their lifts in the boathouses.
This historic photo shows the Greavette Boats Ltd. facility in the 1940’s in Gravenhurst, Ontario. Production moved from left to right, with finished boats or prototypes being transported to the water by rail from the right end of the main building. The buildings have since disappeared, and the site is now part of the Gravenhurst Wharf complex, with two waterside restaurants occupying the space. An athletic complex occupies the level area behind the buildings, providing space for a Field of Dreams during the annual boat show.
The Wharf at Gravenhurst provides parking for all manner of watercraft carrying visitors to Muskoka Bay. Many boats, and a few aircraft, arrive nightly as they carry passengers to dinner or shopping. Boating is a lifestyle in the entire Muskoka-area chain of lakes.
This year the Toronto crew decided to celebrate Greavette Titled “Heading Home to Gravenhurst” 85years of Greavette. This did generate great interest as we sold out the show and all the attached events quickly. After noting declining numbers in recent years, this was a pleasant surprise.
Herr’s 1955 Chris Craft sportsman
1963 Princecraft – Gold and Grey skies!
1972 Greavette Where are the Canadian Fender/Bumpers?
1962 Fireflash
A 1953 Streamliner
1954 Streamliner
And a 30ft 1955 Streamliner
1949 utility, 1956 cadet and some 2016 red shorts!
Just to add to the fun, some classy cars!
Shots fired over the port side! Photos are taken during a break in the Friday poker run while waiting for a plan to be developed. What we have here are two Shepherds with a wooden, outboard sheep.
Thanks to the over 100 volunteers and the over 120 people that brought the boats, motors and cars – we can’t have any fun without you.
Do you know where I could see more photos of that white Shepherd sedan in the last photo?
Here is one more of Kinsale Boy, a 1954 27′ Shepherd owned by Gordon Hooker.
Hey Dallas, that’s my 27 Shepherd I could send you some photos direct if you wish. Thanks GH
I will take you up on that offer for the photos of your beautiful Shepherd if you are still offering that, Gordon.
Great story and photos. Thank you!
It was great to finally meet Kentucky Wonder and Mrs. Kentucky Wonder… Eau Canada is a beautiful boat and it was great to have her home and at the Greavette dock.
The pre-events were “magic in motion”, especially the Thursday tour of Lake Rosseau and Lake Joseph as (semi-locals) we rarely get up to that end of the Muskoka Lakes. The Poker run was fun as usual and I even got to stretch out Sea-J’s legs a bit. Hmmm. pair of 10’s … not lucky at cards though:)
I wish I had actually seen more of the show but, I can tell you we sold a whole lot of T-shirts and ACBS merchandise.
This goes on my list for next year I want to do the slide,looks great,thanks for pics Bill
Thanks for having us! The people there were so friendly and welcoming. Great week on the water.
You can lower an electric lift without power. All you need is a screw driver and a good surgeon to reattach any fingers that get severed.
My daughter just graduated from University of Guelph, I always wanted to go to this show, now that I see how much fun it was maybe I can talk her into going back.
It was a great time participating in the boat show and poker run for the first time. We purchased our first woody, a 2003 Fletcher, last year and spent the winter learning how to varnish. Simon Fletcher is a retired boat builder in Port Angeles, Washington.
Chris – Again you have treated us with a great photo gallery. Still remembering the ride you gave me in Riot at the Lake George Gold Cup Re Enactment last September. Thanks again!
Mo: Long time…Hope all is well. Wilson
What fun! Interesting boats, a poker run, gotta put this one on my bucket list!
Great coverage KW, thanks for sharing.
Great coverage of the show. I was a great event even with a little rain to start and end the show day. Fridays poker run in the sun and hot weather certainly made up for it. Thanks to Chris Bullen, Jim Watt and Rich Hughes for planning and organizing this year’s pre-events.
R Daley
The 1963 Princecraft double bubble wind screen boat is a cool and would look good at any boat show or in any collection.
Would love to see you do a story on it as there must be interesting history on how and why it was built.
Try finding replacement windscreens for it if you were doing a restoration, the proverbial needle in the hay stack.
The original Wasp was build by Wizard Boats inc in California from 1957 yo 59. this design built by Prince craft of Quebec,Canada. was built from 1960 to 1963 original retail price was $1100.
Great to see Canadian boats and thanks for the great pictures. The railway lift gives me more reason to return my Shepherd to where it spent most of its life.
Thanks to all our friends who took part in the Gravenhurst Pre-Events and Boat Show. Chris, Jim and I are already planning for next year. There are over 250,000 lakes in Ontario, so we have a bit more boating to do!
Great story, amazing weekend , and I love my “sheep”, such a fun little boat .
I hope you all consider coming for a visit to our boat show. Next years pre events take us to Lake of Bays and up to lake JO. WE really enjoy taking you all out and having fun in our boats . Thanks to all for being part of our adventure. Mo there is a seat for you when you come.
Chris,
I don’t think that anyone enjoys using their boats more than you and Julie do. I wonder how many of us have had a memorable ride in RIOT, or have captured a photo of you crashing through a wake. I feel blessed to have done both and I know that I’m not alone. Your playground in Muskoka looks fantastic.
That picture of Canada Goose under tow poses an interesting question: how do you tow from the bow lift ring without losing the bow light? A few years ago I saw a disabled Century have its bow light sheared off when she yawed just wrong and the hawser crossed the bow. Kersplash. Since most bow hardware – including chocks – are only mounted with relatively short wood screws, any towing strain is likely to deep-six them. Suggestions?
My suggestion is to tow from the side like a tug boat. It gives you better control also.
This story is GREAT! Thanks for all the pics!
That lift makes my toes tingle just looking at the pictures.