Skaneateles, N.Y. – The Antique and Classic Boat Show returns to Clift Park July 24-26, with dozens of exhibitors eager to reconnect and share their love of antique boating. Hours are 3 p.m. to dusk Friday, 9 a.m. to dusk Saturday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.
The show, now in its 48th year overall and its 32nd year in Skaneateles, is hosted by the Finger Lakes Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society and the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation with support from longtime lead sponsor M&T Bank and other community-oriented businesses.
In some 80 displays on water and land, visitors will be able to view — and meet the owners of — classic runabouts, launches, sailboats, canoes, rowing craft and race boats, many restored to their original condition. The names are legendary: Gar Wood, Chris-Craft, Century.
“Our exhibitors love to talk about their boats,” says FLC President and Boat Show Co-Chair Paul Garrett. “If you see someone down by their boat and have a question, by all means ask. They’ll be happy to explain its backstory and how it was restored.”
This year, exhibitors hail from New York, Maryland, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maine and North Carolina.
“The docks will be full,” says Boat Show Co-Chair Janice Miller. “You’ll be able to see wood, steel and fiberglass boats — in a wide variety of sizes and styles — from the 1920s through the 1980s. Come vote for your favorite!”
Featured boats include Black Witch, a 1926 Hacker Craft (famed for rum-running in eastern Lake Ontario during Prohibition) owned by the Marsden family of Auburn; Sapphire, a rare 1959 Beeline Sapphire owned by Steve Shehadi of Skaneateles; and Smuggler’s Blues, a 1982 Chris-Craft Stinger 390 (with ties to “Miami Vice”) owned by Daniel Williams of Rome, New York.
Returning for its second year is Garrett’s mini-tugboat Little Toot. “Unlike our other displays, Little Toot is hands-on and open to all,” he says. “Children are invited to jump right in. Ring the bell, honk the horn, take photos and enjoy!”
Activities Ahead
“The Antique and Classic Boat Show is more than an exhibit,” says Lindsey Babbles, executive director of the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a full weekend experience filled with entertainment and family friendly activities. We can’t wait to welcome you!”
Highlights of the weekend include:
- Boat parade, led by the Skaneateles Fire Department, starting at 3:15 p.m. Saturday.
- Performances by the Skaneateles Community Band, 7 to 8 p.m. Friday; Big D and Skip, noon to 3 p.m. Saturday; and the Soda Ash 6, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
- Display of model antique boats by the Syracuse Model Boat Club, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
- Guided village bus tours, presented by the Skaneateles Historical Society, Saturday.
- Youth judging, 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
- Opportunities for children to paint toy wooden boats, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (while supplies last) Saturday.
- Photo-shoot and spectator cruise aboard the Judge Ben Wiles, 10 a.m. Sunday. The Judge will leave from the Mid-Lakes Navigation dock in Clift Park and make a slow tour of the north end of Skaneateles Lake while exhibiting boats make random passes and provide opportunities for action shots. Tickets are $17/adults, $7/children 12 and under.
- Raffle drawings, 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Prizes include a Day Spa package from Mirbeau Inn & Spa and gift cards from Sherwood Inns & Appetites.
Judging of the boats, in 35 categories, takes place Saturday morning. Throughout the weekend, visitors can cast their votes for the highly coveted People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Doug’s Fish Fry, which will be presented at 1:45 p.m. Sunday.
This year’s poster was inspired by a photo taken by Sue Kiesel at the 2013 boat show and designed by Michael and Elaine Jakubowski. Posters are $10 and are on sale at the show and the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce, 22 Jordan St.
Boat show T-shirts will be available at the Ship’s Store, along with a wide variety of vintage items, nautical apparel and decor.
To preview the show, Little Miss Liberty, a 1963 Marchetti Hydro owned by FLC immediate past president Dave Couch, is on display at M&T Bank in Skaneateles. Couch expanded on the boat’s red, white and blue color scheme to mark the country’s 250th anniversary.
It Takes a Village
“Our sponsors make this show happen,” says Babbles. “We couldn’t do it without them, and we are beyond grateful for their support.”
As in past years, M&T Bank is the presenting sponsor.
Contributing sponsors include Sherwood Inns & Appetites, Beak & Skiff/1911, Doug’s Fish Fry, Skaneateles Fields Resort & Spa, The Savage Homestead, Finger Lakes Insurance Agency, Jacobs Press, Valentine’s Pizza & Deli, 1st National Gifts, Brinson Marine, del Lago Resort & Casino, Mirbeau Inn & Spa, Skaneateles Brewery, Skaneateles Historical Society, Bluewater Grill, Eggleston & Krenzer, Architects, Gilda’s, Janice Miller, Architect, Mid-Lakes Navigation, Skaneateles Bakery, Skaneateles Town Square, The REV Theatre Company, Tops Friendly Markets and Wirth’s Automotive.
Media partners are Group M Communications, Eagle Newspapers, FLX Local Media, Neighbors of Skaneateles, Stroll Skaneateles and WRVO Public Media.
Paid parking is available in the municipal lot (accessed through Genesee or State streets), where parking is 75 cents an hour and all-day parking is $6. Free parking is available in the Austin Park Pavilion lot at the corner of Jordan and Austin streets and in the lower gravel lot of Skaneateles High School across from Leitch Avenue. A free shuttle, sponsored by Sherwood Inns & Appetites, will run between the two lots and the village.
For more information, go to skaneateles.com or facebook.com/skaneateleschamber/ or call 315-685-0552.
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