Crowds impress, despite spotty weather at boat show

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

Even in the fog, with low visibility and no sun, the beauty and craftsmanship of wooden boats still finds a way to shine through. The spotty weather didn?t seem to keep folks away either, as the 17th Annual Presque Isle Harbor Wooden Boat Show played to crowds at an even-keel compared to previous years. ?I was quite surprised with the turnout that we had because of the weather, but we really didn?t get any rain,? said the event?s committee chairman Dave Kowalski. ?It was kind of foggy but the crowd was still good. It was real close to what we usually get, around 4,000.?

Volunteers count the number of visitors in their vehicles as they enter the harbor area. There were buses available to shuttle people to and from parking areas, as well as the lighthouses. ?THE DOCKS seemed full most of the day,? he said. ?The vendors were selling their food, the crafters were selling their wares, and everything seemed like it went real well.? Boat registrations were down ever so slightly from 54 to 52, but hardly noticeable. The floating dock areas, where the boats are displayed, were as busy a couple of hours before the close of the show, as they were at the start of the event.

?Everybody always loves our show,? Kowalski added. ?We?ve always received good feedback on it. Even though we didn?t get the boats in the water Friday.? Friday, a boat ride is usually part of the weekend?s slate of act

ivities, along with a luncheon and ?social night? activity. Kowalski said, while the ride had to be canceled, a good time was still had by all at the other planned events.

?It was too rough to get out on the lake,? said Kowalski. ?We had probably 20-some boats show up. They all agreed it was too rough to go so we had lunch and socialized.? There were 30 volunteers, which assisted, with a little less than half on security detail. Winners of the Skipper?s Choice award went to Duchess, a launch owned by Chip and Ann DeBoer of Kalamazoo. The People?s Choice went also to Duchess. OTHER WINNERS follow:

? Sailboat — 1st Greg and Karen Zima, Vermilion, Ohio. ? Dinghy — 1st Steve Gembrowski, Saginaw; 2nd Nelson Nederer, Bay City; 3rd Dean Spencer, Presque Isle. ? Outboard –1st Steve Gembrowski, Saginaw; 2nd Tom LaCross, Alpena; 3rd Tammy Linke, Alpena. ? Launch ? 1st Chip and Ann DeBoer; 2nd Ted Mackinnon, Presque Isle; 3rd Robin Spencer, Presque Isle. ? Kayak — 1st Bob Connors, Presque Isle; 2nd Joe Kaszubowski, Presque Isle; 3rd Don Ohmart, Alpena. ? Runabout 0-18 — 1st Chris Smith, Cedarville; 2nd Tischer Family, Bellbrook Ohio and Presque Isle; 3rd Bill Ahern, Dayton Ohio. ? Runabout 19-24 — 1st Tischer Family; 2nd Beauvis Family, Presque Isle; John Vogelheim, Rogers City. ? Racer — 1st Tischer Family; 2nd Bob VanDusen, Alpena; 3rd Bob VanDusen Jr., Alpena. ? Original unrestored — 1st Dave and Linda Van Kuiken, Grand Rapids; 2nd Joe and Courtney Witulski, Alpena. ? Replica/contemporary classic — 1st Ron Chatfield, Presque Isle; 2nd Dave and Kris Kowalski, Presque Isle; 3rd Brad Guldemond, Algonac. ? Utility 0-17 — 1st Tim and Mary Chimner, Presque Isle. ? Utility 18-20 — 1st Mark and Theresa Tucker, Brighton; 2nd Jerry and Jean Mitchell, Presque Isle; 3rd L. David and Allison Arscott, Ann Arbor. ? Utility 21+ — 1st Russ and Tammy Arrand, Cadillac; 2nd Tom and Mary Flood, Cedarville; 3rd Ben and Myrna Huizinga, West Olive. ? Model Division — 1st Bob Beuter 1938 Chris-Craft Model, Presque Isle; 2nd Bob Beuter 1954 Chris-Craft Model; 3rd Steve Builds (Steve Gembrowski) custom sailboat, Saginaw. The Best Transom award went to Lady of the Lake, owned by Tammy Linke of Alpena.

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