by Gordon Moore
The Minocqua Antique & Classic Boat Show was started in 1991 by your truly, as just a whim to see how many antique and classic boats we could get together at one time from the local area. The turnout was great and so were the crowds that came to view the boats. from this very amateurish start, the Minocqua Boat Show was born.
For the next few years, I pretty much ran the show by myself with the help of a few friends, not the least of which was Larry Bosacki, who owns Bosacki Boat House where we hold the show. We usually had 25-35 boats in the show and the size of the crowds grow each year.
By the mid-90s, I was looking for some help to take the show to the next level, and to that end, I invited the Minocqua/Woodruff/Arbor Vita Chamber of Commerce to get involved. With their help, we were able to improve our advertising and publicity efforts and the show continued to grow.
In 1997 I wanted a way to give some real purpose to the show, so I decided to add some food concessions to the event, open it up to woodie cars, and turn the whole show into a fundraiser for multiple sclerosis. The first year we raised about $800. My son and daughter-in-law and our three grandchildren all pitch in to help during the event by manning the concession stand and doing the thousand and one things that make a show a success.
In 2001 we had over 40 boats and four woodie cars in the show and, even though the weather was less than great, the crowds were outstanding and we raised over $3500 for multiple sclerosis.
The Minocqua Antique and Classic Boat Show is not a judged event. I want to keep the show just for the fun of the boat owners and the enjoyment we all get in sharing and showing off our woodies to the general public. The boat captains vote for the trophy awards which are Best Pre-War Chris Craft, Best Post-War Chris Craft, Best Century and Best Other. The public is invited to vote for the Peoples Choice award. The program for the show is very simple:
Friday 6:30 p.m. Boat Parade which takes place before the Friday night ski show. We usually have an audience of 400-500 people.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. Check in 9:00 a.m. Show opens. Admission is free.
5:00 p.m. Show closes. Many take this opportunity to cruise the chain of lakes and dine at one of the five different restaurants
on the chain.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. Show opens.
1:00 p.m. Awards
4:00 p.m. Show Closes
During the show, boat owners can just kick back and relax with the other owners, talk to the many interested spectators, or go on a cruise around the over 6000 acres of water that make up the Minocqua chain of lakes.
In my view, a boat show needs three things:
1. Boats
We do limit our show to the antique or classics but that in no way excludes someone with a late model reproduction, vintage fiberglass boat, outboard or canoe; all are welcome. Boats can be displayed either in the water or on land.
2. Publicity
We do an extensive job of promoting the show through radio, TV, and newspaper advertising, and the fact that the show is free doesnt hurt.
3. Good Weather
We cant do anything about this, but through the years, we have been blessed with excellent weather.
The show has always been held on the last weekend in July, which this year is the 26th, 27th and 28th. Please join us for a fun weekend.
A Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society
©1999-2005 BSLOL ACBS Chapter