August 7, 2002

Boat owners take pleasure in their crafts

Boats on the Boardwalk draws nearly 40 antique boats to Boardman River

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
       The romance of boating was on display Saturday at the 15th Annual Boats on the Boardwalk along the Boardman River in downtown Traverse City.
      From restored courting canoes to sleek wooden cruisers to hand-made rowboats primed for a water-based flirtation, the show featured nearly 40 boats from a bygone era. The big names were all there - Chris Craft, Century and Peterborough - with mahogany decks gleaming and brass detailing sparkling in the sun.
Canoe ribs shimmered in shadow and sunshine in this instant classic canoe hand-crafted by boat builder and restorer Bob Johnson, owner of Johnson Woodcraft.

      Boats on the Boardwalk drew many for a trip down nostalgia lane as the wooden boat owners swapped purchase and restoration stories while onlookers enjoyed the show.
      Owners of these classic boats declare that they have many positive aspects that put them miles ahead of modern fiberglass boats.
      "The appeal of these wooden boats is certainly their beauty, the don't make many of them anymore," said Jim Mersman of Grand Rapids, who brought his 16-foot 1951 Century Resorter for the day. "The second appeal is their sound, the sound of these boats is unique in those with the original engines."
      Mersman is a member of the Water Wonderland Chapter of the Antique Classic Boat Society, which sponsored the Boats on the Boardwalk event.
      The classic ride is the key for William Fischer of Traverse City. His 23-foot restored 1956 Chris Craft rides smoothly in the water because it is heavier and the bow was designed to slice through the water.
      "The older wooden boats with their original wood bottoms will actually flex in the water and ride better," he said. "This was made for use on the Great Lakes."
      Then there are the names of these classics, which range from the whimsical to the nostalgic to the punny. The First Love, Madam X, Pretty Penny and Memorease shining out from the transoms indicate the owner's devotion - and drain on the wallet for restoration and upkeep.
      "People stop and stare at the name, they don't get it at first," said Fischer about his boat, dubbed an envy-inspiring Woodenuluvit. "They think it is Polish or something. Men don't get it at all but the women usually figure it out eventually and explain it to them."
      Fischer and his wife, Ruthann, do love their boat, which they purchased ten years ago. They own a second, smaller wooden boat but usually use the larger one because it can hold 12 passengers - all their children and grandchildren - during cruises around West Grand Traverse Bay. They also enjoy showing it in venues like Boats on the Boardwalk but insist it is a working boat, not just a show piece.
      The high school sweethearts recall William being enchanted by a similar model his brother purchased and brought to Houghton Lake when they were teens.
      "It was love at first sight," Ruthann said of her husband's reaction when he saw the boat.
      When they finally purchased a wooden boat of their own decades later, their plans for restoration were sidetracked by major health problems for William. Ruthann said that the boat inspired William during his struggles, who closely followed the work of the professional restorer they wound up hiring.
      "It was a great incentive for him to get better because he was so determined that he was going to ride on that boat," she recalled.
      Barbara and Carter Pohlman take their original L-series Chris Craft 1946 runabout to four or five classic boat shows a year. The Highland residents live on a lake near Pontiac and keep All-A-Board busy all summer between shows, using it to tow water skiers and tubers as well.
      "It is a real satisfaction to have a classic boat, it is more the romance and the personal satisfaction of having something of this type and keeping it alive," said Carter Pohlman, who found the boat five years ago in Branson, Mo. thanks to the Internet. "I lived in Bay City and Saginaw as a kid and growing up I remember seeing these wooden boats at the marinas and my uncle had a hack."
      Wherever they go, whether at a show, on the water or in transit, owners of classic wooden boats say they draw attention. The stark beauty of the boats stands out from the fiberglass models most people are used to today.
      "We get a lot of toots from horns and waves from boaters as we go by," Ruthann Fischer said. "Even on the road when traveling with it, people will honk their horns and give the thumbs up."

Herald photos by Carol South
Colorful names, beautiful wood, gleaming brass and interesting stories marked the 15th Annual Boats on the Boardwalk Saturday in downtown Traverse City. In the Red is a 16-foot 1951 Century Resorter owned by Jim and Wendy Mersman of Grand Rapids.




With the help of their father, Michael Kim of Ridgewood, N.J., Mia, 2 and Callie, 4, paint wooden boats at a children’s table before heading back to the boardwalk to see more classic boats.


The show was sponsored by the Water Wonderland chapter of the Antique Classic Boat Society, Inc, which holds the Traverse City show as the flagship event for their chapter every year. More than 39 entries were on display, ranging from runabouts and courting canoes to utility boats and dinghies. Companies on display included Chris Craft, Century, Peterborough and Old Town.


Styling that stands the test of time, quality workmanship and luxurious touches are an integral part of antique wooden boats, as the sleek steering wheel and instrument panel of this classic boat demonstrate.