Vintage Boat Week 2026 – Boat the Blue
September 13-20, 2026
Port Huron, Michigan
ACBS members are invited to join us for Vintage Boat Week 2026 as we return to Port Huron for a week filled with cruises along the rivers and lakes of Eastern Michigan. Soak up the boating history of the region as we return to the places where so many of our vintage boats originally hailed. We’ll end the week with the ACBS International Show taking place at the James C. Acheson Marina (525 River St. Port Huron, MI 48060). Activities include antique and classic boat show, vintage car displays, kids activities, marketplace, shore fun, food, beverages and live entertainment.
Registration:
Registration for VBW26 at Boat The Blue will open on Tuesday, July 14th at 10:00AM. All registrants must be ACBS members and must register online through their account on the ACBS Portal.
Click here to register: https://www.myacbs.org/Meeting/Register/111
ACBS VINTAGE BOAT WEEK AT BOAT THE BLUE
2026 Schedule / Registration Information
| Date | Description | Cost |
| Sunday, September 13 | The Michigan Chapter will host the early week events which kick off with a reception Sunday evening at the DoubleTree Hotel – Abbey Room in Port Huron. The on-water events begin on Monday! The area waterways offer some great cruising, and the pre-events will give you an opportunity to get out there and do what we all love to do – use our boats! Maximum Participants: 120 | Free |
| Monday, September 14 | We have arranged a cruise that will depart from the James C. Acheson Marina and run down the St. Clair River for approximately 30 miles to Algonac, the birthplace of Christopher Smith. We will cruise past the historic towns of Marysville, St. Clair, and Marine City. This is the waterway where Chris Smith and Gar Wood designed, tested, and raced boats. We will dock in Algonac at the Harbour Club Marina which is the site of the original Chris Craft plant. The event will include lunch at the marina restaurant and a tour of the Algonac/Clay Maritime Museum. Maximum Participants: 150 | $65 |
| Tuesday, September 15 | Depending on weather and winds, participants will enjoy being a guest on a large classic cruiser for either a “big water” run into Lake Huron or a scenic cruise down the St. Clair River taking in the scenery of both the US and Canadian sides of the waterway. Either cruise will return to Port Huron for a BBQ lunch served at the Port Huron Yacht Club. Maximum Participants for Cruiser Cruise: 80
Maximum Participants for Lunch: 150 |
$40 |
| Wednesday, September 16 | Option 1: Participants will leave the James C. Acheson Marina and cruise down the St. Clair River to dockage in the City of St. Clair. We will provide lunch at the waterfront Voyageur Restaurant with a guest speaker as you watch freighters making their way on the river. After lunch there will be time to enjoy some of the local shops and the riverfront park or depart for some additional river cruising before returning to Port Huron. Maximum Participants: 125 | $50 |
| Wednesday, September 16 | Option 2: Participants will be provided round trip motor coach transportation from the DoubleTree Hotel in Port Huron to Belle Isle Island in Detroit (about a 1 ½ hour drive). Time on the Island will include a tour of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum and a tour and lunch at the Detroit Yacht Club. Gar Wood was an original founder of the Detroit Yacht Club, and it was the location for the APBA Gold Cup races on the Detroit River for decades. Maximum Participants: 100 | $90 |
| Thursday, September 17 | ACBS Annual Meetings at the DoubleTree Hotel, 8:30 Chapter Roundtable, 10:30 Annual Member and Board Meeting.
Launching of Boats and getting into Show slips. Judging of Boats starts at the James C. Acheson Marina. Otherwise, Day On Your Own – Explore the beautiful Port Huron and surrounding areas by boat or land! |
|
| Friday, September 18 | Boat Show at the James C. Acheson Marina, with Judging continuing throughout the day. ACBS Annual Auction and Dinner at Mahogany Bay in the evening. | $125 |
| Saturday, September 19 | Boat Show at the James C. Acheson Marina during the day with an Afterglow Party and Awards Ceremony at 4:00 pm. | $30 |
| Sunday, September 20 | Load Boats on Trailers and Depart for Home. |
Lodging:
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Port Huron, MI
- Visit the hotel web site at www.porthuron.doubletree.com. In the field provided, enter group code ACB.
- Phone the hotel directly at 810-984-8000. Please mention group code ACB.
Holiday Inn Express, Port Huron, MI
- Phone the hotel directly at. 810-662-3400
- Mention “ABS Antique Boat Show” for discounted rate
Our discounted rooms at both hotels are available until 8/13/2026 or until the room block is full, whichever comes first. When the blocks are full, don’t worry as there are a lot of hotel options in Port Huron, use the list below, or just do a web search for Port Huron, MI Hotels or Campsites to find something else in the area.
Additional Area Hotels
Hampton Inn,1655 Yeager Street, Port Huron, MI 48060, Phone: 810-966-9000
Fairfield Inn, 1655 Yeager Street, Port Huron, MI 48060, Phone: 810-982-8500
St. Clair Inn, 500 N. Riverside, St. Clair, MI 48079, Phone: 810-289-6209
