How did we get the reputation of being a “welcoming and fun” interest group with few strings attached? It started in the early 1990s when a few boaters in Oklahoma were drawn together by the magnetism of wooden boats. Strange that wooden boats would have that force, but they were becoming the minority, yet easily recognizable, on the scattered lakes of the Midwest. To share maintenance advice, exchange parts, and experience boating adventures together, members created the Oklahoma Wooden Boat Club.
In 1994, friends from the Wood Boat Club of Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, joined the group and they began organizing joint events. After researching the benefits of belonging to ACBS, the group petitioned and was granted Chapter status in 1999 with the official name of Heartland Classics Chapter. As the name implies, members are welcomed from a large geographic area. The Chapter has memberships from 15 states, although the official ACBS designated area includes Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri.
Docking at Thompson’s Boardwalk in Hot Springs.
The name adopted from the Oklahoma Boat Club, Mahogany & Chrome continues to be the name of Heartland’s quarterly award-winning publication. It is the communication tool that keeps our membership informed and keeps members renewing, even after they’ve retired from active boating or moved away. It has received ACBS Publication Awards six times! “Mahogany & Chrome” is now also the name of a YouTube Channel series professionally produced by two Heartland members and sponsored in part by ACBS and the Heartland Classics Chapter.
Mahogany & Chrome Quarterly Magazine.
The Heartland Classics Chapter hosts events throughout the year and in various venue sites convenient to a wider audience. Annually, the year starts with a “Workshop” in February focused on preserving, restoring, and sharing techniques. It always includes a swap meet. This year the workshop is February 22, 2025 at Howard Classic Boats in Langley, Oklahoma. More details on the winter workshop can be found on the Chapter’s website.
Boating events are scheduled in April (Hot Springs, AR), May (Lake of the Ozarks, MO), June (Table Rock Lake, MO), August (Beaver Lake, AR), and September (Grand Lake of the Cherokees, OK). All warm weather events feature using the classics in lake cruises. The Grand Lake event includes a judged show using ACBS standards. Two Heartland members have achieved national recognition as Vintage Boat Judges. The public is invited to all events. Heartland members often attend events of other Chapters and also organize rendezvous of the classics on local lakes.
The Heartland cluster of members took affiliation with ACBS seriously from the beginning. John Harvey served as International ACBS President in 1999 and 2000. The Chapter hosted an ACBS Quarterly Board Meeting in 2000. Two Heartland members have served multiple terms as ACBS Directors. The Chapter has hosted two International Shows and Meetings: 2005 at Lake of the Ozarks, and 2012 at Big Cedar Lodge on Table Rock Lake. Awards recognizing Chapter members include the Rover Award-3 times, the Hagerty Safety Award-twice, a Website Award-3 times, two memberships have received the Mary Herwig Recognition. The ACBS Chapter of the year recognized Heartland Classics in 2011, 2017, and again in 2023. One Chapter member served as ACBS Interim Executive Director in 2016.
Swap Meet During Workshop.
Heartland Classics has contributed to the ACBS Scholarship Endowment Fund every year. In addition, the Chapter continues to memorialize each member lost to death with a donation to the International Fund. Locally, Heartland Classics has given funds for a scholarship to a regional tech school offering Marine Science classes. The sponsorship of the YouTube “Mahogany & Chrome” productions is a set goal. And the geographic map of various Chapter events has expanded to more venues.
Presently, the Chapter Memberships total just over 200 – that’s about 360 people. One of the greatest points of pride is the involvement of co-members and those who choose Heartland Classics as their secondary Chapter. Often heard at the close of any event are the comments about how all attendees are included, how no one is left out of activities, how welcoming the Chapter is to new members.
Heartland Classics Chapter is a living, evolving organization. Ninety-six of the memberships have belonged for 10 years or more. Still, new members continue to join: 15 new memberships in 2023 and 15 new memberships in 2024. Boat ownership is changing, too. Nearly half of the registered boats are Late Classics. With all members, there is pride in each boat and its unique history.
Boat Story Time Around Campfires.
The challenge for the future is to increase the knowledge and skills of members who are the guardians of the antique and classic boats while still expanding the traditional welcome to all newcomers. The opening sentence about membership mentioned “no strings attached”. Well, maybe increasing the number of members who take hold of those leadership strings is also a challenge. It’s happening. The future is bright for the Heartland Classics Chapter.