Celebrating 50 Years of ACBS: Pacific Northest Chapter

By Joe Frauenheim, PNW Chapter Member

I grew up in Buffalo, New York, in a family deeply involved in the marine business. In 1977, fellow boaters had started the Niagara Frontier Chapter of the fledging Antique and Classic Boat Society. But, shortly thereafter, in June of 1979, I moved with my family to Bellevue, Washington, to work for a marine construction company.

We enjoyed exploring Lake Washington in our 18-foot Jafco Seamaster. While cruising by Mercer Island, I recognized a 36-foot Hacker triple cockpit runabout and pulled alongside. The boat was owned by Connie and Phil Schwarz, who named it Thunderballs. I recognized it as a 1948 ordered and delivered by the family marina to the Brayer family. Originally the boat was named WA WA TA SEY. Phil had purchased the boat in California but did not know of its history. Originally, a single Kermath engine powered Thunderballs, but the owners later installed twin big-block Chevrolets.

Thunderballs

Phil told me that a group who called themselves the Classic Runabout Club met at Andy’s Diner the second Wednesday every month and invited me to join them to talk about his boat. Phil was also a member of the Classic Car club, as were other wooden runabout owners in the Classic Runabout Club. 

After attending a few meetings of the Classic Runabout Club, I explained to that a new club focusing on antique and classic boats had formed back on the east coast. We talked about the benefits of that national group and decided to join also. Back then there were no cell phones, internet, or even email, so the annual directory printed by the club was a gold mine of information. Contact information of suppliers, restorers and event planners was priceless.

Curt Erikson and family in their Fairliner Torpedo.

We needed 15 people to apply to form an ACBS chapter, so Land Washburn filled out the paperwork for the eleven of us and came up with four additional names to make the quota. Phil was our first president, and he immediately got us involved in the Seattle Yacht Club’s Opening Day. We also took part in the boat shows at Seattle Center and then the Kingdome. Our on-water shows were at the Center for Wooden Boats. We had joint events with the Classic Car club at Port Ludlow, Hood River, and Carillon Point. The 1982 ACBS Directory lists 28 Pacific Northwest Chapter members. Our chapter grew quickly!

When the Seattle Yacht Club displayed the America’s Cup at Opening day, we displayed the Gold Cup alongside it. We invited the ACBS to have some quarterly meetings to coincide with the Opening Day activities and made some new friends. We also travelled to other chapter events and national gatherings as our membership expanded. After gatherings, we gathered at Bruce Hill’s Evergreen Point home and later, a relationship with Dick Erickson resulted in gatherings at the University of Washington Crew house.

Opening Day.

Our meetings and shows are now at various locations and have solid support from our active membership. Communication is much easier now, thanks to technology, but the strength of our club remains the same as it always has. The people are great!

By any measure, the wooden runabout enthusiasts are a small group and I have certainly enjoyed the many friends and times together.

Joe Frauenheim’s Sea Master.