Charter Date: September 28, 1985
The Sunnyland Chapter of ACBS, based in Florida, hosts one of the largest and most well-attended boat shows in the history of ACBS, the Sunnyland Antique Boat Festival.
Newer members to Sunnyland may ask, “How did we get here and where did we come from?” In the mid-1950s, in an attempt to broaden the boating market, molded plywood hulls arrived as a lower priced alternative to the classic plank on frame runabouts that were so loved. Before long, these molded plywood hulls found a new competitor, fiberglass.
With dynamic styling that followed current automotive design cues and, importantly for boaters, low maintenance, annual varnishing and leaky bottoms were no longer an issue. Concurrently, outboard motors were becoming more powerful and widely available. Higher speed, better performance and less investment were all incentives that enhanced the growth of fiberglass boats. This led to a boating boom, and boats small enough to fit on a trailer and in a garage for a wide range of performance and water sports. At a lower cost than wooden predecessors, in only a few years, most manufacturers saw the future and switched to fiberglass production or went out of business. Only a small segment of owners continued using and maintaining their prized wooden boats and eventually, most of these too were gradually phased out as wooden boats, needing expensive repairs, were cast aside.
Fast forward to the mid-1970s, a small but dedicated group of enthusiasts realized that old wooden boats lay languishing in boat yards and barns could be had for a song. These enthusiasts soon began collaborating, forming informal groups, which led to the formation of the ACBS in 1975.
In 1978, Gary Scherb, founder of Old Time Boat Company, living in Sanford, Florida, and Dale Tassel, an avid wooden boater and auto parts store owner from Ormond Beach, Florida contacted other interested Floridan boaters to organize wooden boat shows on the shores of Lake Monroe. Shortly thereafter, other Florida boaters like Riley Richardson, John DeSousa, and Wilson Wright, a founding member of the Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club, became involved. The show grew as word spread throughout the state. The City of Sanford got behind it with enthusiastic support. The first show included seminars and displays by product representatives. With 24 boats and 140 participants, it was deemed a success.
In 1983, Gary Scherb approached Dick Pope, Sr. who invited him to hold a show and banquet in the Fall at Cypress Gardens. The following year, the November 1984 was the first Cypress Gardens show. The show ran for six years. At the event, Gary presented a proposal to form a more formal organization, with choices ranging from an independent club, to an affiliation with the Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club, or possibly joining the newly formed ACBS. A group comprising of key individuals — Gary Scherb, Dale Tassel, Mike Matheson, Riley Richardson, Dick Kupelian, John DeSousa, and Wilson Wright, an attorney from Tallahassee, would ultimately become the founding members of the Sunnyland Chapter. Because another chapter was already forming in Miami, the Gold Coast Chapter, ACBS rejected the original proposal, which was known as the Florida Chapter. Two years later, at the 1985 annual meeting in Lake Tahoe, ACBS finally granted a charter for a second Florida chapter, with the proviso that Palm Beach, Dade, Broward, and Monroe counties remain part of the Gold Coast Chapter.
Two years later, it became apparent that the second Florida chapter was more active with four times the number of members. The two chapters merged into one and was renamed Sunnyland.
In 1984, the Sanford show outgrew its venue, prompting a move to Mt. Dora. That allowed for expanded dock space and more land for craft displays, a field of dreams, seminars and get togethers. The first Mt. Dora show had 75 boats. The show’s growth, with more attendees wanting to display boats and attend, forced the chapter to seek an even larger venue. Finding a home in Tavares, Florida, since 2007 the Sunnyland Antique Boat Festival has enjoyed outstanding success – and in 2025 will celebrate its 44th annual event.
The Sunnyland Antique Boat Festival is a “Home Coming Event”. Each March, people from around the globe attend, making the show the official start of the summer boating season. Today, the show boats over 200 antique and classic boats, seminars, demonstrations, boats for sale, dinners, boating events, a nautical flea market, and a myriad of related events. In conjunction with the Sunnyland Antique Boat Festival, the ACBS Board of Directors also gathers for a Quarterly Board meeting.
The show is book ended by cruises along the iconic Southbound and Northbound St. John River, a virtual rite of passage for all serious antique boaters, with each cruise usually having 25 boats. The river cruise is world famous with never-ending stories about the great fun on the river.
The Sunnyland chapter also has a well-established youth program that has become a de facto benchmark for other ACBS chapters. Renting building space that is stocked with every wood working tool imaginable, older members teach younger members the art of building wood boats. Lou Ronca, Dave Tilley and Richard Arnold envisioned the program, known as SCAMPY, or Sunnyland Chapter Adult Mentoring Program for Youth. Now nearly 15 years old, the program that began with a set of plans for a hydroplane and two kids, has grown into one of the most widely recognized programs of its kind. The Boat Sunnyland Antique Boat Festival displays the finished boats each year and this serves as a great recruiting tool for future SCAMPY programs.
SCAMPY expanded into a satellite branch, AMI for Kids in Jacksonville, serving troubled youth offenders for six years. The SCAMPY-AMI boat building program, which was run by past Sunnyland presidents Guy Marvin III and Joe Coleman, received accolades within the justice and education systems for its effectiveness.
Three years ago, SCAMPY was expanded to include adult training with donated boats that are sold to an individual before being restored at the owners expense by member volunteers. At the 2025 Sunnyland Show the chapter will have for sale the first two boats completed under this new SCAMPY program. One is a Beautiful 18-foot Century Resorter and the other a 24-foot Chris-Craft Sea Skiff. The adult SCAMPY program has been headed up by retired boat builder Jeff Funk who will be the future spokesman for the SCAMPY program after Lou Ronca steps down after 15 years of management. Jeff is supported by an enthusiastic group of volunteers, one of which is Lou, who will stay on as a volunteer for donations and fundraising.
Communication with Sunnyland Chapter members began as Gary and Ingrid Scherb wrote and produced a mimeographed two-page handout titled The Water Line. This quickly became the Sheerline and soon began winning prestigious awards. The tradition continues and today, Sheerline typically includes 30+ pages printed in four color format with event coverage, chapter information, profiles, stories and technical articles.
None of Sunnyland’s success would be possible without the overwhelming support of volunteers. A sustained effort by this large group of dedicated volunteer workers ensures Sunnyland, aided by support from members and the local community, can present various events and functions with a high degree of certainty and efficiency.
Early connections attract many of our members to antique boats. Fortunately, many are now at a stage of life where they have the time and wherewithal to take part in and enjoy the hobby. The laid-back Florida lifestyle blends with the wooden boat crowd, where few are in a hurry. Today, the shores of Florida’s beautiful lakes have become a wonderful setting for many beautiful homes and boathouses where owners store their prized wooden boats. This did not happen by accident.
Looking back at our history, Sunnyland’s passion for antique boating, spirit of volunteerism, diverse water options, warm weather, and ample boating infrastructure firmly roots its success and future growth. Our founders recognized these attributes and capitalized on the opportunity to create a highly successful venture, known as the Sunnyland Chapter of ACBS.