From Walt Stashkiw, North Coast Ohio Publicity Chairman
THE 46th ANNUAL PORTAGE LAKES ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC BOAT SHOW
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2022
On Saturday August 27, 2022, plan to attend the Portage Lakes 46th annual antique and classic boat show. This free event will be held from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the docks, lakeside, at the Pick’s on PLX restaurant on Portage Lakes Drive in Coventry, Ohio, just 5 miles south of downtown Akron. There will be over 50 beautiful wood and vintage fiberglass boats, both in the water and on land displaying the elegance and craftsmanship of America’s skilled boat manufacturers.
The show is sanctioned by the Antique and Classic Boat Society, Inc. (ACBS), an international organization devoted to the preservation and recognition of all types of personal watercraft with 54 chapters throughout North America and Europe. The North Coast Ohio Chapter (NCO) of ACBS with over 100 members manages this show and is very active in restoring, showing, and using their unique boats. Many of these members will have their boats on display at this show.
In the last few years, there has been growing interest in the original fiberglass boats which became popular in the late 1960’s as wood boat production was phased out due to shortages of mahogany, production costs, and desire for easier to maintain boats. Those earlier model fiberglass boats had unique designs influenced by the finned automobiles of the late 50’s and 60’s. You will see some of those boats at the show sporting restored outboard motors.
OUR SPECIAL ATTRACTION THIS YEAR IS THE RESTORED “RIDE BOAT” FROM THE CHIPPEWA LAKE AMUSEMENT PARK. “Dynamite” was the third and last ride boat purchased by the park in 1950. It is a 26’ Hacker Craft triple cockpit equipped with a 534 cu.in. Ford Seamaster V-8.
Dynamite was configured to hold eleven passengers and give park patrons a “white-knuckle” ride around Chippewa Lake and is estimated to have carried over 100,000 passengers in its lifetime until the park closed in 1978.
Dynamite was almost completely restored by 3rd owner, NCO Chapter member, Larry Prebis
After closing, Dynamite had four owners and was almost completely restored by NCO Chapter member, Larry Prebis. When Larry unexpectedly passed away, chapter member Gary Kosiba purchased the boat and completed the restoration. After 44 years, Dynamite will return to the water at our show.
Fourth owner and chapter member Gary Kosiba purchased the boat and completed the restoration after Larry passed away.
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There will also be “youth judging” by a group of area youngsters with a special award presented by their group.
There will be some award-winning boats from all around Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania at this year’s show.
Interested in purchasing a classic boat of your own? There will also be a “Field of Dreams Sale Lot” with boats for sale on display, so bring your checkbook.
Come and enjoy a cocktail or meal served dockside at Pick’s Restaurant next to the gleaming chrome and sparkling, varnished, floating works of art. The always popular collectable show posters and t-shirts will be on sale. Over 50 local businesses and organizations have sponsored this unique event and is one of the longest running antique boat shows in the country.
Along with the North Coast Ohio Chapter of ACBS our co-sponsor of the show is the Portage Lakes Historical Society.
Don’t miss this celebration of summertime and beautiful boats on the Portage Lakes, Saturday August 27th. For show and registration information contact the show chairman, Gil Maringer, gbmaringer@juno.com or 216-310-7475.
What a great boat and a interesting history
What a great boat and a interesting story
Fond memories of Dynamite, watching her run Chippewa Lake at full speed as a child. I frequently visited my grandparents cottage on Chippewa Lake always eager to watch Dynamite in its full glory. Great memories restored!
I rode in Dynamite many times at the park as a kid. I worked at Chippewa Lake for Cal Daniels on maintenance from 69 to 71. Happy see the boas restored.
I LAST RODE DYNAMITE AS A YOUNGSTER IN 1958. I HAVE A SPECIAL FONDNESS FOR THE TRIPPLE COCKPIT BOATS, TJHE RIDE IN THE THIRD COCKPIT IS THE BEST, THE SPRAY AND ENGINE SOUND ECT. MY GRANDFATHER WAS A GARWOOD BOAT DEALER IN CLEVELAND OHIO FC JUDSON.
I have 8mm film of Dynamite from 1966, shot both from the dock and on board cruising at full speed on Chippewa Lake.
It was my father (Norm) who for years gave many of those people their white knuckle rides around the lake for a summer job starting at about 16 years old. Could you imagine a 16 year old with any job today much less a job like that at 16? It was my uncle (Bruce) who was able to finally purchase the rotting hulk and saved the Dynamite. He and my grandfather did much of the initial preservation and restoration before having to part with it before completion. It was Bruce who scrounged through the abandoned park and located numerous extra, original parts. The boat itself had suffered years of neglect and was in extremely poor condition. Unfortunately, word got out about the sale before being removed from the park. That alone was a huge undertaking. The park had been abandoned since the late 1970’s and had returned to being complete woodlands. But someone went in the day before we were to start the removal process and cut off the original steering wheel. Several other items went missing in the 24hours before we had her towed out of the park grounds. Considering the decades that boat sat abandoned it’s lucky it survived at all. Numerous buildings in the park succomed to arson through the years. It was a wild playground for kids. People lived in the empty cabins and hotel over the years. Many people tried to purchase the Dynamite over the years including my family. The owner simply would not sell. Then, after years and numerous rejected offers, my uncle made an inquiry and suddenly it was his. He may not have finished it but he deserves the much of the credit. He, with his father’s assistance did a great deal of the initial preservation and restoration. Especially on the hull and motor. I may be wrong but I thought there was a V10 Cadillac powerplant in her when she was brought out of the park. Regardless, without Bruce’s efforts it’s unlikely that beautiful vessel would be anything more than historical footnote to the park itself today.