Featured ACBS Chapter this week is Jerry Dyhrkopp/Iowa Great Lakes.
The state of Iowa has its own set of “great lakes” in the northwest part of the state. Lake Okoboji is a clear water, spring fed lake that is at the center of these lakes. It is the home port or vacation destination for many antique and classic boats. Lake Okoboji is the home for the annual boat show of the Jerry Dyhrkopp/Iowa Great Lakes Chapter.
This small chapter puts on a great show that draws thousands of people to the docks of Arnolds Park each July. 
In the same historic amusement park location is the Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum where you can immerse yourself in the lore of the Iowa Great Lakes.
The history of the name of this chapter is interesting. Their chapter website explains:
In 2001, the Great Lakes Area and the Iowa Great Lakes Chapter lost Jerry Dyhrkopp, a.k.a. “Dr. Chris-Craft”. To maintain his presence in the club, the chapters’ name was changed to the Jerry Dyhrkopp Iowa Great Lakes Chapter. Jerry learned wooden boats at Wilson Boat Works while he was in high school.
The customer base that Jerry developed while working at Wilson’s followed him when he and his son, Steven opened Blue Water Restoration in 1991 in Milford, Iowa. His enjoyment of and superior restoration of wood boats lives on through the Jerry Dyhrkopp Iowa Great Lakes Chapter.
Watch for their show date next July. It’s always a fun family event!
54 International Chapters of ACBS
The Antique and Classic Boat Society has 54 Chapters throughout the United States, Canada, and France. ACBS members who affiliate with a home chapter find a group of friends with whom to share boating experiences, boat stories, and the skills needed to maintain and/or preserve and restore their vintage boats. Inevitably, the genuine relationships formed at the chapter level are always mentioned when an ACBS member is asked why they value their ACBS membership.
When you click on the CHAPTERS tab in the menu above, a world map will appear showing the location of the ACBS Chapters. Which one is closest to you? Or maybe there is a chapter near the lake where you vacation that has an event scheduled which you could attend.
Please share information about your chapter. Anyone can do that. You may email pictures and text to kathyparker@acbs.org.
Can somebody refer me to a wooden boat restoration shop near Okoboji?