“Boats Made Popular through TV and Film’’ is the theme of this year’s 37th annual Antique and Classic Boat Festival and Coastal Arts Fair at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) in St. Michaels, MD. Vintage sport boats such as a Glastron Scimitar (“Moonraker”), Chris-Craft (“On Golden Pond”), Thunderbird (“Flipper”), Hacker (“Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”), and many more antique and classic boats will be on display at this year’s festival.
Traditionally held on Father’s Day weekend, this three-day event takes place June 13-15 and is sponsored by the Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS)-Chesapeake Bay Chapter. It is one of the largest classic boat shows in the Mid-Atlantic region.
More than 100 cruisers, runabouts, and racers (wood as well as pre-1997 fiberglass and metal boats) will be displayed both in water and on land. Additionally, there will be a Field of Dreams of classic or antique boats for sale.
Throughout the day, families can stroll the 17-acre CBMM campus to view these extraordinary boats and talk with their captains, as well as purchase unique works of maritime art at the juried Coastal Arts Fair. In addition, there will be a nautical flea market, children’s activities, free boat rides on Sunday, and a variety of boating history talks and exhibits from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (see below for full details).
On Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at CBMM’s Fogg’s Landing, there will be a special exhibit, “Before and After Boats: Side-By-Side,” featuring unrestored boats next to finished classics of the same type. Restorers will offer advice on how to turn a daunting boat project into a cherished classic.
To pre-purchase your tickets to the festival, visit cbmm.org. Tickets cost $22 for adult non-members ($10 for members) and are good for two days (Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday). Seniors and students (17 and up) cost $19, active and retired military are $10, youth ages six to 17 are $9, and children five and under are free.
For more information about the show, email [email protected] or call the boat show chairperson Kathy Jones at (302) 803-9159.
ACBS Boating History Talks
Friday, June 13
11 am: “Army and Navy Rescue Boats of WWII—Legacy of McHale’s Navy and Sea Hunt.” Featuring Ted Yadlowsky, IT consultant and WWII and Korean War historian.
12 pm: “Coastal Contraband: Prohibition and Rum Running Off Chesapeake Bay.” With Pete Lesher, chief historian and ambassador at large, CBMM.
1 pm: “Boats for Spies and Secret Agents: Glastron’s Scimitar and Siblings.” Special session with Randy Cunningham, retired architect and boat collector.
2 pm: “Show Boats, From Chesapeake Floating Theatres to the Movies!” Presented by Erin Bone Steele, theatre historian and director, Chesapeake Shakespeare Co.
3 pm: “Chesapeake Boats on Screen—Owens (Donna Reed) and CruisAlong (I Love Lucy).” With Steve Izant, former hospitality exec. And boat restorer, Hermosa Beach, CA.
Saturday, June 14:
11 am: “Boats of James Bond Movies—Lyman to Glastron and More!” History of 007’s Watercraft with Bond fan Holly A. Tompkins, land consultant.
12 pm: “World War II PT Boats—Elco, Huckins, and Higgins.” Featuring special guest Samuel J. Cox, RADM, USN (RET), director of naval history, naval history and heritage command, Washington, DC.
1 pm: “A Place in the Sun—Gar Wood, Chris-Craft, and Century in Movies.” Presented by Gary Van Tassel, marine engineer and classic boater.
2 pm: “Rare and Interesting Classic Inboard Boats that are Flying Under Your Radar.” Presentation by Lee Wangstad, classic boat columnist, Nisswa, MN.
3 pm: “Donzi vs. Bertram—Giants of Offshore Racing.” Featuring Chris “Seabuddy” Brown, author and popular boating historian.
Sunday, June 15:
11 am to 3 pm: “Before and After Boats—Side-by-Side Exhibit.” See 40s to 70s unrestored boats next to finished classics of the same type (Chris-Craft Special Runabouts, Larson Thunderhawks, Whirlwinds, Century Coronados, Switzer Craft Shooting Stars, Glastrons, and early 20th century canoes and launches.
1-2 pm: “Today’s Bay Seafood from Tilghman Island Seafood.” Special presentation and tasting with Nick Hargrove, owner and president.