The Lakeside Wooden Boat Society

Lakeside Wooden Boat Show
Sunday July 15th, 2007
Noon to 6:00pm

On the Lawn at the Hotel Lakeside
Lakeside, Ohio

For more information, or to enter your boat, call 419-798-2050

Horizontal blowing snow thrusts across my backyard as I sit inside watching. My mind however, is thinking of boats and boatbuilding. Here follows the report on the 2007 Cleveland boat show.

January 1st. I made the trip to Homestead Hardwoods to pick up lumber for Daisy four. That act started ten days of organizing my truck, gathering tools, sharpening tools, cutting out parts, organizing office supplies and making posters. As the move in day approached and my truck and Cathy’s van were loaded to the gunnels, I realized help unloading was needed. I hired two friends to help set up our space. We were ready just as the show started.

My vision to go to the show was in hopes of accomplishing several goals. First, to start getting outside the gates, and into Lake Erie boating circles and generate excitement and awareness of lwbs. Second, to get my hands dirty working with kids. That’s where the real blessings show up. This is where the adults also become engaged in talk and in watching the kids. So many people stopped and watched kids doing something constructive. They were blown away that we would come to the show and let kids build a boat. They were surprised that a boat could be built with limited tools and fast. Most importantly, that we let kids do everything mistakes and all. Daisy three was at the show to show off what the finished product would look like and all agreed that she is a fine little boat. How many times I heard a Dad or Mom say, “You won’t clean your room or the garage, but here you are building a boat and loving it.” Sixty nine kids worked on the boat taking it nearly to completion. (The decks and transom need stain and varnish, the sides need two coats of white, the bottom needs last coat of copper, the seat varnish ,one more coat of yellow inside and then the red boot.)

One family worked for over an hour when the parents finally dragged them off for lunch, but by the time lunch was over the kids had convinced them that the best thing to do at the show was to work on the Daisy. The parents sat back ,watched and bought tee shirts!

Two boys working the second Saturday looked familiar. Sure enough, they had been there the first Saturday . They had begged their Mom to take them back just to keep working on the boat. They also bought shirts. Others vowed to bring the kids to Lakeside this summer for classes. I will say here that show attendance seemed quite light especially during weeknights with few kids. Dick Davey with his unique kid coralling style would have been helpful.

We were weak in making it known around the show that there was this great kids activity. People had to stumble into it. Mid America boating did a very nice article on us announcing it (this newspaper is handed out at the show with a floor plan) but most people don’t sit down and read it until after they get home.

Very few adults worked on the boat, but many stopped by to talk, reminisce and ask questions. Stan ,Shirley Stary’s father, was the show standout. He and Tom Ramsdell showed up Wednesday and we had a great time together. Phil knows the trick is to get a tool in their hands and then they can’t put it down. The hurdle with many adults was nice clothes.

Many show exhibitors began their daily pilgrimage to see how daisy was coming along, and those friendships have some real potential . Here’s a few.

Hank Vinceti President, of C.A.B.B.s. (Cleveland Amateur Boat Builders) is a name to remember. Last summer, they built a few simple boats with Cleveland inner city schools and troubled youth. This endeavor was very successful, and the kids learned to sail on their finished boats. He has a similar vision and has found resources to make this happen (through a foundation).

I was invited to be their speaker for the group’s Feb. 4th. Meeting. It was a great opportunity to build bridges and spread the vision for LWBS. They are looking forward to attending the LWBS boat show this summer and will be bringing boats with them! They have had much success at the Cleveland Boat show building pond boats with kids.

Another new friend is Darcy Egan from Marblehead. www.outdoorsohio.com He does a television show, radio and print forum. (Someone needs to do a little research and watch a show) He has asked us to give him a call this summer when we start work on a boat and he would like to come and do a piece on us.

Lakeside Marine Groups, Dan Larcy stopped by to see the boat almost everyday. He loved Daisy’s classic lines and is excited about what we are doing. I asked if he could get us a dock for her so we could run outboard trips this summer. He replied, “Call me in the spring.”

Warren Wolf, from Wolf’s Marine (Midwest’s largest marine accessory store), said he would get us fabulous deals on hardware and paint. They do a lot of buy-outs. He thought he had the same oar locks we have been using for about $5.00 a set.

All the plywood to build the Daisy’s was imported by World Panel of Florida. I met David McGrath at the show, general manager of World Panel. He loved what we are doing and asked, “How can I help? I can get you free wood. Especially slightly damaged panels that the shipping insurance company has already paid on.”

These contacts were the most visible part of the iceberg.

The LWBS Boat Show was talked up, and several updated posters were displayed. I invited many boat owners to bring their boats.

When the show was busy, the Lakeside booth was busy. I don’t know what their thoughts will be once the dust settles and Tom Derby tallies up the costs involved, but one thing is clear, many people watching kids build the Daisy got a great picture of what Lakeside is all about. Many people that I talked to had never heard of Lakeside or had, but had never experienced it. Our booth was one of the only places in the show where someone could pull up a chair, sit down and relax for a few minutes. (Very Lakesidey, isn’t it?) The office has already had a call from a family wanting to book a cottage this summer so their kids could work on a boat again.

We had a very nice “boatique” set up with a fresh supply of shirts. To simplify change, the prices were rounded up to 5.00 increments. (From 13.00 to 15.00 for example) We took in $250.00 from donations and sales. We were disappointed at the low sales volume.

We did receive 2 donations. One family put in 10.00 and another 20.00 (included in the figure above) I think a big jar with a donation sign would have generated more. No one signed up for a membership. Maybe if we made it an “I helped build a Lakeside Daisy” club for kids…. Sign up and join for 15.00 and your kid gets a free t-shirt! ☺

We had Silent Auction table for Daisy 4. The starting bid was $1000.00 Even if we had sold her for that it would have really helped offset our cost, but we had no bidders. Daisy 3 and 4 are currently at my shop.

It’s clear we spent a lot of money to do this show. Many seeds were planted and many friendships were made. LWBS and Lakeside will have to further consider the degree of the success of the show only as those seeds germinate and bear fruit. I will be sending LEMPTA a thank you note.

We need to update our website so that the kids who worked on Daisy 4 can see the end result!

I think doing the show this year was vital to our growth of the club. Many seeds were planted and I think our boat show will receive a tremendous boost.

– Dwight

LWBS will join the Lakeside Staff to promote Lakeside and its unique programming at the largest boat show in Ohio. How? We are going to be “Daisy” building right there on the grounds! Come over and see the boat construced and completed during the boat show event! We will need your energy and presence!

• clevelandboatshow.com

The second summer of LWBS on the Lakeside grounds opened with a larger work site complete with our own source of electricity and a dock box for supplies and equipment. Begun last summer, “Daisy 3″ was completed and classes continued in restoration of our 1953 Lyman. In addition, our organization began the process of working with Lakeside on how to have “Daisies” safely available for use on Lake Erir. The Second Annual Lakeside Wooden Boat Show was held on the July 4th weekend and despite rain, a growing number of restored wooden boats graced the Hotel lawn. The Lakeside gate staff reported 55 passes sold that day just for the show! The 2006 season ended with our newest program designed just for children-pond boat building. In one week, over 100 children built pond boats and launched them in the Lakeside swimming area. (Whew!)

With each season comes new ideas and new growth wrapped in Lakeside friendship and commitment. Are you ready to look into the 2007 season?

• Cleveland Boat Show: January 12-21st
• Third Annual Lakeside Wooden Boat Show: July 15th
• LWBS Fish Fry: Early summer and/or fall
• As well continued classes in restoration and boatbuilding, as well as seminars of interest to the Lake Erie area.

All these activities are available because of Lakeside’s commitment, your commitment as a member, the generosity of our donors and the unique gifts of our instructor.

As you read this letter please consider renewing your membership or making a donation to Lakeside earmarked for LWBS. (A new membership or renewal would make a wonderful gift!)

Remember, all monies go directly into program materials and instruction

We hope to see you at one or all of these LWBS events and in many seasons to come.

From Phil: Hey y’all. As you can see Daisy is intentionally overfilled (4 robust vikings) to the tune of 800+lbs and in a not too calm sea. Details of our adventure are available, and needless to say she was very seaworthy, took the waves, dry boat with Bill acting as a windshield, and not prone to tipping. The 8hp motor is a nice match with a boat that would make proud her ancestry. This is Daisy 2 and 3 is currently underconstruction.

On the lawn of the Hotel Lakeside and in the water. 12:00 - 5:00, weather permitting. Nautical Swap Meet - Bring your old boating treasures! Nautical Vendors - New Old Boating Stuff for Sale! Entry information or questions, call 419-798-2050 or email Bill Drackett More Lakeside info at: lakesideohio.com/

1956 18′ Lyman Islander

Here’s the Wooden Boat Society group as they talked with Rick and Jackie Metz from radio show A Firm Foundation heard on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on AM-1430, WFOB, Fostoria-Bowling Green. Check out their website, too!

wfob.com rickmetzdeveloper.com

1955 18′ Chris Craft