THE ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC BOAT SOCIETY & THE MICHIGAN CHAPTER OF THE ACBS INVITE YOU TO BOAT THE BLUE THE 43RD ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC BOAT SOCIETY S ANNUAL MEETING AND BOAT SHOW SEPTEMBER 12-15, 2018 - PRE-EVENTS SEPTEMBER 9-13, 2018 PORT HURON, MICHIGAN
2 Artwork by Jim Clary
BOAT THE BLUE - PORT HURON 2018 THE ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC BOAT SOCIETY WELCOMES YOU TO THE 43rd ANNUAL MEETING AND BOAT SHOW SEPTEMBER 12-15, 2018 THE MICHIGAN CHAPTER WELCOMES YOU TO THE PRE-EVENTS, SEPTEMBER 9-13, 2018 Each year we look forward to the ACBS Annual Meeting and International Boat Show. This year s location, Port Huron, Michigan, will offer some exceptional boating, a quaint village with shops and great restaurants, historic sites, and an outstanding marina. We hope you will have time in your schedule to participate in the Chapter Roundtable and the Annual Meeting. Both will be held on Thursday, September 13th at the Blue Water Convention Center (next door to the DoubleTree Hotel). The Chapter Roundtable and the Annual Meeting are opportunities for ACBS members to be part of the process of change as we move the organization forward. We continue to promote the theme of communication, coordination, and continuity. This year s event is another example of what can be accomplished by working together to achieve greater level of success. We are grateful for the members of the Michigan Chapter. An important outcome of the Annual Meeting and International Boat Show is to create an economic impact on the local community. This year s schedule will include Enjoy the City of Port Huron on Thursday night, September 13th and the International Boat Show will include vendors, food trucks, activities for children, classic cars, and more to draw a bigger crowd to the marina and downtown Port Huron. We look forward to seeing you at Boat the Blue. Best Wishes, Rich Lepping - ACBS International President Dan Gyoerkoe - ACBS Executive Director The Michigan Chapter is honored to host the 2018 ACBS International Boat Show and Meeting in Port Huron, Michigan. We are excited to share with you the great boating water from Lake Huron to the St Clair River to Lake St Clair. We are not exaggerating when we tell you it is blue! In the first two days, you will have an opportunity to cruise on this water along with the big 1000-footer lake boats. We will also be in the area where Chris Smith did his early duck hunting and tested and raced his boats in later years. On this same water, Gar Wood set a new world speed record in Miss America X at 124.91 mph. In this area, we still have many of the big classic cruisers in the 40 to 60 range. We can only imagine what an enormous job it is to keep these beauties in operating condition. Several 60 boats have already committed for the show. We think you will find the cruiser excursion on day 3 very exciting. The City of Port Huron has been very accommodating as host city for the Friday and Saturday show. They have donated all of the River Street Marina in downtown Port Huron for the whole week of the show. It is within easy walking distance of many restaurants and shops. The marina is a 5-minute drive from the DoubleTree, the host hotel. A bus tour to historic Algonac and a Ladies Day program on Thursday round out the Chapter program. Based on early interest, we feel the Chapter pre-events will be well subscribed. We do have some limitations on capacity for some of the events, so register early. Jack Warren - Commodore, Michigan Chapter 3
The Michigan Chapter together with ACBS International are excited to host the ACBS Annual Meeting and 43rd International Boat Show in Port Huron, Michigan, Sunday September 9th through Saturday September 15, 2018. The City of Port Huron has been most generous in being the host city. They have given us the entire River Street Marina for the whole week of the show. It is capable of docking over 150 boats and has the capacity to handle boats up to 60 ft. in length. Docking is free for the whole week for all boats including cruisers. In addition, they have offered us free use of the launch ramps conveniently located on the Black River close to the River Street Marina. The Marina is well protected from the wind and boat wash is not an issue. The River Street Marina, located in downtown Port Huron, is close to numerous restaurants and shopping. One of the unique features of our show is the location on the Great Lakes with access to the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, and the Detroit River. Many of the classic cruisers in the 30 ft. to 60 ft. range are still in service. We anticipate having more than 30 of these boats in the show. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 The Michigan Chapter will host the pre-events which begin with a reception Sunday evening at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Port Huron. The on-water events begin Monday! The area waterways offer some great cruising and the pre-events will give you an opportunity to get out there and do what we all like to do use our boats! MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 We have scheduled a Poker Run on the St. Clair Flats (Venice of Michigan) waterways. Participants will launch in Algonac and run the scenic channels where Chris Smith and Gar Wood designed, tested, and raced boats. The event will include lunch at the historic Old Club on Harsens Island on the South Channel of the St. Clair River. Best poker hands will be awarded prizes made in Michigan to remember the event. 4 Photo by Brad Guldemond
BOAT THE BLUE - SCHEDULE OF EVENTS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 Participants will leave the River Street Marina in Port Huron and cruise down the St. Clair River to dockage in the city of St. Claire, where they will travel to the model collection at the Mariner Museum. From there the group will proceed back to St. Clair, enjoy lunch and a guest speaker at a river front restaurant as you watch the freighters making way on the river. After lunch additional cruising of the area waterways or a direct run back to Port Huron will be an option for each captain. Upon return to Port Huron, gather together at a local rooftop bar / restaurant to catch up with friends and regale stories from the first two days of boating. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 Participants will enjoy being guests on a large classic cruiser for a big water run from the Port Huron River Street Marina up into Lake Huron to the delightful lakefront town of Lexington. There, they will enjoy the downtown attractions and a catered lunch at the marina. The cruiser captains will depart Lexington in time for their guests to return to Port Huron in plenty of time for the ACBS reception later that evening. The Antique and Classic Boat Society will welcome all ACBS members and guests during the opening Welcome Reception held at the historic Fort Gratiot Lighthouse at the mouth of the St. Clair River. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 The Chapter Roundtable, a popular meeting for Chapter leadership and Chapter members, will be held from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. The Annual Membership meeting will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. All ACBS members are welcome to attend. Your input will help the ACBS International Board of Directors chart the future course for the organization. The Michigan Chapter will offer a couple of optional activities: 1. Participants will enjoy a motor coach trip that will depart in the morning from the DoubleTree hotel in Port Huron and tour the historic St. Clair River down to a lunch at the Harbour Club Marina, which is the site of the Algonac Chris-Craft plant. The trip both ways will include several stops at historic sites and museums that will provide an education about the vast maritime and classic boat history of this area. 2. Ladies day out. Participants will enjoy a tour of a Port Huron art studio and museum followed by a luncheon and fashion show at the Port Huron Golf Club. FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 14 Friday is the first day of the two-day ACBS International Boat Show at the River Street Marina. Judging of boats will begin on Friday. There will be an area for vendors, a Field of Dreams display, Ship s Store, kid s activities, educational seminars, and more. Friday evening, the Annual ACBS Scholarship Auction will be held at the Bean Dock located on the St. Clair River. Annually, the ACBS contributes $5,000 each to five different boat building schools (technical colleges) to support scholarship programs. A highlight of the Auction is a presentation from one of the students who received a scholarship through the support of the ACBS. SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 15 Saturday is the second day of the ACBS International Boat Show at the River Street Marina. Free boat rides will be offered. Saturday evening, the ACBS Annual Awards Banquet will be held at the Blue Water Convention Center located next door to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. The ACBS Annual Awards Banquet recognizes the significant accomplishments of ACBS members, ACBS chapters, and of course the boats and boat owners that were selected for the major boat show awards. DINNER EVENTS Fort Gratiot Light Station Reception Dinner Wednesday, September 12, 2018: Fort Gratiot Light Station includes the oldest surviving lighthouse in Michigan and marks the entrance to the St. Clair River from Lake Huron. Offering some of the best views of the international bridges and freighter traffic, guests are invited to climb to the top of the lighthouse. This combined with great entertainment will complete the evening. Local Experience Thursday, September 13, 2018: Enjoy one of the local restaurants and experience the area s offerings first hand. Dining coupons will be available for many of our fabulous dining options. Historical Bean Dock Dinner & Auction on St. Clair River Friday, September 14, 2018: Tour the The U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps training ship, Pride of Michigan, while you dine in the renovated, historical Bean Dock. Situated right on the bank of the St. Clair River, the Seaway Terminal Bean Dock has a picturesque view of the bustling waterway that separates us from our friends to the North in Canada. The bean dock was used to export many materials but most common was the export of Navy beans to England (this is how it became known as the bean dock ). It was an international port for Great Lake freighters as well as ocean freighters Awards Dinner at Blue Water Convention Center Saturday, September 15, 2018: Michigan s premier waterfront convention center will be the setting for the awards dinner Saturday. Placed right near the mouth of the St. Clair River you ll enjoy a view of the Blue Water Bridges and freighters passing by. It is conveniently attached to the headquarters hotel for the event, the DoubleTree. 5
BOAT THE BLUE - PRE-EVENT REGISTRATION Pre-event Registration September 9 13, 2018 Registration Deadline For Pre-Events: August 12, 2018 6 Artwork by Jim Clary
BOAT THE BLUE - PORT HURON 2018 7
BOAT THE BLUE - ANNUAL MEETING REGISTRATION Port Huron - September 12 15, 2018 8
BOAT THE BLUE - PORT HURON 2018 BOAT THE BLUE - PORT HURON ACCOMMODATIONS Port Huron - September 9 15, 2018 HEADQUARTERS & HOST HOTEL Port Huron DoubleTree, 800 Harker St., Port Huron, Michigan 810-941-6018, $149/night ADDITIONAL PORT HURON HOTELS Fairfield Inn by Marriott, 1635 Yeager Street, Port Huron, Michigan 810-982-8500, $129/night Quality Inn and Suites, 1720 Hancock Street, Port Huron, Michigan 810-987-5954, $95/night Comfort Inn, 1700 Yeager St., Port Huron, Michigan, 810-982-5500, $95/night RELATED WEB SITES FOR ADDITIONAL BOAT THE BLUE INFORMATION WWW.ACBS.ORG WWW.BOATTHEBLUE.COM BOAT THE BLUE - REGISTRATION CREDIT CARD INFO Port Huron - September 9 15, 2018 9
BOAT THE BLUE - BOAT SHOW REGISTRATION Port Huron - September 14 15, 2018 Registration Deadline for Judged Boats is August 31, 2018 (No Exceptions) 10
BOAT THE BLUE - PORT HURON 2018 11 Artwork by Jim Clary
BOAT THE BLUE - OUR VALUED 2018 SPONSORS Port Huron - September 9 15, 2018 ACHESON VENTURES PLEASE SUPPORT THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE ACBS - THANK YOU