2018 PLX Antique Classic Boat Show

43RD ANNUAL
PORTAGE LAKES
ANTIQUE & CLASSIC BOAT SHOW

POST SHOW PRESS RELEASE:
JUNE 24, 2018 ~ AKRON OH

PLX Antique Classic Boat Show
2018 PLX Antique Classic Boat Show

On Saturday, June 23rd, the annual Portage Lakes Boat Show took place on the docks of two restaurants; The Harbor Front Grille and Picks PLX for the 43rd time.

2018 PLX Antique Classic Boat ShowThis show started as a prelude to the 4th of July fireworks on the Portage Lakes and was billed as the Antique Boat Parade. As the popularity of the event grew and people wanted to view the boats up close, organizers decided to make it a formal show. Early on, the show was organized and sponsored by the Portage Lakes Historical Society.

As the popularity of the show grew, more and more boats from around the region attended. 2018 PLX Antique Classic Boat ShowEventually the Historical Society asked the local chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society (ACBS) to help with the organization, publicity, show management and judging. The chapter, North Coast Ohio ACBS, has been managing the show ever since. The show is now co-sponsored by the North Coast Ohio Chapter of ACBS and the Portage Lakes Historical Society.

This year the show was managed by chairman Gil Maringer assisted by many of the chapter’s members. There are many volunteers working long hours behind the scenes to make this show a success; organizing sponsors, recruiting participants, all the administration, T-shirt and poster sales, coordination with site owners, media and advertising, parking, launching, awards, etc. Successful shows like this one do not happen without dedicated people.

2018 PLX Antique Classic Boat ShowNow the show attracts boats and owners from surrounding states and fills the docks of the two restaurants, has many land displays and a “field of dreams” lot with boats for sale. This year was no exception. There were 44 boats of all types there from; Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Kentucky.

This year’s theme was the “evolution of the ski boat” and attracted some unusual craft from the 1950’s through the newest ski boats offered today to water skiing enthusiasts.

A 1959 Chris Craft Ski Boat from the 50’s was on display brought by Bud and Ginger Long. “First Date” has a great story behind it and is a great example of a boat from that era. While many boats were used for towing skiers, some were built specifically for that purpose.

2018 PLX Antique Classic Boat Show Like this 1968 Mastercraft. The boat was brought to the show by Mastercraft chief engineer, Donnie Brown and is aptly named “Number1” and is the company’s first boat made to enter the water ski craze. Brown also brought Mastercraft’s newest ski boat designed for skiing and “wake boarding”. This beautiful craft sports all electronic controls and has a price tag of over $180,000.

Jerry Welch anchored the show with the oldest boat, a 1913 B.N. Morris canoe. There were many mahogany Chris Crafts and Century’s for enthusiasts who like the appearance of varnish, home built boats like Keith Riedel’s “My Passion”, a 22.5-foot 2018 PLX Antique Classic Boat Showtorpedo stern inboard. Some folks brought their Lyman Boats, manufactured in Sandusky, Ohio. Others displayed outboard boats such as Jeff and Karen Scott from Doylestown, Ohio with their 1959 Yellow Jacket Riviera, “Beverly J”, a line of boats made famous by their advertising spokesman, Roy Rogers. Growing in popularity at boat shows are the fiberglass classic boats. Several were in attendance on Saturday like Aaron and Ben LeDonne’s 1969 Chris Craft Commander SS, “Wood Island”, from Pittsburg.

2018 PLX Antique Classic Boat ShowThe People’s Choice award went to a 1950 Chris Craft Deluxe runabout from Fremont Ohio, owned by Fred and Kerrie Flower.

There were six “youth Judges” at the show from the area judging several boats and awarding three trophies using a modified ACBS judging system.

2018 PLX Antique Classic Boat ShowThe show was interrupted twice with brief showers which did little to dampen the spirits of the participants and a record crowd of attendees. After the show and enjoyment of the participants cruising the lakes, an awards dinner was held at the Turkeyfoot Island Club. It was a great day for the 43rd show and a beautiful evening at the Island Club for dinner and awards. Plans are already in the works for next year’s show, sure to be another hit at the Portage Lakes.

For more information contact:
Walt Stashkiw | Media Coordinator | 330-289-7849 | wstashkiw@neo.rr.com

2018 PORTAGE LAKES 43rd ANNUAL
ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC BOAT SHOW
OFFICIAL JUDGING RESULTS, June 23, 2018

Antique Canoe:

First Place
1913 16’ B.N. Morris
Owner: Jerry Welch – Akron, Ohio

Non Powered Craft:

First Place (TIE)
2016 home built
7’ & 10’ Kayaks, “My Adventure”
Owners: Trent & Rob Riedel – Chippewa Lake, OH

Contemporary Classic:

First Place
2014 home built 22.5′
Torpedo Stern Runabout “My Passion”
Owner: Keith Reidel – Chippewa Lake, OH

Fiberclassics Outboards:

First Place
1993 16’ Chris Craft Caper
Owners: Mike & Debbie Rutherford – Green, OH

Second Place
1989 15’ Boston Whaler “Mischief”
Owner: Dave & Annette Rosenberger – N. Canton, OH

Fiberclassics Inboard:

First Place
1969 19’ Chris Craft Commander SS
“Wood Island”
Owners: Aaron & Ben LeDonne – Pittsburgh PA

Second Place
1972 18’ Century Resorter “The Mo Ho”
Owners: Michael & Bonnie Hakes – Rocky River, OH

Third Place
1977 17 ½’ Chris Craft Super Sport “Comet 56”
Owner: Robert Ashley – Coventry, Ohio

Classic Outboards

First Place
1957 15’ Thompson “Lady Laker”
Owners: Jeff & Gail Angeletti

Second Place
1957 15 ½ Lyman Runabout
Owner, Pat Conlon, Green, Ohio

Classic Runabouts

First Place
1956 19’ Chris Craft Capri “Catie Claire”
Owner: Chad Chillemi – Westlake, OH

Second Place
1950 17’ Chris Craft Deluxe Runabout “Dreamboat”
Owners: Fred & Karrie Flower, Fremont, OH

Classic Utility

First Place
1957 21’ Century Coronado “Timeless”
Owners: Bob & Stephanie Laubrick, Park Hills, KY

Second Place
1953 18’ Lyman Islander “Miss Karen”
Owners: Mike & Karen Hritz, Avon, OH

Best Chris Craft

1954 22’ Chris Craft Sportsman “Miss Hallie”
Owners: Jim & Char Denning, Dalton, OH

Best Lyman

1953 18’ Lyman Islander “Miss Karen”
Owners: Mike & Karen Hritz, Avon, OH

People’s Choice

First Place
1950 17’ Chris Craft Deluxe Runabout “Dreamboat”
Owners, Fred & Karrie Flower, Fremont, OH

Best Non-Wood Boat

Antique & Classic Boat Society Trophy

1968 17’ Mastercraft “Number 1”
Owners, Mastercraft Co. – Knoxville, Tennessee

Most Original Boat

Antique & Classic Boat Society Trophy

1959 14’ Yellow Jacket Riviera “Beverly J”
Owners: Jeff & Karen Scott – Doylestown, OH

Youth Judged Awards

First Place
1969 19’ Chris Craft Commander SS “Wood Island’
Owners: Aaron & Ben LeDonne, Pittsburgh PA

Second Place
1959 17’ Chris Craft Ski Boat “First Date”
Owners: Bud & Ginger Long – Green, Ohio

Third Place
1962 17’ MFG Edinboro “Big Red”
Owner: David Nau – Barberton, Ohio

Ned Mohrman Memorial Award

“Outstanding Portage Lakes Boaters”

Mike & Debbie Rutherford

OUR SPECIAL THEME THIS YEAR IS THE “EVOLUTION OF THE SKI BOAT”

2018 PLX Classic Boat Show
2018 PLX Classic Boat Show
2018 PLX Classic Boat Show

Saturday June 23 – Plan to attend the Portage Lakes 43rd Annual Antique & Classic Boat Show. This FREE event will be held from 9:00a to 3:00p at the docks, lakeside, at the Harbor Front Grille and Pick’s on PLX Restaurant on Portage Lakes Drive in Coventry, Ohio, just five miles south of downtown Akron.

There will be over 50 beautiful wood and vintage fiberglass boats, both in the water and on land which display the elegance and craftsmanship of America’s skilled boat manufacturers.

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.

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.

2018 SPECIAL THEME: THE “EVOLUTION OF THE SKI BOAT”. For many years, Portage Lakes was the home of several organized Water Ski Clubs. Some of them participating in competition locally and on a national basis. Of course, recreational skiing was very popular at the “lakes” for many years and this year we will celebrate the sport with a special display of Ski Boats.

Many wood and fiberglass models from all eras, from the 40’s to the 90’s, and on display will be some of the latest high-tech wave making beauties worth well over $100,000.

So, there will be boats to view for all ages. There will also be “youth judging” by a group of area youngsters with a special award presented by their group.


The Antique and Classic Boat Society (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 of ACBS with over 130 members is very active in restoring, showing, and using their unique boats. Many of these members will have their own boats on display at this show.

2018 PLX Antique Classic Boat Show

2018 BOAT SHOW AWARDS

  • Non Powered Category
  • Classic Outboards
  • Late Classic Outboards
  • Contemporary Classics
  • Antique Runabouts
  • Classic Runabouts
  • Utilities Under 20’
  • Utilities 20’ and Over
  • Late Classic Runabouts
  • FiberGlassics (fiberglass boats)
  • Race boats
  • Best Amateur Restoration
  • Best Century
  • Best Lyman
  • Best Chris Craft
  • People’s Choice Awards (managed by the Portage Lakes Historical Society)
  • Antique and Classic Boat Society’s “Most Original Boat Award”
  • Ned Mohrman Memorial Trophy: (Best Portage Lakes, boat and owners)
2018 PLX Classic Boat Show

PLX 43rd ANNUAL EVENT

WHEN IS THE CLASSIC BOAT SHOW?

JUNE 23, 2018 ~ 9:00a to 3:00p
FREE Admission ~ Rain or Shine!

WHERE IS IT HAPPENING?

  • Harbor Front Grille
    562 Portage Lakes Drive, 44319
  • Pick’s on PLX
    530 Portage Lakes Drive, 44319

OFFICIAL SPONSORS:

  • The Antique & Classic Boat Society
    North Coast Ohio Chapter
  • The Portage Lakes Historical Society

WHO IS IN CHARGE?

HOW MANY BOATS ARE EXPECTED?

  • 55 boats as of 6/6/18