Down to the lake in boats

They glide across the water with unparalleled beauty and grace. The pride of their owners is reflected in the gleaming mahogany frames and immaculate interiors. Their natural beauty makes sense in the natural settings that surround them.

They are classic wooden boats, which will be on display this weekend at The Coeur d'Alene Resort boardwalk. This year the show is sanctioned by the Inland Empire Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, an international club.

As a result, there will be more entries than past years. Organizers are anticipating at least 85 boats.

Kirk Marshall of Coeur d'Alene owns the 34-foot cruiser Aphrodite. It is a magnificent 1940 Chris-Craft that he's owned since 1990. Aphrodite, moored in Bayview, has always cruised the waters of Lake Pend Oreille. Marshall bought Aphrodite from the second owner, who owned it for 15 years. The original owner was E.R. Elliot, a retired Army colonel, who named her after the Greek goddess of love.

"There is a romance about the wooden boats," Marshall said. "You don't see this quality and craftsmanship anymore. The boat is a creative outlet for me - I like mechanical, electrical and woodwork."

Indeed, Marshall has rewired the entire vessel. Aphrodite has two engines that were rebuilt in 1985, a diesel cabin heater, depth finder and compass. The windows roll up and down like an old car window and even have screens. The well-organized galley includes monogrammed dishes, spacious icebox and an alcohol-fired stove. The stateroom has upper and lower berths with their own individual reading lights. The head features a porcelain commode and sink.

When the engine starts, it purrs like a kitten. Quiet yet powerful, Aphrodite eases out onto Lake Pend Oreille with grace and attitude. It is an amazingly smooth ride. Nothing in a newer boat feels like this.

This is Marshall's third wooden boat. His first was a Century he bought in 1984, which he owned for four years. He decided he wanted to extend his boating season, so he moved up to a 27-foot Chris- Craft Cruiser.

One New Year's Eve, while taking some friends on a cruise, he decided he still needed more space. Knowing that Aphrodite might be for sale, he pursued it. He can easily entertain 13 to 15 friends for celebrations. He's a year-round boater.

It is no wonder that Aphrodite won Best Cruiser at last year's Coeur d'Alene boat show. It also picked up Best of Show this summer in Sandpoint's first wooden boat show.

Ken and Eldes Johnson are the proud owners of last year's Best Chris-Craft from the Coeur d'Alene show. Smoothie got its name for the smooth ride it delivers.

Smoothie has been in the Coeur d'Alene show since 1996, and has also been shown on Lake Pend Oreille. The 19-foot speedboat won the Best Non-Professional Restoration, as well as the People's Choice, at the Sandpoint show. Johnson got the boat from the Newport Marina in Orange, Calif. It was originally delivered in San Francisco.

"It took me seven years on and off to restore it," Johnson said. "I finished it here."

Johnson expressed similar emotions about the wooden boats. Smoothie is a 1941 Chris-Craft that he purchased in 1989, but this is not his only wooden boat. He is restoring a 1959, 16-foot Century Resorter called Ol' Flame. Looking at Ol' Flame, and at the before photos of Smoothie, really makes one appreciate the hard work these owners put into these boats. It's a true labor of love.

"It's the smell, the sound of the engine," Johnson said.

Smoothie has also won the Wooden Boat of the Year in 1996, the People's Choice in 1997 and the Sheriff's Choice in 1999 at the Coeur d'Alene show.

In addition to the wooden boats, there will be a variety of other activities this year, including the display of three 1960-era hydroplanes that once raced on Lake Coeur d'Alene in the Diamond Cup Races from 1958 to 1968. Race boats and fans came from all over the country to witness the action, but the unruly crowds brought the race to an end.

The Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in Seattle is bringing over the U-4 Miss Burlen, the U-40 Miss Bardahl and the U-79 Nitrogen Too. The Miss Burlen, built in 1960, took second place in both the 1960 and 1963 races. It is 30 feet long, 12 feet wide and weighs 5,800 pounds.

The U-40 Miss Bardahl was built in 1958 and weighs in at 6,100 pounds and is 30 feet long and 12 feet wide. Restored in 2000, it took part in the first Diamond Cup and was the second-fastest qualifier at 106 mph.

The Nitrogen Too is actually a replica. Built in 1960 as the Miss Lumberville, it appeared in the Diamond Cup between 1964 and 1968. It was featured in the full-length motion picture "Madison" starring Bruce Dern, about the Miss Madison hydroplane and its upset victory in the 1971 Gold Cup.

There will also be a gathering of 40 woodie cars, on-water demonstrations of scale model boats, a sand sculpture contest, an arts and crafts event and a fireworks display at dusk on Saturday.

The boardwalk will be open for viewing of the wooden boats, woodie cars, wood boat models and the classic hydroplanes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The boat parade is at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Judging of the sand castle contest is at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Copyright 2001 Cowles Publishing Company
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