Antique and Wooden Boat Show moors in Sandpoint this weekend

By Lyndsie Kiebert
Reader Staff Writer

Classic watercraft lovers rejoice — this weekend marks Sandpoint’s 15th annual Antique and Classic Boat Show, hosted by the Inland Empire chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society.

An antique wooden boat cruises next to the railroad bridge on Lake Pend Oreille. Photo courtesy Inland Empire Chapter – Antique and Wooden Boat Society.

The festivities begin Friday all day as participants launch their boats at the City Beach boat launch from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by the Welcome Aboard Party and Dover Bay Resort. Boat viewing will be open to the public at Sandpoint Marina starting Saturday at 9 a.m. to 3 pm. and continuing into Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Show chairman and self-proclaimed lover of antique and classic watercraft B.K. Powell said this year’s show will include around 50 boats both wooden and fiberglass, classic and antique.

“Most people think all old boats are made of wood, and they’re mostly right,” he said, adding 95 percent of the show’s boats this weekend are made of wood. Still, Powell said boats can be considered classic if they were made within the designated years, even if they’re made of fiberglass.

He said he looks forward to the show in Sandpoint, and while the last two years there was thunder and rain, this year’s weather is promising a sunny setting for the show.

“I just like the local atmosphere,” Powell, who resides in Spokane, said.

He said this year’s boat parade will be longer than in year’s past, with the boats cruising in front of Trinity at City Beach while the Sandpoint Beerfest is held there Saturday.

Above all, Powell said he can’t wait to be with fellow boat-lovers for the weekend and to talk with people about the history of each unique boat that graces Lake Pend Oreille as part of the show.

“Every boat tells a story,” Powell said. “So come on down, take a walk through the past and let these boats tell their stories.”