2007Rendezvous

The Bluegrass Continues To Grow

The 4th Annual Bluegrass Vintage Boat Rendezvous was held Friday and Saturday, September 4-5, 2007 at Kenlake State Resort Park in Hardin, Kentucky. Breaking from the chapter’s past tradition of producing an eastern Kentucky event, the 2007 Rendezvous was moved westward to Kentucky Lake, the western-most body of water adjoining Kentucky’s “Land-Between-The-Lakes” region.

The Bluegrass Chapter was excited to bring the 2007 Vintage Boat Rendezvous to enormous Kentucky Lake, however one cannot realize how big the lake is until you actually get out on it. This is Big Water! Rarely does a vintage boater have the opportunity (and room) to circumnavigate a fully loaded barge in transport without a safety risk, but that’s exactly what several of the Rendezvous participants were able to enjoy. Kenlake State Resort Park is located approximately 20 miles south of Kentucky Dam on the western shore. The dam itself has quite a story…

The event began with early arrivals on Thursday afternoon, followed with the bulk of the participants arriving on Friday. The Bluegrass Chapter’s team of launch professionals assisted everyone in getting their boat into the water and to their assigned display slips. By the end of the day a total of 28 outstanding boats had arrived, and all captains and crews began enjoying the marina and facilities of Kenlake State Resort Park. In addition to entrants from Kentucky, there were also boats and attendees from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Friday evening’s Meet & Greet Welcome Party in the banquet room upstairs at the Kenlake Marina provided the ideal setting to renew old friendships and make new acquaintances. While enjoying the evening’s festivities, it was pointed out that a total of five current ACBS Chapter Presidents were in attendance! It was a true sign of success that 10% of all ACBS chapters were represented at the Rendezvous. These Bluegrass folks really know how to have fun, as was evidenced by the sheer volumes of food and refreshments that seemingly disappeared in a short period of time. In fact, Bluegrass Chapter President Mike Gresham stated that “having fun” was a requirement for participation! Mike has often been heard informing potential entrants “we are going to get together and have a blast, and oh, by the way, bring your vintage boat”. In addition to providing great food and refreshment, the Rendezvous hosts made it a point to introduce new participants to everyone and make them feel welcome. The Bluegrass Chapter is fast becoming known for its southern hospitality and fun, fun, fun events, so you may want to consider attending next year’s event, which will be held “over the hill” at Lake Barkley State Resort Park on September 5-6, 2008.

In prior years the Bluegrass Rendezvous has attracted many outstanding vintage boats, and 2007 would prove to continue the trend. There were more vintage Centurys in attendance than any other marque, including three breathtaking Sea Maids and a pair of matching 1957 Resorters. Even so, Chris-Crafts were well represented with several outstanding utilities and runabouts. Linda and Ray Gilker traveled from West Virginia with their wonderful 1955 Shepherd utility and its big Chrysler engine (yea, it’s got a Hemi). Also in attendance was a very nice un-restored 1926 Mullins Outboard Special with its original Elto Rudder Twin motor still affixed to the stern. This unit looked as if it had been suspended in time for 81 years. The captain of this boat, current Bluegrass Chapter Vice-President Rob Selin, swore the engine would run, however hardly anybody in attendance could (or would) verify his claim. Most of the boat entrants were trailered to Kenlake Marina and launched for the show, however a few were driven from other marinas. Dennis Ryan and Jim Lawson drove their 1972 26-foot Lyman Cruisette all the way from Cincinnati to Kentucky Lake, down the Ohio River to Cairo, then back up the Tennessee River for a short ride to the Kentucky Dam and through the lock (a distance of approximately 500 miles). This feat required four full days, 225 gallons of fuel, and an untold quantity of food and liquid refreshment. It was rumored that when this boat arrived at Kenlake Marina, there was a dingy tied to the stern which was almost swamped from the weight of the empty aluminum cans. All in all, the entire field of entrants were as diverse a bunch of vintage boats as you would ever expect to see at one place, and all of them were spectacular in their restoration.

Saturday morning dawned warm and pleasant. By 8:30am the docks were busy with participants performing their last-minute polish and shine, and at 9:00am sharp the Captain’s Meeting was held on the docks to discuss the day’s planned events and to distribute captain’s ballots. A note about judging: The Bluegrass Rendezvous is indeed a judged show, however the entrants themselves are the sole judges. Each captain receives a generic captain’s Ballot sheet with various award categories listed, and during the display period between 10:00am to 2:00pm, the captains write in their choice for the various award categories. These ballot sheets are then turned in anonymously to the Show Chairman by 2:30pm for tabulation in preparation of the Awards Banquet later in the evening.

At 2:00pm the display period had concluded and the entrants began to depart the marina for an afternoon of fun-filled vintage boating on Kentucky Lake. A few boats ran up the lake to Kentucky Dam and through an easterly cut over to Lake Barkley, and then back again. The weather was spectacular and the lake traffic almost non-existent. Several of the participants seemed to enjoy circumnavigating the few barges that were traversing the lake, and not once did any of the barge captains “blow”. It seemed the barge captains also enjoyed the outstanding vintage boats that were encircling them as they made their way from buoy to buoy. The whole day was picture-perfect and a wonderful way to enjoy vintage boating. By 4:00pm or so everyone had returned to the marina and headed to the lodge to prepare for the evenings Awards Banquet.

At 6:30pm everyone met in the spacious banquet room at Kenlake Lodge for cocktails and hors ‘devours. After 30 minutes or so, everyone settled in to their seat for dinner and the awards presentation. The award recipients, as chosen via the captains balloting as previously described, were as follows:

The Bluegrass Chapter ACBS does indeed continue to grow, and may be the best-kept secret in the vintage boating hobby. If you would like more information about the chapter and/or the 2008 Rendezvous, you should contact Mike Gresham at 859-987-9135 or mikegresham@mindspring.com to be placed on the mailing list. But be forewarned – if you go, be prepared to have fun.