Wooden Boat Show is Saturday

This will be the ninth show in a community rich in boating history. The show is nestled between the Grand River and Spring Lake, with only a short boat ride to Lake Michigan.

The show attracts nationally known and other fine examples of wooden runabouts, utilities, canoes, kayaks and a classic glass category. Boats from Chris Craft, Century, Hacker Craft and Lyman, to name a few, as well as many custom-built boats will be on display.

This year’s featured boat will be “The turn of the century launch” with a 1904 Western Launch Co. 18-foot launch, “Duchess,” powered by a vintage single-cylinder Fairbanks Morse Type E engine; and “Frolic,” a 17-foot fantail launch, powered by a two-cycle, one-cylinder engine with direct drive. There will also be a 2012 electric launch, “Amped Up,” as well.

The show starts at 9 a.m. and continues until 3 p.m. with awards and a boat parade on Spring Lake. A children’s boat building table and float your boat pond, food, music, a wood-inlay artist, a wooden kayak builder and various wooden boat vendors will be part of the show. There will also be a display and participation from the Tri-Cities Historical Museum.

The show is hosted by the Village of Spring Lake’s Historic Conservation Commission, whose purpose is to help identify, promote and preserve the area’s rich history.