Wood boat show hits lake this weekend

Antique and modern wooden boats from across the region will cruise Whitefish Lake and be on display for the Whitefish Woody Weekend III classic boat show this weekend.

Of the 35 registered boats, 17 manufacturers will be represented with boats ranging from 12 to 28 feet in length. Six of the boats are 2013 Antique and Classic Boat Society international award winners.

While most boats at the show are pre-1960s, they range in age from 1928 to brand new.

Event organizer Tim Salt said some have been owned by families for years, while others have passed from owner to owner. The newest owner will have picked up their boat just days before the show, he added.

“We consider ourselves to be much more than boat owners,” Salt said. “We are curators of fine art. We have a responsibility to care for the art, to share it with others in shows like this and to pass that art on to the next caretaker so it can continue to be enjoyed. Boat shows are our art galleries, a place to share our boats and our love for wood boating with others.”

Woody Weekend III is hosted by The Lodge at Whitefish Lake and is organized by the Big Sky Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society.

The weekend begins Friday with a cruise on Whitefish Lake beginning at 8 p.m. On Saturday, boats will be on public display at The Lodge from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Sunday, boats will participate in a poker run around the lake.

All events are free and open to the public For more information, contact Salt at 862-5085.