It might have been named “Azalea Weekend” because shoreline properties were ablaze with vivid spring colors and the Garvan Garden paths were surrounded with every imaginable color of Azalea bushes among the dogwoods blooming in the forest background.  What a beautiful way to cruise into spring!

If the number of passengers over the years were tallied for any boat, Mischief would have to win the top listing.  Here Larry Hinton transports boatless guests from the Clarion to Clay and Patty Thompson’s lake home for Friday morning pastries and breakfast beverages.  That’s one more great thing about every Heartland Classics event – with or without a boat, members and guests get to experience the water therapy of being in a boat cruising on the water.

At the docks there was a variety of boats for the members to discuss and the public to admire. Paul Hastings’ 1963 Higgins Mandalay with its unique colors is aptly named Tequila Gold.

Outboards ranged from Don Parker’s  1965 Carver 17’ Commander lapstrake with a 70 hp Evinrude to Collier Watkins’ 1954 Penn Yan 13’ Stripper with a 18 hp Evinrude.

Fiber Glassics were represented by the Watkins’ Chris Craft XK 22 with its own cleaning crewmate Slater.

The Good Life or la Dolce Vita caught the eye of the public.  Patty Thompson easily was identified as the owner in her attire of zebra and teal matching the 1969 Riva 28’ Aquarama’s upholstery.

Time in the Gardens for food and shade and to enjoy the ever-changing woodland landscape in full spring glory.  Is that peacock showing off just for Becky?

And there is time for a nap in the shade, [shade] plus swap time for “I need”s and “I’ve got”s.

Always a time for food and friendship, Saturday evening concluded with trophy presentations.  Jerry Caddell, representing the judging team, presented the Favorite Outboard trophy to Collier Watkins.

Favorite 18’ and Under went to Bruce Hurst for Pub Decision.

Favorite 18’ and Over went to Larry and Jan Hinton for Mischief.[

] People’s Choice went to Clay and Patty Thompson for la Dolce Vita.

Chapter appreciation goes to the event committee Mike Langhorne, Patty Thompson, Jan Hinton, John Watkins.

It was warm and sunny at Tavares, Florida for the start of the boat show season.  The Sunnyland Chapter hosted another great show.  The featured boats this year were the newly restored boats from the movie “On Golden Pond”.    Both Thayer IV (1950 U-22 Sportsman) and the mail boat Mariah (Century Raven) were restored by Katz Marine and delivered for display on land and in the water at Lake Dora.

Among the participating boats were two Heartland Classics, Arrrgh! owned by Larry Nichols, and Moxie owned by Jim Frechette.

Fourteen Heartland Chapter  members plus friends from two of our major sponsors, Antique Boat Center and Hagerty Marine Insurance, all had a good time visiting with ACBS members from all over the country.

We are excited to announce the graphic for the 2012 Tee Shirt.

Back to Mahogany and Chrome Event Information

What better way to spend a Saturday in February, if you can’t actually be on the water, than spending the day with friends at a Winter Restoration Workshop? Thank you to Brent Howard for the great facility to hold the workshop in Langley, Oklahoma, and Dan Diehl who planned and conducted the program.

There seemed to be a theme to the presentations: Do your homework first: Research the process and the products. Assemble and prepare the right tools. Practice. Then act in an efficient time frame.

Heartland members will receive more complete information in the Spring Mahogany & Chrome Newsletter, or take a look at the workshop videos on this website. (Videos are thanks to George Reaves, Dick Moist, and Jerry Rodgers (Mississippi Valley Chapter) and editing by George Reaves.)

Topics for the day were presented to 59 participants.
• Sharing techniques and experiences using polyurethane and/or varnish, Dan Diehl, Clay Thompson, Darren Arnold

• How to repack the prop shaft thru-hull, Larry Hinton

• Knot tying, Dick Moist

• Cold molding a hull, David Lott

• Making a windshield, Dan Diehl and Clay Thompson

• Things to look for in a boat survey, Tom Benton

• Personal use of the ACBS website as a resource

It wouldn’t be a Heartland event without food and fun! Donuts to start the day and Pensacola Pizza and salad for lunch accompanied by Italian arias and love songs compliments of the chef.

We’re all just a little closer to being ready for spring boating.

Restoration Underway on Frame.

All mahogany planks marked and carefully preserved.

All hardware, gauges, hardtop, windshield and upholstery complete.

Cadillac 460 with 310 hours, Velvet Drive.

$5,000

Contact:  JC Renner (417) 294-1229  in southwest Missouri