A warm breeze and the glow of varnished mahogany — it’s the season for showing off wooden boats in all their splendor.
Last summer, the 36th Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance and Wooden Boat Week returned to North Lake Tahoe, bringing some of the finest restored and preserved classic boats on the continent to Sierra Boat Company in Carnelian Bay. Nearly 100 entries from makers such as Gar Wood, Hacker, Chris-Craft, Riva and Century were on display during the first week of August, drawing a record crowd and reaffirming the event’s reputation as one of the premier gatherings for wooden-boat enthusiasts and restorers.
The three-day celebration opened with the traditional VIP Preview Day. Limited to 500 tickets at $100 each, the VIP day gives enthusiasts an intimate way to experience the show: attendees stroll the docks, examine craftsmanship up close, and speak directly with the owners and restorers who preserve and maintain these watercraft. After the opening ceremonies, live music set a festive tone while gourmet hors d’oeuvres and refreshments were served. Throughout the day, guests enjoyed private cruises aboard several of Tahoe’s finest woodies, a rare chance to ride history in motion on calm summer waters.
Judging at the Concours follows an “as-delivered” standard, meaning boats are compared to how they appeared when originally built and launched. This makes the research and historical accuracy behind each restoration as important as the visible finish work. Last year’s Marque Class, “Boats of the Twenties,” attracted 15 entries — an impressive turnout given the scarcity of boats from that era. Among them, a remarkable number were vintage racing boats built specifically for competition; these racers brought colorful stories of regattas, triumphs and mechanical challenges, which owners happily recounted to visitors.
“The collection of ’20s raceboats was the best that’s ever been assembled,” said Kirk Pumphrey, chairman of the Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance. That assembly of rare hulls and historical racecraft underscored why the event is treasured by collectors, historians and anyone who appreciates the artistry of wooden-boat construction.
One of the most notable outcomes of last year’s show was the Best of Show Award going, for the first time in more than 25 years, to a non-professional restoration. Jack and Linda Bingham won the 2008 Best of Show for Jac-N-Lynn, their 1956 26-foot Chris-Craft Continental Sedan. The Binghams’ achievement illustrated that meticulous research, dedication and thoughtful workmanship can produce results that rival professional shops.
“As far back as I can remember, the Best of Show Award has gone to a professional restoration job,” Pumphrey observed. “It was pretty special to have that award go to an amateur restorer and also to a more common boat — a Chris-Craft from the ’50s. But at the same time, it’s a big boat — very complicated with lots of parts. Jack and his wife, Linda, did an unbelievable job.”
Chief judge Barry Ludwig echoed the message that good restoration is rooted in research and fidelity to original construction and finish. “This proves that it isn’t how much money you spend, but the effort and how one immerses and educates themselves in the hobby,” he said. “Professional or amateur, what is important is doing research on the boat and learning about what is correct.” Those values—careful study, respect for original materials and techniques, and a willingness to learn—are central to the Concours’ mission of preserving maritime heritage.
As the 36th annual Concours wound down, typical Lake Tahoe winds began to pick up. The event’s traditional “Roar-Off,” when boats leave their slips and pass by the harbor drawing cheers from onlookers, looked uncertain in the stronger breeze. After a safety briefing and a stern reminder from the Coast Guard, only the most adventurous owners elected to head out for the farewell procession. The boats that did depart were met by the usual crowd of enthusiastic spectators who came to celebrate the craft and craftsmanship on display, and to bid the vessels a temporary goodbye until the next Concours.
This year, the Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance runs Friday to Sunday, June 19–21. Friday is VIP Preview Day, and the Marque Class is “Blonde Deck Boats.” For event details, search for Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance information through official channels.
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This article originally appeared in the June 2009 issue.