Hard is the heart that can resist the sun glinting off varnished mahogany or the sparkling reflection of water in the glass above a deck compass. Old wooden yachts are magical and — be careful! — seductive.
The good news is that attending a wooden boat show provides a win-win for every boat lover. Those of us who are smart enough to stay away from the endless maintenance of wood get to feel the magic without the blood, sweat and tears. And the poor souls who have labored slavishly (or paid handsomely) to care for these historic beauties get to lap up the oooohs and ahhhhs they so richly deserve.
A few of our favorite shows are the WoodenBoat Show at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut (June 27-29), the Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival in Seattle (July 4-6), the Antique Boat Show and Auction in Clayton, New York (Aug. 1-3), and the Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance (Aug. 8-9). If you can’t make it to one of these, never fear; there are more wooden boat shows around the country than you can shake a varnished stick at.
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July 2014 issue
