Wood on the water
<p>Brad and Sandy's Hill's 1929, 28 foot Gar Wood runabout will be part of the Wooden Boat Show Aug. 16 and 17.</p>
Known for their superior craftsmanship, wooden boats are steeped in maritime heritage.
These grand dames of America's waterways will be showcased Aug. 16 and 17 when the Wooden Boat Show returns to the Boardwalk in Coeur d'Alene.
Showcasing beautifully crafted wooden boats - new and vintage, restored or rebuilt - the show has become an annual event attracting exhibitors from the Inland Northwest and beyond.
Brad and Sandy Hill will be there with their 1929, 28-foot Gar Wood runabout.
The Hills bought the vessel, named "Cheyenne," in 1994. It was what's called a "gray boat," Hill said.
"It had been left outside for some time, and the wood had no more varnish on it," he said.
Today, the boat's sleek mahogany hull shows no hint of its unpolished days.
Hill felt the lure of wooden boats as a child. He grew up in Lake Tahoe and recalls his father's 1950 Chris-Craft.
He said many aficionados of wooden boats have some personal memory that adds to the appeal of the craftsmanship.
Hill, who has been to the Coeur d'Alene show before, said it's an unusual show because it's not sponsored by the Antique Classic Boat Society.
The fact that it's a judged show creates more interest, Hill said, because many wooden boat owners spend a lot of time working on their vessels.
"And in this area, you see boats that come down from Canada. That's something that's only happened in recent years," Hill said.
Hosted by the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce, the Coeur d'Alene Wooden Boat Show is supported by the Hagadone Marine Group, Coeur d'Alene Custom Boats, The Resort Boat Shop, StanCraft, Spokane Airports and The Coeur d'Alene Press.
Wooden boat owners wishing to showcase their "floating works of art" are encouraged to contact Diane Higdem at (208) 292-1635 or email her at diane@cdachamber.com.
In conjunction with the boat show on Saturday, there are four other local waterfront events: The Coeur d'Alene SUP Cup at NIC beach, the Lake Coeur d'Alene Card Board Boat Regatta at City Beach and the North Idaho Trail Foundation's "Ales for Trail" microbrew festival in McEuen Park. Details for all events are available at the chamber and its website: cdachamber.com. Also happening Saturday morning is the Coeur d'Alene Crossing, a swim race from Arrow Point to the Hagadone Event Center.