The Boardwalk and 'beautiful boats'

COEUR d'ALENE — A dock full of great stories.

That’s how Jim Brown, master boat builder, views the upcoming gathering of wood boats, owners and aficionados on Lake Coeur d’Alene.

“Every one of these beautiful boats has quite the tale,” Brown says. “A story of how, where and why they were built, the people who have owned them, the hands that restored them.”

This year’s annual Coeur d’Alene Antique and Classic Boat Festival this weekend brings dozens of rare and one-of-a-kind boats to The Boardwalk Marina’s floating boardwalk in front of The Coeur d’Alene Resort.

The show is free of charge.

Some of the most intriguing boats on display include: Lucille, the 1929 Chris-Craft Commuter Cruiser owned by Larry Swartz; Piccola Gemma, the 1968 Riva Ariston Hull #898 owned by Cheryl Shields, and The Steinway, a 2022 Coeur Custom 340 HT owned by Wayne & Janet Gretzky.

Owners will have their boats polished to perfection and will compete in categories such as: Best Contemporary presented by StanCraft; Skipper’s Choice presented by the Inland Empire Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society; and People’s Choice presented by Coeur Custom.

The event is organized by the Inland Empire Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society, and sponsored by Coeur Custom Wood Boats, Hagadone Marine Group and The Boardwalk Marina.

The 2022 Coeur d'Alene Antique & Classic Boat Festival is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.