'Legacy' lives on the water

COEUR d’ALENE — When Mike Moen found the 1967 Chris-Craft on a side street in Rathdrum 11 years ago, it was “tired and done,” worn from duty on the St. Joe River.

Over five winters, Moen and his wife brought it back to life and Saturday, it was among the beauties in the annual Coeur d’Alene Antique & Classic Boat Festival at the floating boardwalk in front of The Coeur d’Alene Resort.

A steady stream of people stopped to talk with the Coeur d’Alene man about his 17-footer named, “Coeur d’Alene Legacy.”

That’s a tribute to growing up with a lake for a backyard. Moen’s grandfather and father both had boats they often used on Lake Coeur d’Alene, and Mike was on them.

“Now I have one,” he said.

Moen loves the beauty of the wood and how the boat glides in calm waters — but not the chop stirred up by strong winds that sent small waves on the boardwalk Saturday.

“It’s not built for handling rough water,” he said.

Still, sunny skies greeted thousands of people who attended the free show. Passersby marveled at the details of each watercraft.

“Wow,” “Pretty impressive,” and “Super cool” were a few of the words used to describe them.

About 25 classics, from sporty smaller models to large cruisers lined the boardwalk. They included “Heart & Soul,” a 17-foot, 1947 Chris-Craft Runabout owned by Daryl and Carolyn Reynolds of Post Falls, and a 22-foot, 1968 Riva owned by Cheryl Shields of Coeur d’Alene.

Don Vogt of Hayden Lake sat on his 1938 Chris-Craft Deluxe Runabout.

“This is the finest venue of any place in the country,” he said. “The setting is spectacular.”

Vogt loved having the crowds close for conversation. Stories of boating days past and present filled the air.

“I love talking to people,” he said.

Steve Liss of Harrison brought his 1967 Chris-Craft Cutlass named “Blew By You” to the show.

It was just its second year in the water and the third year he’s owned it.

When Liss bought it, the 26-footer was missing a lot, including floorboards, ceiling boards and the boarding ladder.

Restoring it, Liss said, was a “labor of love" because since his childhood, he knew the joys of cutting across a lake in a wooden boat.

“Nothing like it,” he said.

The boat show 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.

It continues 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.