If these boats could talk

COEUR d’ALENE — The 1948 Sportsman Deluxe made by Chris-Craft, 18-feet long with the Robert Frost-y moniker "The Road Not Taken," was owned by Doug Hood.

The 1936 Chris-Craft, model Double Cockpit Forward, with a Chrysler engine, measured 19-feet, 6-inches long and was owned by Daryl Reynolds.

Both were gleaming in the sunshine Saturday, two of the wooden beauties in the Coeur d'Alene Antique and Classic Boat Festival.

Thousands walked The Coeur d'Alene Resort's Floating Boardwalk to admire the craftsmanship and detail that went into these restored classics.

Although most of the vintage boats on display were mahogany, there were a few early fiberglass and aluminum models.

There were stories behind each one.

There was a 1963, 24-foot Lyman Sport model with a new Vortec 300 horsepower engine, two brass props and a 50-fallon stainless steel tank. Offered at $59,900, a key description was "no wood ever replaced."

And then, there was the 1958 Century Coronado, 21 feet long, owned by Wes Yandt, vice president of the Inland Empire Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society.

He was sitting in the Coronado and was more than happy to share some history of his boating family.

His great-uncle, Bob Yandt, started Yandt Boatworks in 1915.

Yandt Boatworks "was literally in the parking lot of The Resort," Wes said.

Bob lived in a floating house "right there on the water," he said, pointing to shoreline near The Coeur d'Alene Resort.

In the beginning, he built primarily race boats, including the Greyhound in 1921. It won the Fourth of July regatta three years running, Wes said.

"Until Bob Yandt was commissioned to build a better, faster boat," Wes said.

That boat, named "Attaboy," took the cup from Greyhound, which was also on display Saturday.

Greyhound was recently purchased by a local collector and brought back to Coeur d'Alene.

"He promises to keep it in Coeur d'Alene," Wes said. "We're super excited about that."

The Yandt family is restoring a 1940 boat made by Bob that Wes said was "pretty famous."

He said it was owned by John Finney and used to deliver mail and groceries and operated as a water taxi for 50 years.

When Wes put the word out he had the 23-foot boat, people responded.

"You cannot believe the stories that I got," the Spokane Valley man said. "It just fills in the history for us.”

The boat was known for its "triple cockpit forward." Rather than the engine in the center with drive shaft coming out the back, they took the motor, turned it around and put it in the back of the boat.

"That opens up from here forward for cockpit space so people can sit and visit," Wes said. "That's why it was so good as a mail boat."

Wes Yandt said they bought the Coronado with a 300-horsepower Cadillac engine from a friend three years ago.

"They claim it was a 60 mph boat in the day," he said.

Yandt Boatworks built about 75 boats in all, from rowboats to 40-foot-long taxi boats to racers. Its last model came out in 1967.

Wes said his father, Ron Yandt, was raised in Coeur d'Alene.

"He always was around boats," he said. "Boating was always in his blood. He loved it but never was able to buy a wooden boat. One day, he and I made a commitment to each other that we were going to buy and own one of Uncle Bob’s old boats. So we sought out and found one. We didn't know anything about wood boats and so we learned. We’re back in it."

Wes would love to hear from those who remember Yandt Boatworks. He wants to be sure their stories are saved and passed on through the generations.

"We’ve learned so much," he said. "We hope to hear more."

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.

The boat show continues today from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It is free.