Goings On

Wangstad Elected reported by Andreas Jordahl Rhude

Covington, KY ACBS member Lee Wangstad from Nisswa, Minnesota has been elected vice chairperson of the National Boating Museum and Education Center. The organizational 
meeting of the recently established museum was held at Covington, Kentucky on 18 March. This was held in conjunction with the National Boating History Symposium.

The Museum’s covenant is to “…foster research, education, and historic conservation for America’s watercraft, designers, builders and all other participants in the nation’s marine cultural heritage.” Education is a key component of this mission. The newly elected Board will now actively pursue 501(c)3 tax-exempt status. They will also be soliciting donations and searching for a suitable site for the museum and educational center. At the present time, the greater Washington, DC area is focus of the site search committee.

Wangstad is a leading historian on the boating boom of the 1950s and sixties. His special area of interest is in non-wood boats. Congratulations Lee!

Boat History Discussed-- reported by Andreas Jordahl Rhude

Covington, KY Some 160 folks from all around North America (and two from England) converged on Covington, Kentucky on the banks of the Ohio River on 16-18 March. The reason? To attend the National Boating History Symposium. The conference theme was “Beautiful lines: greatest 20th century boats and their designers.”

Expert speakers in many fields presented sessions on topics from “Gentlemen’s racers” to “Classic outboard motors.” Boat designers and builders Bob Switzer of Switzer Craft and Al Hegg gave presentations on their design and construction philosophies. Hegg was with Larson Boats for many years and became owner of Century Boats in 1968 and led them into the fiberglass era. Switzer made an outrageously funny interpretation of how he and his older brother stumbled into boat production after World War II.

Lee Wangstad, an ACBS member, gave the keynote address on industrial designers Brooks Stevens, Norman Bell Geddes, Raymond Lowey and others. Lyman boat expert and historian Tom Koroknay gave an excellent slide illustrated presentation on the construction of Lyman’s lapstrake boats. His illustrations showed factory production techniques of the late 1960s.
The conference chair was Jeff Beard, president of the Chesapeake Bay chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society. Wangstad was vice chair of the conference. Sponsors included the National Boating Museum; the Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club; Century Boat Club; Gar Wood Society; Classic Boating magazine; and the Antique Boat Connection. Beard was instrumental in 
making the gathering a success.

Plenty of opportunity was afforded attendees to network with one another. This is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding benefits of activities such as this. The Friday evening reception and meal was held at Lou Rauh’s Antique Boat Connection in nearby Cincinnati. Tables were interspersed between dozens and antique and classic boats. What a backdrop for diner and socializing!
The next symposium is tentatively slated for 2003, potentially in the Seattle area.

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