Magazine features some of SML's old boats

Several members of the Smith Mountain Lake Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society and their boats are featured in the January/February issue of Classic Boating, a premier publication for those interested in the vintage vessels. And it's a real feather in their captains' hats.

"This magazine is to wooden boating what Business Week is to business," said George Blosser, club chairman and author of the copy that accompanies the photos. They were taken by part-time resident and well-known Smith Mountain Lake photographer Ted Pratt.

The four-page spread features 10 photos taken at the Society's annual boat show in September. Featured in the article are Mark and Jennifer Thompson's Lootaas, a 1929 Hacker Craft 26-foot Dolphin; Sybil, a 1940 Chris-Craft 17-foot barrelstern owned by Roger and Sybil Smith; Robin and Bill Goold's 1956 Chris-Craft Sportsman, Red Velvet; Lars and Cindy Okeson's 1948 Chris-Craft Deluxe Runabout named Woody Too; and Mike Russell's Miss Anne, a 1968 Century Arabian powered by a 285 hp Ford Interceptor engine.

Ben Gunn, a homemade steam-powered launch that is modeled after the River Thames steam-powered boats popular in the 1880s, took Abe Ablett of Iron Station, N.C., three years to build. It, too, is featured, as is Dame BJ, a 1938 Hacker Craft owned by Mike and Delores Mutchler; Katharina, John and Katy Torok's 1965 Grady-White; and Happy Days, a 1956 Chris-Craft 23-foot Continental owned by Blosser and wife Joan.

Blosser said the members of his group are hopeful the magazine will send someone to SML from its home base in Oconomowoc, Wisc., to cover a future show.

"We've been trying to get them to come down here for years," he said.

According to Editor Jim Wangard, that's likely to happen, but he isn't sure when.

"Eventually, we get to most of the boat shows," said Wangard. "I understand this one is particularly nice -- up in the mountains. There are trees around the lake and not a lot of commercial development."

Wangard said there are definite plans to feature Toddy, Ray Everest's 1929 Elco Cruiser, in a future issue, probably later this year. Toddy received the People's Choice Award at the 2009 boat show and festival.