Locating My Darling, a one-of-a-kind raceboat from 1949, was a 10-year obsession for Don Morin. He finally found it in a field in Springfield, Illinois. It is this year's Best in Show at the Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Wooden Boat Show. There was no shortage of stories, excitement, or sun at the 33rd annual Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Wooden Boat Show Saturday, August 14, which drew a crowd of 6,700, about 1,000 more than last year. A previous owner of the boat that would be declared the 2010 Best of Show winner recalled how he was once advised to stop his pursuit of a boat that was believed to no longer exist. Another first-place-inclass winner told how he turned a boat used as a flowerpot into a backto back winner in the sailboat class. Still another story featured a sixyears long, do-it-yourself restoration by a man determined to fix a boat he had sunk.

My Darling Takes Top Prize

Tim Wood earns first in the sailboat class for the second year in a row. He rehabbed Shmoo a 1950 12-foot Ray Greene & Co. sailboat from service as a flowerpot into an award-winning vessel. Shmoo is a 1940s cartoon character that Mr. Wood describes as a small, selfless creature that subsists on air alone and asks for nothing in return. My Darling, a 1949 Hacker/Marcy Unlimited Hydroplane U-16 from the Mittler collection in Three Rivers, raced away with the biggest prize of all, the 33rd annual Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Wooden Boat Show First Best of Show honors. The boat faced competition from nearly 120 boats in 18 classes, including runabouts, utility boats, lapstrake skiffs, outboards, launches, sailboats, cruisers, and everyday boats. This was an emotional win for Don Morin, who has both restored and owned the boat in the past, before selling it to Tom Mittler, who passed away mere months before he could see My Darling judged as the top boat at one of the nation's premier antique wooden boat shows.

At left: Charlie Williams of Connecticut stands on his boat, Strait Up, a crowd favorite owing to its clever name, which references the Upper Peninsula and the Straits area in one fell swoop. Mr. Morin accepted the award in memory of Mr. Mittler, a loyal customer who had grown into a cherished friend throughout years of working closely together. Both men appreciated every opportunity to share their love for vintage boats with others and had intended to come to the boat show together.

Most of the boats in Mr. Mittler's 42-boat collection, which Mr. Morin said is the largest private antique wooden boat collection in the world, were either found or restored by Mr. Morin during the two men's 15-year working relationship.

Before the two cemented their friendship, My Darling was the quest of Mr. Morin, who was convinced the boat still existed, despite the discouragement of several people who believed it did not.

Below: Norman and Sally Wetzel display the Frank Bronson Memorial award, received for recognition of best restoration job by a non-professional. It took Mr. Wetzel six years to rehab his 1950 14.5- foot runabout, Wee Bit. “I chased after this boat for 10 years, conducting interviews and putting feelers out there in regards to its whereabouts,” he said. “I was eventually informed that someone spotted a boat matching its description in a field while flying over Springfield, Illinois. I went over there, wondering if it could really be the boat I was looking for. It had been painted yellow and red, but it was definitely the real deal.”

During a restoration Mr. Morin described as “completely dismantling the boat and putting it back together,” My Darling received a pre-war World War II aircraft Allison V-12 engine, which is the same type of engine found in this craft originally.

Bill Ekstrom and his daughter, Jennifer, relax in their sailboat Voyageur. Mr. Ekstrom said he enjoys the simple pleasure of sailing the Great Lakes in an antique wooden boat. “We can go out as long as we want, there's no big electrical requirements. We don't have to plug in anywhere,” he said. “We only have to come in every five days or so for fresh ice.” The engine came from an aviation collection, which luckily had a stock of vintage aircraft parts, said the boat's restorer.

“Engines in raceboats were usually blown out or in disrepair,” Mr. Morin said. “We were fortunate to find this one.”

Boat show spectators hovered around My Darling all day, convinced the boat's sleek one-of-akind appearance warranted a second look. Once they got a look at the engine, one question continually resurfaced.

At left: Boats came from as far away as Florida to be registered in Hessel's signature event. “People kept asking 'When are you going to fire it up?'” Mr. Morin said.

After the award was presented, he briefly revved the engine, thrilling a small, but persistent group of spectators who lingered near the show's top boat.

Clocking out at 118 miles per hour on a straightaway in 1951, My Darling is now reserved for vintage races. This is just the second show where the boat remained an entirely static display.

“Even at idle, it's a little fast for this setting,” Mr Morin said.

Shmoo Restored for Sailing

Tim Wood found his award-winning boat by taking the road less traveled.

Kevin King and his daughter, Ava King, enjoy the view of classic boats at the show in Hessel. Mr. King, an airplane pilot from Tennessee, came in on business, flying vacationers into the Mackinac County Airport. His parents attended the boat show several years ago and told their son to attend the event if he ever got the chance. He and the rest of his family, son Maverik and wife Leslie (not pictured), enjoyed the beautiful day. “I took a different route home from work one day and noticed a boat being used as a flowerpot in someone's yard,” he said.

The young man, who had four years of experience working at Bingham Boat Works in Marquette, knew he could give a second life to the boat, a 1950 12-foot Ray Green and Co. sailboat. After purchasing her, Mr. Wood spent a full summer working on Shmoo, dedicating just about every evening to the boat's restoration.

Below: Tim Woods' sister, Nadya of Grand Ledge, in his award-winning restored sailboat Shmoo. “I finished it the day before last year's show,” he said. “I brought it up here and hoped it floated.”

His efforts produced much more than just a seaworthy vessel, as the boat was deemed the best in its class for sailboats last year, a distinction it earned again this year. Mr. Wood estimates nearly 90% of this vessel is original.

Wetzel Takes Best

in Non-professional Class

Norman Wetzel of Chelsea accepted the Frank Brown Award for “best restoration by a non-professional.” The swell of emotion as he stepped up to accept his award reflected the significance of antique wooden boats, and this show in particular, to so many. Accepting an award for all his hard work concluded six years of devotion to a boat Mr. Wetzel has owned since the 1980s. His 14.5-foot 1950 Globe runabout Wee Bit is floating again after having been sunk before.

This year’s show drew a crowd of 6,700, about 1,000 more than last year. Sharon Smith Legacy Award

Goes to Marion Leigh

A new award was given in honor of the late Sharon Smith, an enthusiastic boat show supporter and the event's co-chair for 22 years. The first recipient of this award, which goes to a boat that represents a legacy in the Les Cheneaux area, was R. Daniel Musser III, owner of the Marion Leigh, a 1955 53-foot Chris Craft pre-1968 cruiser that sails the Les Cheneaux and Mackinac Island areas, both dear to the heart of Mrs. Smith.

Mrs. Smith, of Cedarville, died December 18, 2009. Kozma, McCann, LaTulip Take

Awards at Festival of Arts

In addition to the boat show, the Festival of the Arts enlivened the space surrounding Hessel Marina and Mertaugh Boat Works. This event predates the boat show by one year. Awards are given to the top three vendors each year, with the top artist taking home the Darcy Janz Memorial award and a $100 prize. For the first time this year, the second and third prizes received $75 and $50, respectively.

This year's recipients, in order, as judged by the Festival of the Arts committee, were Mark Kozma, a local sculptor from Cedarville who attends Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant; Ann McCann, a weaver from Morgantown, Indiana, and Marsha LaTulip, a potter from Garden. There were 65 pre-registered vendors, reported organizer Annegret Goehring, although the number may have been slightly lower on festival day.

2010 Awards

33rd Annual Les

Cheneaux Antique

Wooden Boat Show

Class 1: Runabouts up to 16 feet

1st: Wee Bit, a 1950 Globe, 14’6’’, owned by Norm Wetzel of Chelsea

2nd: No Plans, a 1947 Chris Craft, 16’, owned by Joe Brown of Ann Arbor

Class 2: Runabouts 17-18 feet

1st: Geri Lynne, a 1951 Chris Craft, 18’, owned by Alex and Geri Wieczorek of Brevort Lake

2nd: Andale, a 1940 Chris Craft, 17’, owned by John Calhoun of Clark Lake

Class 3: Runabouts 19-20 feet

1st: Waterlogged, a 1948 Chris Craft, 20’, owned by Gary Gondek of White Lake Township

2nd: Lynthia, a 1946 Garwood, 19’ 5’’, owned by Bob Stenger of Long Lake

Class 4: Runabouts 21-24 feet

1st: An unnamed1928 Chris Craft, 22’, owned by David Schanock of Green Bay

2nd: Strait Up, a 1928 Chris Craft, 24’, owned by Charles Williams of the Les Cheneaux area Class 5: Runabouts 25 feet & over

1st: Blackjack, a 1926 Hacker Craft, owned by John Allen of Gull Lake, Minnesota

2nd: McKenzie, a 1929 Hacker Craft, 29’, owned by Mark and Gail Andreae of Mullet Lake

Class 6: Utility, up to 17 feet

1st: Pura Vida, a 1941 Century, 15’3”, owned by E. Fairchild and J. Whitseft of Platte Lake

2nd: Wildwood, a 1941 Chris Craft, 16’, owned by Stan Smith of Indian River

Class 7: Utility, 18-20 feet

1st: Lily, a 1952 Chris Craft,18’, owned by Chad Durren of Three Rivers

2nd: An unnamed 1965 Century, 19’, owned by Charlie and Sue Opie of Duck Lake

Class 8: Utility, 22 feet

1st: Pretty Girl, a 1954 Chris Craft, 22’, owned by Michael and Colleen Hamberg of the Les Cheneaux area

2nd: Cigar, a 1949 Chris Craft, 22’, owned by William Campbell of the Les Cheneaux area

Class 9: Utility, 21- 24’

1st: Jennifer Anne, a 1938 Chris Craft, 21’, owned by Jack Rogers of the Les Cheneaux area

2nd: Over the Top, a 1959 Century, 21’, owned by Mark Leonard of Spring Lake

Class 10: Utility, 25’ and over

1st: Marion E, a 1949 Chris Craft, 25’8”, owned by Alexander Watson of the Les Cheneaux area

2nd: An unnamed 1947 Chris Craft, 25’, owned by Tom and Rita Ostendorf of Cedarville

Class 11: Lapstrake Skiff

1st: Griffin, a 1957 Lyman, 23’, owned by Martin Tobin of Hessel

2nd: MRC, a 1959 Lyman, 17’, owned by John Hendricks of Redford

Class 12: Outboard

1st: Nifty Four, a 1954 Century, 13’5”, owned by Dr. Christopher Matt of Appleton, Wisconsin

2nd: Pay-Bow-Me, a 1957 Lyman, 16’, owned by John and Lori Strehler of Hessel

Class 13: Launch

1st: Mak’s Launch, a 1935 Harsens Island Launch, 22’, owned by Mary Ann Van Lokeren of Hessel

2nd: Antiki, a 1906 Truscott, 21’, owned by Kip and Jean Horsburgh of the Les Cheneaux area

Class 14: Sailboat (only 1 place)

1st: Shmoo, a 1950 Ray Greene, 12’, owned by Tim Wood of Marquette

Class 15: Cruiser (pre 1968)

1st: 1941, a 1941 Chris Craft, 29’, owned by Carl Anderson of St Clair

2nd: Bittersweet, a 1958 Maygea Brothers, 32’, owned by Michael Van Lokeren of Hessel

Class 16: Canoe & Dinghy

1st: An unnamed 1949 Old Town, 16’, owned by Geri Johnson of Traverse City

2nd: Hail Mary, a 1911 Hamel Brothers, 15’, owned by Mary Ann Van Lokeren of Hessel

Class 17: Wooden Replica

1st: Hail Mary, a 1950 Chris Craft, 18’6”, owned by John Kovach of Hessel2nd: Mimi Match, a 1952 Replica, 13’8”, owned by Don and Bonnie Bergman of Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin

2010 Special Awards

Mertaugh Boat Works - Best Chris Craft Award: Lily, owned by Chad Durren of Three Rivers.

Carl Malmquist - Best Name Award, Sponsored by UP North Studio - John and Diana Grenier: Island Girl, owned by Morton Pomeroy of Cedarville.

Arnie Horween Jr. Memorial Skippers Choice Award: Mahogany II, owned by Joe Cisky. Frank Bronson - Best Non- Professional Restoration Award: Wee Bit, owned by Norm Wetzel of Chelsea.

Sharon Smith - Legacy of Les Cheneaux Award: Marion Leigh, owned by the Musser family of Mackinac Island.

Jim Bohn - People's Choice Award: Bolo Babe, owned by John Allen of Gull Lake, Minnesota.

2010 Best of Show

1st, sponsored by Dave Altmaier Stained Glass, went to My Darling, a 1949 Hacker/Marcy, 31’, of the Mittler Collection in Three Rivers.

2nd, the Doris Heuck Abnee Award, went to McKenzie, a 1929 Hacker Craft, 29', owned by Mark and Gail Andrea of Mullet Lake.

3rd, the Hagerty Insurance Award, went to Blackjack, a 1926 Hacker Craft owned by John Allen of Gull Lake, Minnesota.