On Saturday September 11th, plan to attend the Portage Lakes 45th annual antique and classic boat show. This free event will be held from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the docks, lakeside, at Pick’s on PLX restaurant and the Harbor Docks, 530 Portage Lakes Drive in Coventry Township, Ohio, just 5 miles south of downtown Akron. There will be over 50 beautiful wood and vintage fiberglass boats, both in the water and on land displaying the elegance and craftsmanship of America’s skilled boat manufacturers.

Interested in purchasing a classic boat of your own? There will also be a “Field of Dreams Sale Lot” with boats for sale on display, so bring your checkbook. North Coast Ohio local chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society will host this show.

The Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS) is an international organization devoted to the preservation and recognition of all types of personal watercraft with 54 chapters throughout North America and Europe. The North Coast Ohio Chapter of ACBS with over 120 members is highly active in restoring, showing, and using their unique boats. Many of these members will have their boats on display at this show.

The show, traditionally held on the Saturday preceding the fourth of July celebrations in Portage Lakes, was postponed until the September date to allow for larger crowds and unrestricted viewing due to COVID-19 virus. Show management will follow all state and local guidelines on sanitation and social distancing in place then.

In the last few years, there has been growing interest in the original fiberglass boats which became popular in the late 1960’s as wood boat production was phased out due to shortages of mahogany, production costs, and desire for easier to maintain boats. Those earlier model fiberglass boats had unique designs influenced by the finned automobiles of the late 50’s and 60’s. You will see some of those boats at the show sporting restored outboard motors.

There will be award-winning boats from all around Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania at this year’s show.

Come and enjoy a lavish breakfast and dockside dining at Pick’s on PLX Restaurant next to the gleaming chrome and sparkling, varnished, floating works of art. The always popular collectable show posters and t-shirts will be for sale. Over 50 fine local businesses and organizations have sponsored this unique event that is one of the longest running antique boat shows in the U.S. Along with the North Coast Ohio Chapter of ACBS our co-sponsor of the show is the Portage Lakes Historical Society.

Do not miss this celebration of summertime and beautiful boats on the Portage Lakes, Saturday September 11th. For show information contact show chairman, Gil Maringer, 216-310-7475. For registration materials, contact John Vorhies, 330-802-1545.

Walt Stashkiw | August 10, 2021 | Publicity Chairman | 330-289-7849