Sea Flea Fest July 23
21st July 2022
It’s official. This may be the summer of the Sea Flea. The Muskoka Seaflea club is planning the largest in-water regatta of home built and vintage seafleas in Canada. Period, full stop! Mark your calendar. Saturday, July 23rd at Rock Haven Inn on Kashe Lake, from 10am to 4pm.
Chris Taylor, one of the front line representatives of the club and serious flag bearer for the cause of seafleas, believes this summer’s event will truly be unlike any other, with the pent-up interest and need for a bit of excitement.
The poster outlines a long list of events that will be sure to attract a big crowd. Beyond the obvious expectations of demonstration runs, land displays of all manner historic and new seafleas, there will also be RC seaflea racing, building tips, construction displays, model boat building for displays and much more!
The Sea Flea is one of the simplest and most rewarding watercraft children of all ages can enjoy. They come in a variety of forms from the easy to build kits that only need a single sheet of plywood to full-blown racing craft that look like small hydroplanes.
Outboard motors have always been a big part of the seaflea experience and this event will certainly not disappoint. Chris explained that good friend, Ron Stevenson, of the Maple Leaf Chapter of the Outboard Motor Club, will be represented with his big tent filled with vintage outboards.
One item that should be especially interesting to see is the “dogs with seafleas race”. Chris has recently become the unexpected co-owner of 8 doodle puppies so the dogs with seafleas race will be well represented with canine drivers. The Muskokaseaflea website will have the latest details. A long list of sponsors have made this event feasible. Be sure to attend!
Summer Excitement is Here
By Tim Du Vernet
The ACBS-Toronto boat show is looming large now. With just one weekend to go! For wooden boaters, the show represents a serious start to the season with the long weekend past.
While ACBS-Toronto organizes the event hosted by the Town of Gravenhurst, the ACBS is a big organization and draws participation to this show from several of its chapters.
That means both boating participants and spectators alike will get to enjoy a broad range of classic boats from as far away as Florida, Ottawa, and beyond.
As classic boat collecting matures, more and more fiberglass boats become vintage and historically significant. This year’s show will combine all classic craft into a one day public event on Saturday with member activities happening Friday through Sunday.
Once again, the ever popular card board boat building event will be fun for youth and families as well as those who love to see just how far a card board boat can go.
A special highlight of this year’s event is the return of Miss Canada IV to Gravenhurst. Built by Greavette Boats, she will be the centre of attention at 12:00 with official ceremonies. The return of Miss Canada represents the co-ordinated efforts of many people from Ingersol to Gravenhurst. She will be part of a remarkable documentary film titled “Harold and Lorna”.
The show boat is the very historically significant KITTYHAWK. This name is tied to aviation history as well as more humble boating history on Georgian Bay.
Built in 1929 by Gidley Boats, KITTYHAWK started her career as a taxi boat. She came up for sale and Orville Wright bought her in 1931 after she a hardtop had been added.
KITTYHAWK was his Georgian Bay boat, where he spent the summer. At 32’6” and substantial freeboard , KITTYHAWK, is ready to handle the waters of Georgian Bay. Perhaps her sturdy nature is one of the features that attracted Orville Wright. The Gidley “Gull” model is described in the brochure as an all mahogany express runabout, equipped with a Kermath engine. A “general purpose craft she has a passenger capacity of eight plus incidental baggage accommodation.”
Shis is currently owned by Guy and Kathy Johnstone, who summer on Georgian Bay in an area known as Franceville East. KITTYHAWK will be brought to Lake Muskoka and launched specially for the show. It is expected that representatives of the Wright family will be present for the special showing of this remarkable boat.
Once again, there will be lots to see at this year’s boat show. Remember, the show is one day only with a modest admission fee.
The ACBS will also be selling posters featuring the KITTYHAWK in two versions, the production version and a very exclusive, limited edition version produced by Tim Du Vernet. More updates on the show next week!