Summer's On the WayBoats of the ACBS Show July 9 By Tim Du Vernet It has been a while since we saw
26th May 2022
Boats of the ACBS Show July 9
By Tim Du Vernet
It has been a while since we saw these boats in person. It is always a special experience to see them arrive and take off. The anticipation is especially high with the two year hiatus. It hardly seems possible that boats and people might gather again.
I will review some of the boats you will hopefully be able to see at the show. Upwards of 100 or more boats in all their varieties arrive in different ways, so it won’t be a complete run down.
The big names of Ditchburn and Minet are naturally also big draws. Many of the boats will have special family significance as well. Alan Weisberg’s “On Behalf of Sam” . She is the family’s long deck launch was named in honour of Allan’s father, who died about 50 years ago, before his children were born. Allan, who founded a successful meat purveyor business “The Butcher Shoppe”, finds joy in the daily care of the boat because it is “like a final hug, like personally connecting with him again.” Such is the passion of owning a wooden boat.
She is a 1929, 31’ Commodore model of Ditchburn. This model is the ideal family boat. Long enough to give lots of seating, but not a difficult to maneuver as the longest of the launches at 36’. With all the details and special features that make a Ditchburn a unique and distinctive craft, On Behalf of Sam will be one of many treasures to see. The cup shaped engine vents running along the side of the raised engine hatch is a particularly distinctive feature of Ditchburns of the period.
By Tim Du Vernet
It has been a while since we saw these boats in person. It is always a special experience to see them arrive and take off. The anticipation is especially high with the two year hiatus. It hardly seems possible that boats and people might gather again.
I will review some of the boats you will hopefully be able to see at the show. Upwards of 100 or more boats in all their varieties arrive in different ways, so it won’t be a complete run down.
The big names of Ditchburn and Minet are naturally also big draws. Many of the boats will have special family significance as well. Alan Weisberg’s “On Behalf of Sam” . She is the family’s long deck launch was named in honour of Allan’s father, who died about 50 years ago, before his children were born. Allan, who founded a successful meat purveyor business “The Butcher Shoppe”, finds joy in the daily care of the boat because it is “like a final hug, like personally connecting with him again.” Such is the passion of owning a wooden boat.
She is a 1929, 31’ Commodore model of Ditchburn. This model is the ideal family boat. Long enough to give lots of seating, but not a difficult to maneuver as the longest of the launches at 36’. With all the details and special features that make a Ditchburn a unique and distinctive craft, On Behalf of Sam will be one of many treasures to see. The cup shaped engine vents running along the side of the raised engine hatch is a particularly distinctive feature of Ditchburns of the period.