On Saturday November 19th, 40 SNEC chapter members gathered at Gaetano’s Tavern on Main in Wallingford, for our annual dinner. Everyone was glad to see that Chris and Corrine Johnson were able to make the dinner and that Chris was coming along very well after his recent illness. The appetizers were great and as usual, Gaetano’s did an excellent job with our buffet dinner – there was something for everyone! The ice cream cake roll topped off the meal.
Chapter President Steve Haines thanked everyone for coming and gave a brief overview of the chapter financial – the chapter is in good financial condition, our July 2016 boat show as well as the great workshop that we had at Jim Murdoch’s in the early Spring. Steve advised the group that he would be stepping down as Chapter President due to his work schedule and that Lynn McFarlin had agreed to step into the President’s spot. In addition to Lynn being President, she will also continue to be Boat Show Chair as well as taking care of the boat show registrations. Steve introduced the proposed board for 2017 as follows: Officers: Lynn McFarlin, President, Ed Dombroskas, Vice President, Rob Bamberg Treasurer, and Bette Heinzman, Secretary; Board of Directors: Cliff McGuire, Wes Van Dine, Katie Haines, Mike Sorensen, Rob Sutton, Gail Van Dine, Katlyn Conkey, David McFarlin, Chris Johnson, Lee Heinzman and the (3) new board members, Rich Rosselli, Chris Enger and Andrew Robb. A vote was taken and the 2017 officers and board were approved unanimously. Steve also mentioned that we were looking to change our name from Mahogany Memories to something that would reflect both wooden boats as well as classic fiberglass. More on this soon.
Each year the Chapter President gets the honor of presenting the “President’s Cup” to someone in the Chapter who has helped to increase the visibility of the chapter and for 2016, Steve presented the Presidents Cup to Lynn McFarlin. Lynn thanked everyone for attending the dinner and reiterated what Steve had said about a name change. She also advised that we were looking into doing a workshop at Mystic in the Spring as the Mayflower is there being refurbished and that we would advise a date just as soon as we had more information.
Thanks to everyone who attended our Annual Dinner! It is always great to see old friends and new ones as well! – Bette Heinzman, Chapter Secretary
Friday July 8th saw many boats being launched and many going out for a short “cruise” prior to our cookout provided by the Essex Lions Club. The weather cooperated and everything went off like clock-work.
The Mystic Model Makers again outdid themselves with the models brought this year. Two new model makers were in attendance with models we had never seen before. It was always busy around the tables, with questions being asked and pictures being taken.
My thanks goes out to all the volunteers who helped launch, dock and coordinate the boats and trailers as well as those who helped out during the show. We will start planning our 2017 show shortly! – Lynn McFarlin, Chapter Vice President and Boat Show Chair.
This year was no exception with many shops in Essex and the surrounding area providing us with gift certificates or gift cards.The list was impressive and certainly everything was well received by our show visitors. Saturday’s raffle tickets sold at a fast pace and it was interesting to watch how people put their tickets in the bags – some spread them out amongst the 26 raffle items and some just put all their tickets in one bag! It was great to see a child’s face when he or she won – they were so excited!
Saturday’s silent auction featured a Limited Edition Print by the artist Darrell Bush (he does the covers for Cabela’s), entitled Legends at Bay, an Artist Proof by California Artist Paul Bailey (who did the Chris-Craft “pin-up” girl tee shirts that we had for sale, of a Chris-Craft and GarWood racing, a model of a Chris-Craft Barrel Back, a beautiful half hull of Baby Bootlegger and a whimsical lab robe/child’s quilt entitled “Preppy the Whale”.
Rob and Kim gave out “extras” of our various posters as well as helping visitors complete the “People’s Choice” forms and direct them to the boats on the docks, the model makers under the tent, ship’s store as well as the vintage cars and boat building up on the Lay House lawn.
Best Preserved – 1961 Grady White owned by Rich Rosselli – “Castaway“
Best Chris Craft – 1959 Chris Craft owned by Richard Haupt – “Old Timer“
Best Non-Wood – 1964 Aqua Ray owned by Todd Williams – “Telstar“
Most Original (ACBS Award) – 1951 Hiliner owned by Brian Carey – “Sweet Jane“
First off, let’s explain what the Disappearing Propeller Boat, often called a “Dippy”, actually is. The disappearing propeller was invented in 1915 and manufactured into boats up until the year 1958. The engine itself is very small, which means the boat is only going about six miles an hour at top speeds. One of the benefits to owning a Dippy, besides the slow and relaxing ride, is that the propeller can pull up into the interior housing, allowing the boat to go in very shallow waters that would normally only be fit for a canoe or kayak. Wes’s favorite part about the boat is that it is a very unique and unusual boat, that often strikes up quite a few questions.
The Van Dine’s found their boat, Bounty, in the free boat section of Woody Boater magazine in 2009. The Van Dine’s drove up to Canada, where the boat was stored upside down on a woodpile, and took the boat and the half of the engine that came with it. Once they had brought the boat home, they restored it with Schuyler Thomson, from 2013 to 2015.
Last summer, the Van Dine’s brought their boat to a couple of shows. One of them was our 31st Annual Mahogany Memories Show in Essex. Unfortunately, the engine wasn’t quite cooperating so Bounty couldn’t go in the water, but it was still a very neat boat to see up on the lawn. The other show Bounty went to was the 37th Annual Finger Lakes ACBS show up in New York. At this show, Bounty took home the Best Preserved Launch and was able to be enjoyed in the wonderful water. This summer Bounty and the Van Dines will be headed up to the Clayton Boat Show in New York, where the Disappearing Propeller Boat is actually the feature boat.
Southern New England Chapter - ACBS 
