Wooden-boat owners are some of the most passionate people in boating. That should come as little surprise, as the amount of care these boats require is significant. The best-kept mahogany vessels need annual varnishes, constant polishing of the brightwork, and minimal exposure to the sun. But from all that hard work comes something of authentic beauty, not to mention historical significance.
In the last few years, particularly during Covid, the classic wooden boat world has grown, with a younger generation of owners buying classics, to restore them or just enjoy rumbling across the lake. The growth in this sector of the boating world—knock on wood—shows no signs of slowing down. “My dad started Walloon Woodies almost 30 years ago,” says Wally Kidd, who organizes the festival. “We get about 25 or 30 boats—limited to boats on Walloon Lake. We started as a loose-knit group of guys commiserating about the challenges of owning a wooden boat. Now, it’s grown into as good a collection as anywhere in the world.” While the owners on Lake Tahoe and Gull Lake would dispute that, the event is both professionally run and downright homey.