Posted by Richard Benedetto on Monday, July 4th, 2011 at 10:08pm.
Not only does David Wesp, chairman of the 14th annual antique and classic boat show, enjoy his antique, but he wants to pass the passion he has for it along to others. “It’s a beautiful thing … to get a boat done, enjoy the lake and have others enjoy it,” he said. Wesp began his love of antique boats when he started work to restore his first, at 16 years old.
“It became a passion,” he said. Restoring the boats is a passion he shares with his family.
Twenty-six years ago, in fact, he asked his wife to marry him … on the boat that he said will some day belong to his daughter, who shares his passion for working and riding on the vessel, along with traveling to boat shows with her father.
They are boat shows like the one that will be held July 8-10 on Chautauqua Lake when the 14th annual Chautauqua Lake Twin Tier Chapter of Antique and Classic Boat Society holds its show.
The show, which draws those who restore boats from across the country, is also open to spectators.
Events include: noon to 4:30 p.m. registration, launching and a 6 p.m. welcome party, Friday, July 8; registration from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday, July 9, when judging takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be a basket auction from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., start your engines at 3 p.m., a cocktail party at 6 p.m. and awards banquet at 7 p.m. Antique boats can be viewed from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday features morning lake cruises.
Not only will Wesp, along with other area boat enthusiasts be there, but, he is serving as chairman for the event.
“It’s just a one-of-a kind,” he said about his vessel, adding, “it turns heads.” Wesp said it is “exciting” to have people come to the show, see the boat and ask questions about the vessel.
There is one particular audience with whom he hopes to share his passion: youth.
“It’s great for kids to see it,” he said, adding, “in this country preserving history is not put in the forefront.” For instance, he said, people tear down buildings to put up new ones, instead of rehabilitating the older ones. That is different, he said, from other countries, where original structures are kept.
He hopes the intrigue of the boat will catch youths’ interest in keeping up the antique vessels, however.
“To physically see it in the water, to sit in it, go for a ride, gives a perspective,” he said, adding experiencing that history is different than just seeing pictures.
“It captivates what it was like,” he said. Wesp said experiencing the boat is a “chance to grab passion.”
The boat show, he said, helps provide a venue for that.
Without such events, he said, the live boating history could be lost.
“It’s dying today,” he said. “It’s not like it used to be. There’s so much today we lose in technology of how things used to be.” If those things are never passed on to new generations, he said, that would be unfortunate. Instead, he said, he and his daughter, have joy in boating together.
Others, he said, may also be interested. For instance, he said, a lot of people say they always wanted to restore boats but didn’t have the chance. Retirees who come to the show can learn about getting that chance.
They can also join the bicentennial of the Bemus Point to Stow ferry, being held the same weekend.
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