Excitement is building for the 39^th Annual Vintage Boat Show in Alexandria Bay, NY, scheduled for July 9^th. Check off your calendars as this year’s show  is on second weekend of July. Your Boat Show Chairs, Heidi Szonn and Randy Fletcher, state that this show frequently has sixty or more of the finest classic and antique boats in the water along with several land displays from the northeast and beyond participating in this traditional event.

The boats entered include cruisers, yachts, runabouts, utilities, launches, race boats, canoes, skiffs and more that will be carefully evaluated for originality and overall condition by teams of skilled judges, and awards are given in each category. In addition, visitors are provided with ballots to vote for the boat that they feel is the best in the Show. Their decision determines the winner of the coveted Peoples Choice Award. Among the special awards each year is the prestigious Renaissance Cup. This trophy is given to a well preserved boat that for many years has been and continues to be an important part of the Thousand Islands culture.

The Alexandria Bay Vintage Boat Show is unique among shows because it recognizes the value of well-maintained working boats and employs a scoring system that accommodates the minor flaws which are often the result of frequent use.  The judging system at this Vintage Show is designed to accommodate both working boats and show boats, together, in a fair and equitable way.  The goal of the Show is to encourage participation of a wide range of vintage craft that would include attractive “user” river boats that are in everyday use as well as outstanding “show boats” that are less frequently used.  Neither a user boat nor an exclusive show boat has an advantage over the other in scoring.  The key to accomplishing this goal successfully rests in the sensible application of the scoring system by allowing the common characteristics associated with frequent use (not abuse) to be granted more tolerance.

Boat Show activities actually begin at 6:30 PM on Friday evening, July 8^th, at the Boldt Castle Yacht House where a welcoming reception is held by the local Thousand Islands Chapter of ACBS. Tickets are available in advance for $15.00 and at the door for $20.00 per person where refreshments and light food will be served.

On Saturday, July 9^th, the boats will be located at the upper village dock in downtown Alexandria Bay. The Show will open for public viewing at 9 AM and will remain open until 3:30 PM. Admission to the Show is $3 per person. Children 12 and under and Active Duty Military with their I.D. are Free.

On Sunday, July 10^th there is a special Awards Brunch at the Edgewood Resort where awards will be presented to all the Show winners of the wide variety of categories. The special dinning room reserved for the Awards Brunch opens at 9:30 AM with a price of $15 pp in advance at the boat show entry gate or $20 pp at the door.

The 2016 Boat Show registration forms are available on line at: www.1000IslandsACBS.orgor if participants prefer, by writing to: T.I. Chapter ACBS, Attn: Boat Show Chair, P.O. Box 800, Alexandria Bay, NY 13607 and requesting an application. Each year the Chapter returns the proceeds from the Show to various community organizations.  During the past 38 years, the 1000 Island Chapter has donated a total of more than $100,000.  Patrons and business owners are encouraged to become a Show or an Award Sponsor with a charitable donation of $50 or more.  Their name or business name will be listed as a sponsor on the chapter web site and prominently displayed as a Sponsor on a poster during the show, and other chapter publications. For more information about the show or becoming a Sponsor, contact the 2016 Boat Show Chairs: Heidi Szonn at: 585-698-7292 or Randy Fletcher at 585-766-7585: at abayboatshow@live.com