THE MANOTICK CLASSIC BOAT CLUB – History

Organized in 1975, it was in January 1976 that the Manotick Classic Boat Club (MCBC) officially came into existence. None of the founding members could possibly have imagined to what proportions the movement would grow. Antique and classic boating has come into its own in North America. Fine watercraft built by past generations of boat builders are being ferreted out of old boathouses, barns and garages, and are being restored by loving hands to their former glory.

The Manotick club is devoted to the restoration and preservation of antique and classic boats, which are representative of an era in boating that was refined and genteel, as well as exciting, fast and challenging. This is a hobby for true enthusiasts only. Classic boaters are absolute purists when it comes to originality and authenticity. No effort or expense is too great to achieve the standards of perfection necessary.

At first, MCBC was for the most part a social group for people who had some interest in early wooden boats. As the boat owners gained experience their activities gained momentum. They shared their knowledge generously and went about gathering more. Original wood finishing methods and authentic outfitting became the hallmark of boats owned by club members.

By a remarkable coincidence, at about the same time that this was happening at Manotick, a group was getting together at Lake George, New York. They adopted as their name “The Antique and Classic Boat Society Inc.” (ACBS) and went on to establish themselves as an international organization. The Manotick Classic Boat Club was the first Canadian chapter of ACBS, and ACBS has grown to 55 chapters with over 13,000 members throughout North America and Europe. Manotick was also instrumental in bringing the ACBS Toronto in as the second Canadian chapter. Indeed, for a short time, Toronto and Manotick shared the MCBC newsletter, The Brass Binnacle. Toronto has since grown to be one of the largest clubs in North America.

James C. Potter of Manotick was the MCBC’s first president, the following is a list of all our Presidents:

Name	Year
James C. Potter	1976
James C. Potter	1977
Linda Potter	1978
Edgar Hendee	1979
Edgar Hendee	1980
Edgar Hendee	1981
Frank Phelan	1982
Sydney Herwig	1983
Sydney Herwig	1984
Sydney Herwig	1985
Mary Herwig	1986
Alan Macleod	1987
Alan Macleod	1988
Marlene Thomas	1989
Graeme Beattie	1990
Nancy Porter	1991
David Burns	1992
David Burns	1993
Nancy Taylor	1994
Ian Wyllie	1995
Ron Dulmage	1996
Don Logan	1997
Don Logan	1998
Dave Havelock	1999
Martin Luce	2000
Martin Luce	2001
Nancy Taylor	2002
Heather Phelan	2003
Jack Hughes	2004
Dave Tilley	2005
Jean-Francois Milotte	2006
Barron Meyerhoffer	2007
Ron Jelley	2008
Ron Jelley	2009
Dinah Scholfield	2010
Judy Saunders	2011
Rich Vickers	2012
Ray Saunders	2013
Ray Saunders	2014
Carman Keyes	2015
Carman Keyes	2016
Carman Keyes	2017

 

Since 1984, the Club has recognized those who have provided Considerable support to the Manotick Classic Boat Club through the award of the President’s Cup. The following individuals have been so honored:

Name	Year
Sarah Gould	1984
Marlene Thomas	1985
James Potter	1986
Dianne Elliott	1987
Sydney Herwig	1988
Frank Phelan	1989
Linda Potter	1990
Don Thomas	1991
Mary Herwig	1992
Murray Gould	1993
Nancy Porter	1994
Alan Macleod	1995
Stephen Fox	1996
Ian Wyllie	1997
Ron Dulmage	1998
Nancy Taylor	1999
Donald Loken	2000
John & Gaye Spencer	2001
Martin Luce	2002
Parks Canada	2003
Ron & Wilma Jelley	2004
Heather Phelan	2005
Jack Hughes	2006
Dave Tilley	2007
John & Susan Richardson	2008
Richard Macleod	2009
Ray Saunders	2010
Dinah Scholfield	2011
Judy Saunders	2012
Rich Vickers	2013
Dave Tilley & Ian Wyllie	2014
Jean Beveridge	2015
Bill Young	2016

 

Over the years, the Ottawa International Antique & Classic Boat Show has been a central focus for the Club. The Show has moved around the Rideau Valley over the years as the following list will attest:

 

Year	Location	Show Chair(s)
1976	Dows Lake	Peter Elliot & Cam Graham
1977	Dows Lake	Peter Elliot
1978	Dows Lake	Howard Poole, Kent Martin & Robert Merkley
1979	Dows Lake	Kent Martin, Robert Merkley, Barbara Hopper & Frank Phelan
1980	Rideau Ferry	Murray Gould
1981	Rideau Ferry	Murray Gould & Ed Hendee
1982	Rideau Ferry	Frank Phelan, Peter Elliot, Murray Gould & Robert Merkley
1983	Rideau Ferry	Murray Gould
1984	Perth	Don Thomas & Murray Gould
1985	Rideau Ferry	Murray Gould
1986	Dows Lake	Syd Herwig & Murray Gould
1987	Dows Lake	Syd Herwig
1988	Rideau Ferry	Graeme Beattie & Mel Evans
1989	Dows Lake	Frank Phelan
1990	Portland	Al Macleod & David Scholfield
1991	Westport	Brian Kirk & David Burns
1992	Dows Lake	Murray Gould & Cam Graham
1993	Westport	Graeme Beattie
1994	Westport	Ian Wyllie
1995	Merrickville	Nancy Taylor & Frank Phelan
1996	Westport	Don Loken
1997	Dows Lake	Nancy Taylor
1998	Westport	Ian Wyllie
1999	Westport	Martin Luce
2000	Manotick	Don Thomas, Frank Phelan & Ian Wyllie
2001	Westport	Heather Phelan
2002	Merrickville	Ron Jelley
2003	Manotick	Dave Tilley & Ian Wyllie
2004	Manotick	Dave Tilley
2005	Manotick	Dave Tilley
2006	Manotick	Andrew MacLaurin & Barron Meyerhoffer
2007	Manotick	Frank Phelan
2008	Manotick	Ron Jelley & Dave Tilley
2009	Manotick	Ray Saunders
2010	Manotick	Ray Saunders
2011	Manotick	Ray Saunders
2012	Manotick	Ray Saunders
2013	Manotick	Ray Saunders
2014	Rideau Ferry	Ian Wyllie & Dave Tilley
2015	Show not held
2016	Rideau Ferry	Chris Lucas

Our Club continues to focus on the enjoyment of antique and classic boats through restoration and through operating these treasures on the water. The only membership requirement is an interest in old boats.