Indiana Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society Show
Lake James Classics
The Indiana Chapter of Antique and Classic Boat Society hosted an Antique & Classic Boat and Antique Car Show July 23, 2011. The show was located at the old Boat House Marine on Lake James near the Jimmerson Lake bridge.
Registration was Saturday morning. The show ran from 10-5. For more information about this annual show contact Mike McBride at lakejamesmike@gmail.com or 260-833-1853
by Jennifer Decker jdecker@kpcnews.net Saturday, July 16, 2011, 12:00am
Nancy and Mike McBride show off their antique wooden 1952-model Chris Craft that is a holiday model named Nancy II. The couple spent two years refinishing the boat that will be on display at an antique boat and car show they helped organize July 23 at the old Boathouse Marina, next to Bledsoe's Beach on Lake James. Mike McBride said he was called a smart 
man for opting to name his 1952-model wooden Chris Craft boat he spent two years refinishing the Nancy II.
“My wife, Nancy, is No. 1,” Mike laughed. “This boat, I bought in Minnesota. It was a project boat. Someone had started on it, stripped it and put all the parts in the boat. It was gray and stripped.”
It’s all part of the couple’s enjoyment of antique boats. Mike said the boat was in need of some love and he and his wife, Nancy, provided it. It took two years, sanding, staining, 10 to 14 coats of marine varnish and replacing the engine for the couple to get their refinished boat they are proud of.
Mike liked it so much, he bought a second wooden boat he continues to work on, a 1947-model Chris Craft deluxe. Mike said he’d likely name it Nadine once it is finished.
I redid the bottom. It will be like a brand new boat,” he said and explained he has had to replace each wooden strip because of rot. When he was refinishing the boat’s bottom, Nancy crawled up and under the boat and ended up with caulk in her hair.
Word got around that the McBrides refinished wooden boats and since that time have refinished six or seven more.
Mike is co-president of the Indiana Chapter of the Antique Classic Boat Society. He is helping coordinate bringing an antique boat and car show to Lake James on July 23. The show is open to the public for viewing between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. that day and will be held at the old Boathouse Marina, located next to Bledsoe’s Beach, on Jimmerson Creek.
Those wishing to enter their antique boat may register between 9-10 a.m. that day at a cost of $15. There is no entry fee for classic cars.
“The boats will park. People can walk and look and talk to owners. People can look at the old cars,” Mike said. “We will see different styles: Century, Garwood.”
In terms of antique boats, Mike said people can expect to see wood and fiberglass models. Last year, the show had an old tugboat. “I think it depends on what year you grew up. Many like the old fiberglass,” he said.
“The reason I have a wood boat is I was born in 1951,” Mike said and explained boats and lakes have always been an important part of he and his wife’s lives.
To him, wooden boats also bring back memories and are nostalgic. The couple grew up 
near the water. Mike grew up in Angola and his father is former Mayor John McBride. Nancy grew up at Lake James and her father, Jim Bright, once owned the old Boathouse Marina.
Mike and Nancy also own a green 1948 Chevy pickup truck they hope to have at the show.
The antique boat and car show will be held rain or shine. Mike said people can register their boats the morning of the show and it is open to visiting boat clubs.
For more information on the show, call the McBrides at 833-1853.
For more information on the Antique Classic Boat Society visit acbs.org.