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Whatever floats your boat (at least you've got one) |
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Written by Julie Brown/Tahoe World - View Profile
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Tuesday, 07 August 2007 |
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When it comes to boats, the only thing that matters is that it floats.
Sure, a cigarette boat would blow a rowboat out of this galaxy as far as speed goes, but when you’re rocking on the water in the middle of the lake, the only feelings that flow through my veins are liberation and relaxation.
If your in a yacht or a kayak, the wind could still be whipping through your hair - if not from speed, then from the casual breeze.
And for me, it doesn’t matter if I’m sitting on plush leather cushions in a woody or on the hard, wooden bench of a dinghy.
I came to this realization last week. Some friends came across a dilapidated dinghy, abandoned on the side of the road with a “For Sale, Please Take” sign leaning against its edge.
 Without hesitation, we seized the free opportunity, sealed up the leaks with bubble gum and pushed the 10-foot boat into the water.
Yes, none of us could move an inch for fear the dinghy would flip. And yes, it was slow and people cruising by in their fast boats gave us some strange looks. But, that didn’t matter. We were out on the lake, enjoying Tahoe’s finest on a beautiful summer day. And it was glorious.
A few days earlier, I was privileged enough to experience the legendary 1939 Thunderbird Hacker-Craft, one of the most famous wooden boats in Lake Tahoe, and quite possibly, the world - perks of being part of the press.
Of course the Thunderbird surpassed our treasured dinghy in terms of elegance, speed and classic taste - the boat has its own customized crystal stemware.
But the liberation factor was about equal, if anything - the dinghy’s rebellious and casual nature gave it a few bonus points.
In my opinion, the Thunderbird may be the cream of the crop at the boat show, but the wooden dinghy with a bubble-gum patched leak takes the gold.
So my heart goes out to all of the little boats faring Tahoe’s waters this week. Do not be discouraged by the glamorous wooden boats that will be attending Tahoe’s renowned Wooden Boat Show. What matters is simply getting out on the water, be it on a sailboat, an inner tube or a speedboat.
More stories and information on Wooden Boat Week:
• 35th annual Concours d'Elegance information
• Wooden Boat Week schedule of events
• The Thunderbird and other woodies of the 1930s (with video)
• Tahoe Maritime Museum opens its doors during Wooden Boat Week (with audio slideshow)
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 07 August 2007 )
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