Antique Boat Show

Join us in Port Carling on August 10th for this year’s MLA Antique Boat Show, celebrating the Roaring '20s!

The highlight of the show will be Whippet, a 1925 Ditchburn Gentleman’s Racer owned by Peter Herrmann. Originally built for Ewart McLaughlin of General Motors fame, Whippet boasted a powerful Hispano-Suiza engine, winning numerous awards in local Muskoka regattas. McLaughlin sold the boat in 1931, and it journeyed through various owners before returning to Lake Rosseau in 1972, when McLaughlin’s grandson acquired it at auction. Herrmann, who purchased Whippet in 2010, has since outfitted it with a 625hp Ilmor V-10 engine.

Whippet will be one of over 60 boats displayed at the docks in Port Carling on August 10th. Attendees can admire other boats from the 1920s and an impressive collection of Muskoka-built boats from the early 1900s through the 1960s. 

The event will also feature live music, demonstrations of Sea Fleas to inspire the younger crowd, and a vintage outboard motor display by the Maple Leaf Outboard Club.

This show offers a unique opportunity to learn about these magnificent vessels. Engage with current owners who are eager to share the stories and history of their boats. With continued care, these boats will continue to tell the tales of Muskoka’s Golden Age of Boat Building for generations to come.

The MLA Antique Boat Show, a bi-annual event established by the late Bob Purves, honors boats built in Muskoka or those that have spent most of their lives in its waters. The show runs on Saturday, August 10th, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Admission is free. Don't miss this chance to step back in time and celebrate maritime history!