Latest News at Big Sky ACBS
Check out the latest news from BSACBS
Whitefish Woody Weekend
WWW Xii was a great success in June 2024! Thanks to Tim Salt and his team of coordinators and to the Lodge at Whitefish Lake for putting on a great show. Click on the events tab for upcoming information on the 2025 show!
New Big Sky ACBS Site
Welcome to the new Big Sky ACBS website created by Alan Wardsworth of the Inland Empire ACBS and now run by Frank Leftwich. our website was recently awarded second place for the 2024 chapter website!!! Thanks for checking it out.
A classic film one of the best!!!
The Boys in the Boat is a 2023 American biographical sports drama film produced and directed by George Clooney from a screenplay by Mark L. Smith, based on the 2013 book of the same name by Daniel James Brown. The film follows the University of Washington rowing team, and their quest to compete in the 1936 Summer Olympics. It stars Joel Edgerton as coach Al Ulbrickson Sr. and Callum Turner as rower Joe Rantz.
About Us
The Northwest corner of Montana has a long and proud tradition in wood boating. Beginning at the end of the 18th century, mighty wood steam ships plied the waters of Flathead Lake delivering goods & services and providing the quickest form of transportation around the 29-mile-long Flathead Lake. Recreational boating followed with fisherman and boat racing. The first power boat race on Whitefish Lake took place in 1907 leading to the Whitefish Lake Regatta in 1934 which ran continuously for over 60 years. In 1938, the Glacier Boat Company began offering tours on the lakes of Glacier National Park. These historic wood boat still operate in the Park today. The post-war years and the boom in outdoor recreation found three prominent local boat builders; Stan Craft & Lee Craft on Flathead Lake and Hutchuck Boats on Whitefish Lake, supplying boats to the local sportsman population as well as shipping their boats to other dealers in the region. Boating on the pristine waters of the many lakes in the region continues to grow to this day.
It is upon this historic wood boat foundation that the Big Sky Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society was chartered in 2006. The Big Sky Chapter primarily serves the wood boat community using the many lakes in the northwest corner of Montana. Although, we have chapter members from all over the US. Our chapter membership is comprised of large numbers of seasonal residents. Our boating season is short in NW Montana, but we make the most of it with two non-judged shows each year and other on-the-water boating activities. We invite and encourage you to join us in promoting the preservation and enjoyment of classic boats.
2024 OFFICERS
President - Dean Sacket
Vice President - Tim Salt
Treasurer - Jim Mohn
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History of Big Sky Antique & Classic Boat Society
Our Chapter is dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and enjoyment of antique and classic boats. You are on this website because you are either a member of the Big Sky Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS) or because you are interested in the hobby of vintage watercraft. To members we say “Thanks for using the website and let us know what we can add to make it more helpful. This is your chapter and we want to hear from you!” To visitors we say, “Check out our website and consider joining the ACBS and our Chapter.” You don’t need a boat to enjoy the fellowship and events, but if you do have an antique or classic boat, you will find our members knowledgeable, helpful, and welcoming. We invite you to join! We are a diverse group of people who have a common love of antique and classic boats including vintage wooden boats, classic fiberglass boats of the past, and the contemporary classic woodies. We believe that roaring around in a beautifully restored mahogany or classic fiberglass runabout is among the greatest pleasures of life. Based in Northwest Montana the chapter hosts one major Boat Show and other gatherings to attend. Our boat show opens up the Northwest boating season on the last weekend in June and is the Whitefish Woody Weekend held on Whitefish Lake. Other club gatherings take place on Flathead Lake, so check out our website and we invite you to join us at one of our Events.