History

The Charter for the Michigan Chapter of the ACBS was presented to our first president, Mr. Sandy Duffy, at the International Annual Meeting in Clayton, New York on November 11, 1978. This is the official date for the beginning of our Chapter but our club really got started several years earlier as a picnic rendezvous.  It was held every Fourth of July at the waterfront home of B.A. (Bud) and Pat Aikens as a way of getting friends with antique boats together for an afternoon of fun.

Part of the weekend festivities was the City of Algonac Annual Boat Parade made up of a variety of local boats, both old and new, decorated or not. It was a “come and have some fun” parade that was enjoyed by all who either participated or watched from the shoreline.  Bud and his friends would enthusiastically join in with their classic craft.

That local parade has turned into an annual show held every year at the Algonac Harbour Club on the St. Clair River. Hosted by Harbour Club owner Pete Beauregard and the Michigan Chapter ACBS on the sight of the original Chris Craft Factory our show is known as “The Annual Plant Jamboree, Where It All Began”. It is the signature event of many that are held throughout the year by the Michigan Chapter.

The Michigan Chapter is celebrating its 33rd year of existence. We have approximately four hundred members, residing in more than eight states and Canada. We are part of an international organization of more than fifty chapters located throughout the United States, Canada, and now in France with upwards of eight thousand members combined. Through scholarship donations we help various wooden boat building schools educate and train new generations of shipwrights to insure the preservation and history of these beautiful craft. The ACBS is a non-profit group with a goal to preserve and protect these antique and classic boats for future generations to enjoy.