News Photo by Michael Gonzalez The boat Show Me displays a yellow edge and custom flag on the water at the Presque Isle Harbor Wooden Boat Show on Saturday. The boat is part of the Ray Tucher collection, a participant who brought four boats to the show.

PRESQUE ISLE– Presque Isle held its 30th annual Wooden Boat Show on Saturday at the Presque Isle Harbor.

Attendees were not only greeted with boats, but also a car show, an arts and crafts lineup, a performing musician, and lots of local food.

The show has evolved since its small beginning in 1993, when Bob Swearingen and Dave Kowalski Sr. wanted to give northern Michiganders a fun event to enjoy in the summer.

After 30 years, organizers and sponsors have morphed the Wooden Boat Show into a place where participants and attendees from all over Michigan can share stories, history, and laughs with each other.

The additions were also paved by David Kowalski, son of the co-founder of the show. He’s the Boat Show chairman and he wanted to include cars to the mix, which has been successful among participants.

Steve Wir, a car show participant, drove from Bay City with his wife in a 1971 Ford Galaxie 500. He said he used to do such shows in Florida “every other weekend,” but only recently got back in.

More than 30 cars and motorcycles were brought in for the show, lining up a large row of the harbor parking lot.

“I love the cars and boats,” Kowalski said. “We didn’t have a show (in 2020) because of COVID, but I’m really happy to be on 30 years.”

Wooden boat owners are also happy to continue gathering at the harbor.

Twenty wooden boats were registered to appear at the show, 18 of them on the water and two on land. Boats of different lengths, shapes, and wood floated with the sun reflecting off the planks’ glossy surfaces.

For many attendees, observing the fleet of wooden boats is only one aspect they enjoy. The key factor that keeps such people coming over the years is mostly about the history and stories that the vessels hold.

David Willis, co-owner of the Bette Noir with his wife, Connie, said that was one of his favorite aspects as he buffed his boat.

“It’s the people that we love coming back to the most,” Willis said. “We all have a common interest — and that is history and sharing stories about these boats.”

Willis said that it’s so important to the event that, on the night prior to Saturday, boat show participants traditionally have a dinner and one participant will tell a story about their own ship.

Stacy Holmen and her husband, Mark, own the Half Century and displayed it on Saturday. Stacy Holmen said that it’s not uncommon for the boats to be passed down in the family.

One of the oldest boats at the show was built in 1927.

“Every boat has its story,” Holmen said. “It’s a big reason why I love this show. It’s really amazing.”