Portage Lakes Antique & Classic Boat Show

On Saturday August 27, 2022, plan to attend the Portage Lakes 46th annual antique and classic boat show. This free event will be held from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the docks, lakeside, at the Pick’s on PLX restaurant on Portage Lakes Drive in Coventry, Ohio, just 5 miles south of downtown Akron. There will be over 50 beautiful wood and vintage fiberglass boats, both in the water and on land displaying the elegance and craftsmanship of America’s skilled boat manufacturers.

OUR SPECIAL ATTRACTION THIS YEAR IS THE RESTORED “RIDE BOAT” FROM THE CHIPPEWA LAKE AMUSEMENT PARK. “Dynamite” was the third and last ride boat purchased by the park in 1950. It is a 26’ Hacker Craft triple cockpit equipped with a 534 cu.in. Ford Seamaster V-8.

Dynamite was configured to hold eleven passengers and give park patrons a “white-knuckle” ride around Chippewa Lake and is estimated to have carried over 100,000 passengers in its lifetime until the park closed in 1978.

After closing, Dynamite had four owners and was almost completely restored by NCO Chapter member, Larry Prebis. When Larry unexpectedly passed away, chapter member Gary Kosiba purchased the boat and completed the restoration. After 44 years, Dynamite will return to the water at our show.