Sande Ace Rendezvous 2014
This was the 10th Sande Ace Rendezvous and we were hoping for 10 Aces. We reached the goal although three were not quite ready for the water. Jack Leslie's Sande cedar strip boat was there along with a Lady Clipper Dart and a Melody Craft. This gave us 13 boats in the Twanoh parking area and dock (and also made for some peeved park rangers).
On the trailers at Twanoh State Park.
Some of the line up at Twanoh State Park with an anxious ranger giving instructions to Ned.
Thom Adams and his wife Dlani were there! Dr. Frankenmerc is responsible for so many old Mercs running and looking so well!!
Dlani, Thom and Earl Sande
We didn't even know about Chris Elmlund's Sande Ace. Chris bought it from Roy 20-some years ago. A considerable amount of wood was replaced. Today, it's used mostly in eastern Washington.
The newly surfaced Ace!
Dallas brought his Sande Ace. The previous owner had stored it in a garage since the 1960s! It is in superb shape and the Mark 30 runs like a dream. The Ace will get in the water next year when painting is complete.
"The Garage Queen."
The Johnsons have been building a new 13-foot Ace while taking time out to build a kayak. It's almost done with the motor being the next consideration.
The Johnson Ace almost done.
Dan Poole's Sande Ace is the one bought new by his family in the 1960s. The motor needed a bit of work so he didn't launch this year. Just wait until next year!
The Poole Ace.
Jack Leslie's very nice Sande cedar strip boat was at Twanoh
but he couldn't put it in the water this time. Come back Jack!!
Ned's Sande Ace was beautiful as usual.
Bob's Ace has the GPS unit in front of the steering wheel.
Can you see it?
Here is the Mark 35A on Tom and Susanne's Scooter. It is is so fast that we need to take a look under the hood to see if it's really the 35-HP motor. The answer will be in the carbs!
Tom and Susanne's Scooter with its stealth Mark 35A.
Barney's Sande Ace is the only existing open cockpit model that we know.
Two other classic Northwest plywood runabouts were also there. Dave H's Lady Clipper Dart is one of only two known in existence. It wasn't quite ready to launch but it should really zip with it's beautiful Mark 35A. We'll post the full restoration story later.
Dave's Lady Clipper Dart
Finally, this was the coming-out-party for Bob's beautiful restoration of his Melody Craft with its Merc 650. Bob's brother John was at the helm for the day.
Bob's restored Melody Craft
On the water of Hood Canal.
Getting ready to cruise.
Five Aces and the pretty Melody Craft.
Tom gave the Johnsons a taste of what they can expect
with their newly constructed Ace.
An onlooker would like to build an Ace so Ed digs for his Sande Ace card.
John holds Bob's Ace.
Ready to cruise.
At the Twanoh dock.
Ed moves out with grandkids Helen and Zack, 4th generation Sande Ace fans!
Time out for Ned, Bob, John and the rest of us..
Is Dave helping Ned steer to the Waali beach?
Enough said.
Ace owners and fans with some of the boats at the Waali beach.
Ace owners and fans.
Ed and Linda's granddaughter, Helen, is a cake virtuoso!
Here's the Sande Ace nameplate and Waali Ace cakes! And they tasted as good as they look!!
Lunch overlooking the Aces.
Ned and Ed cool down in the great Hood Canal salt after a fantastic Ace Rendezvous.
