Sande Ace Rendezvous 2017
Many of the past participants had other obligations so the turnout was a bit smaller this year but we were able to look over the boats faster and get into the water earlier.
You might notice in some of the pictures that the water color is somewhat like the background color of this web site. This was due to a bloom of a phytoplankton, specifically, a coccolithophore which faded away several days later. The good news is coccolithophores thrive in low-nutrient waters.
Getting Together at Twanoh State Park.
We usually start gathering at 8 AM in the boat launch parking lot at Twanoh State Park.
Here's Roy's Sande Ace which had been rebuilt by Bob.
It was for sale at the time and has since been sold.
Ned's Sande Ace is always among the prettiest.
Scooter is an apt name for the newly-built Ace of Tom and Susanne. It really scoots with its Mark 35A!! Any old Mercury "Mark" motor with an "A" suffix is from 1959, an "A"nniversary year for Kiekhaefer Mercury.
Another new Ace, this one built by the Baker-Johnsons.
Here's Dave's Lady Clipper Dart with its Mark 35A.
The Waali Ace was already in the water at their place on Hood Canal. Ed brought it over
and tied to the Twanoh dock. Sometime Ed might just trailer it for the Twanoh parking lot boat show!
The Parks brothers brought their beautiful twin Anthony fiberglass runabouts each with a 115 HP Merc.
Bob's Anthony.
John's Anthony.
The Anthonys with their 115 HP Mercs.
Bob, standing with Ned, brought background information on his Anthony.
The motors are always a major point of interest.
Ned's Merc 400.
Scooter's 1959 Mark 35A
Roy's 1959 Mark 58A.
Dave's 1959 Mark 58A.
John's Merc 115.
Bob's Merc 115.
The Baker-Johnson's 40 HP Tohatsu. It pushes their Ace very fast even with three people aboard.
Art and Ned ready their Aces with Dave getting ready to launch.
Waiting for the cruise to start.
Ned waits offshore. That's the North Shore of Hood Canal in the background.
It's not common, even with these old motors, but it happened to Ed on Ace Day. While idling around Alderbrook Resort, his motor died and wouldn't restart. He had to get towed across the Canal to the Waali place.
In 39 boating seasons, on and off, with three of these old white Mercs, Ed's motor had never failed to start. They have run poorly, maybe, but they have always started.
A few days later the boat was taken out of the water and started with one pull in the backyard! Geez, Louise!! This is going to make troubleshooting MUCH more difficult!
Ending Up on the Waali Beach.
This is Ed's favorite viewing angle for these boats on the Waali beach. Thankfully, the moon cooperated
and the tide was high enough so the oysters weren't in play on these tender boat hulls.
The Baker-Johnson Ace.
Ned's Sande Ace.
Dave's Lady Clipper Dart.
Bob and Jan with their Anthony.
John with his Anthony and Ned in the background.
Bob and John getting ready to leave.
There they go with the Waali Ace at the buoy. The coccolithophore bloom is really apparent (vide supra).
