Classic boats from a classic era. That’s what guests will discover at the 2011 South Tahoe Wooden Boat Classic July 29-30 at the Tahoe Keys Marina & Yacht Club.

The STWBC is one of the West’s largest classic boat shows, and this year the headliner will be White Smoke which was originally delivered to South Lake Tahoe’s Pope Estate and is currently part of the Tahoe Maritime Museum’s collection. White Smoke is a 1930, 30-foot Sea Lyon, model 45 triple cockpit runabout. The George A. Pope family enjoyed their home and the boat on Lake Tahoe for years before finally gifting the estate to the U.S. Forest Service.

Wooden boats will return to the Tahoe Keys Marina in July. Photo/LTN file

While White Smoke will command center stage at the STWBC, it will have plenty of company. More than 65 antique and classic boats will be on display at the Tahoe Keys Marina & Yacht Club.

A new attraction this year will be a kit boat, newly built by Tahoe City Boy Scout Troop No. 266 which will be on display in the sponsor tent area. The boat is a project being built by the Scouts and their fathers with guidance and support from ACBS member John Lahti of Tahoe City.

Throughout Friday afternoon and all day Saturday, guests at the Wooden Boat Classic will hear the thunder of these classic beauties while having the opportunity to stroll through the sponsor and charity booths and buy a memento of the day in the Antique & Classic Boat Society’s Ships Store. Snacks, drinks and a barbecue lunch will be available at gourmet refreshment booths. 

The Tahoe Maritime Museum will also have their boat in the marina and will be giving rides to families who join the museum at the boat show.