“Cutting”

Geneva Lake off the former George Williams College in Williams Bay, Wisconsin

June 24, 2024

Geneva Lake in Wisconsin provides the setting for a variety of activities during the summer, and, of course, the mainstay is boating. Two general types are those driven by engines (speedboats, motorboats, houseboats, pontoon boats, etc.) and those powered by the wind, i.e., sailboats.

Among the speedboats, those commanding the most prestige and ample attention are the ones made of wood. Makes include Chris-Craft, Streblow, Gar Wood, Lyman, Grand Craft, Gage Hacker, Century, Hacker-Craft, and Shepherd.

The best opportunity to see assorted wooden boats all together is the annual Geneva Lakes Antique and Classic Boat Show. It is presented by the Blackhawk Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society. This year the event is September 28-29 at The Abbey Resort in Fontana.

About this timeless treasure of a photograph, I captured this wooden boat at speed several years ago on October 19, 2003. I was on the path on the north shore in front of what is now the former George Williams College in Williams Bay.

Now comes my confession of ignorance by asking this question: What brand of boat is this? I did not note that when the craft hustled by me.

By guessing at the name near the stern, I think this is a Streblow. Someone surely will be quick to provide the proper brand, perhaps the year and model, and possibly the owner.

Having lived in the Geneva Lake area and surrounding communities for 66 years, I sort of wish I had become more interested in the wooden speedboats as well as the racing sailboats and iceboats that have frequented Geneva Lake, Delavan Lake, and even Lake Como over the decades. Many of the crafts are extraordinary and stunning in their craftsmanship and performance. Of course, I admire the people who built and piloted the crafts over the water and ice.

But, alas, I am a crazed landlubber in terms of vehicles, having been hooked in my younger years in the late 1950s and into the ‘70s on fast cars and drag racing and other motorsports. Instead of the boats on area lakes captivating me, my attention was riveted on hot rods and muscle cars cruising Walworth County communities and competing at the long-defunct Lake Geneva Raceway (where I raced a ’55 Chevy sporadically in 1970 and ’71 and earned five trophies).