Blackhawk Chapter of Antique and Classic Boat Society

09/13/2026

07/21/2026

Come check out an awesome display of Classic boats from the Blackhawk Chapter at the Downtown Docks Chicago Riverwalk across from the Marina Towers on the Chicago River between State St. and Dearborn Ave.
Boats will be docked on display from 10AM - 2PM where a parade of the river will then begin.
If you would like to participate with your classic boat, contact Mike Furibondo at [email protected]
Hope to see you there!

07/19/2026

07/19/2026

Well it's hard to believe our Fox Lake Show went by so fast last Saturday but it was an incredible turnout of more than 40 boats for our milestone 40th Show. The competition was tough in every category and each winner was well deserved as a result.

We had boats return that we hadn't seen in a long time, and even saw new ones like Mitch Horton who brought his legendary grandfather Randy Streblow's 1974 Streblow fishing boat to his very first boat show.

It was hot and sunny but Famous Freddie's Roadhouse was the perfect setting with their numerous areas of shade and the patio bar to keep cold drinks in hand.

Congratulations to all of our winners!

-Skipper's Choice
"Rumour" a 1941 17ft Chris Craft Barrelback Runabout owned by David P. De Horn

-People's Choice
"Mombo" a 1961 19ft Chris Craft Continental owned by Fox Lake resident Jeff Borre

-Best Runabout
"Minnow" a 1930 17ft Chris Craft Model 99 Runabout owned by Mark Svoboda and wife Shelley

-Best Utility
"Northstar" a 1946 17ft Century Utility owned by Stephen Gerding

-Best Outboard
"Taifun" a 1956 12ft Aristo Craft Typhoon owned by John Spoeri

-Best Non-Wood
A 1978 19ft Southwind Jet Drive owned by Steve and Cristina Ray

-Classic Member Award
Ken and Diane Klein of McHenry with their 1954 14ft Wagemaker Wolverine who have become a fixture of the Fox Lake Show for many years and hopefully many more years to come.

Be sure to put Saturday July 10th 2027 on your calendars for next year's 41st annual Fox Lake Show!

07/11/2026

Famous Freddie's July 11th Show Skipper Spotlight -
Calvin Seith & Jennifer Gimmell
1947 Chris Craft U22
22 ft Inboard
Category: Utility
Age Class: Classic (1943-1975)
Name: RIFF RAFT

For our Final Skipper's Spotlight we give you the RIFF RAFT!

Quality mahogany was in short supply following the war torn decimation of the Philippines during the Pacific Theater of WWII, so as a result boat manufacturers turned to using Spanish Cedar for the hull and interior while saving the mahogany for the top deck and transom.

On September 9th 1947, the white painted cedar hull U-22-998 was shipped from the Chris Craft factory in Algonac MI to the now named Irwin Marine in Laconia New Hampshire on Lake Winnipesaukee. From there the 22 ft utility lived most of its life in the Finger-Lakes region of New York, before being trailered to Florida in 2008 only to be sold to a new owner who had the boat restored at McHenry's own Fox River Valley Boat Co. before bringing it to Michigan again. From there it was sold to new owners in 2018 and trailered all the way to Newport Beach CA where Blackhawk Chapter member Calvin Seith found it for sale online in 2023.

After making the 4000 mile round trip to bring the Chris Craft home, Calvin then took it to Motor Boat Garage in Cincinnati OH to be taken down to bare wood for all new paint and varnish and had a windshield from a 1939 Utility installed. 8 months later on the 4th of July of 2024, the RIFF RAFT saw fresh water for the first time in 6 years on Powers Lake WI.

Since then they have trailered the RIFF RAFT over 3000 miles across the country to various vacation spots as well as numerous ACBS events.

RIFF RAFT was bestowed our Skipper's Choice award at the 2024 Famous Freddie's Show.

Come be a part of the riff raff with the RIFF RAFT and meet Captains Calvin and Jen at the July 11th Show at Famous Freddie's!

07/11/2026

Famous Freddie's July 11th Show Skipper Spotlight -
Eric & Kathy Moberg
1958 Streblow Rebel
19 ft Inboard
Category: Utility
Age Class: Classic (1943-1975)
Name: Rebel Without A Cause

Eric Moberg grew up around wood boats thanks to his dad Don, and together they joined the Blackhawk Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, of which Eric is one of the longest tenured members having joined in 1993, holding numerous offices within the chapter including being the Editor of the chapter's newsletter The Smoke Signal for many years.

In 1994 Eric and his dad discovered an incredibly rare find - a derelict 1958 Steblow Rebel (one of the very oldest Streblow inboards made) and spent the next several years completely restoring her with the blessing and guidance of Randy Streblow. The Streblow Boat Company is ubiquitous with Lake Geneva WI today, but founder Larry Streblow actually started the company in Kenosha WI in 1950 before moving to Walworth in 1987. In 1958 Larry designed 18', 19', and 20' Rebel inboards, of which Eric's 19 foot example is only one of two made, and came with the company's highest performance engine - a 390 c.i. Cal Connell Cadillac that is still in the Rebel today.

When Eric and Don first completed the restoration Don named the boat 'Findango' for it's bichin' rear fins but that never took hold and when the transom needed refinishing the name was removed and informally reborn as Rebel Without A Cause.

Each year Streblow Custom Boats gathers all the Streblow boats in the area for 'Wake the Lake' on Geneva Lake running all out in formation from Lake Geneva in the east to Fontana 8 miles west.

For 30 years Eric and wife Kathy have enjoyed the Rebel on the Chain O Lakes and elsewhere, and even granddaughter Lily (now in college) has taken more than a few turns at the wheel.

The Rebel Without A Cause won Skipper's Choice at the 2014 Famous Freddie's Show.

Come flip your lid over this epitome of cool Streblow and meet Captains Eric and Kathy at the July 11th Show at Famous Freddie's!

07/09/2026

Famous Freddie's July 11th Show Skipper Spotlight -
Bob Vonckx
1979 Cobalt CD
19 ft I/O
Category: Fiberglass
Age Class: Late Classic (1976-2001)

Blackhawk Chapter member Bob Voncx is a craftsman woodworking hobbyist in his spare time. Bob cut the the wood blanks for our awards for the 2025 and 2026 Fox Lake show out of mahogany boards, and he also made a wooden map of the lower Fox River which was given away as a prize at this year's annual Blackhawk Chapter Fox River Poker Run.

But Bob and wife Julie captain their awesome Cobalt from what Glacier Lakes Chapter member Robert Roberson coins, "The Tupperware Division". Bob has enjoyed the Cobalt since 1985 on the lower Fox River and Chain O'Lakes.

Built in 1979 the Cobalt epitomizes the boating experience for the discerning leisure suit connoisseur, as shown from their spectacular ad brochure.

Come check out this kick ass Cobalt and meet Captains Bob and Julie at the July 11th Show at Famous Freddie's!