2023 Runabouts on the River

The Bigger and Better 5th Annual Runabouts on the River

At the Beautiful Stockton Sailing Club, July 21-23, 2023

Join your fellow ACBS members on July 21st, 22nd, and 23rd for a wonderful weekend on the San Joaquin River for our 5th“Annual “Runabouts on the River” Antique and Classic Boat Show. This weekend is going to be the best yet filled with lots of fun in the sun, beautiful boats, with activities, great food, and we will be free to the public. Where else can you put your boat at a dock for 3 days, two nights, and get underway as often as you like, all for the inexpensive cost of $35.00? Right here, that’s where!

This year is going to be a lot bigger and better than past years. As of the time of this letter, we have over 40 vendors signed up that will be participating with booths in the show. There will be a field of dreams this year with boats on display on trailers, along with boats for sale on trailers. So if you have a boat you want to sell or one that’s not quite ready for the water, bring it on the trailer for everyone to see. There will be the youth activities booth and the Ship’s store will be selling the kids drawing contest T-Shirts, along with lots of other good items.

The sign- up sheet was in the last Western Wood and was emailed out. You’ll need to mail it in with a copy of your insurance by July 1, 2023, or sign up on line.  You can sign up for one day, two days, or all three days, whichever fits your liking. If your boat is out of commission right now, sign up and come anyway to join in on the festivities. We will find you a boat ride. We also NEED several volunteers to help with different aspects of the show so please contact Layne or Sylvia Leutz if you’re available to help.

Once again we will be heading to the beautiful facility of the Stockton Sailing Club (SSC) for the summer weather of July on the Delta. If it gets a little warm, we will have ways to cool you off this year from air coolers at the Stockton Sailing Club Bistro to having a refreshing cool beverage in the newly remodeled Stockton Sailing Club’s clubhouse. When you arrive on Friday in Stockton, drive straight to the Buckley Cove Boat Launch and launch your boat. Cruise it around to the Stockton Sailing Club and dock it in your assigned slip. You’ll be able to leave your trailer there for the weekend for a small fee.

The ACBS activities begin Friday afternoon at 4:00pm at the Sailing Club Clubhouse. Some boats will head out for a casual sunset river cruise with beautiful weather. Others will just stay at the Clubhouse enjoying some libations and making new friends. This will be followed by a dinner hosted by the members of the Stockton Sailing Club at 6:00 PM provided you signed up for it.  You can fall in behind or head out to a restaurant of your own choosing. Either way you’ll end up with a beautiful cruise back to the Sailing club to leave your boat for the night. The facility is a gated facility with ideal docks for our show. If you don’t want to go to dinner by boat, there are several restaurants in the area a short driving distance away.

Saturday morning, enjoy breakfast at your hotel or other restaurants in the area or if staying at the Residence Inn by Marriott, you’ll have a full kitchen to prepare your own. The gate will open to the public at 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, with a roar off parade of boats starting at 2:00 pm. Members can sit in the shade of the clubhouse (the Bistro) while watching boats cruise by on the river or head into the clubhouse for a little refreshment or conversation. Feel free to offer rides in your boat and take it out as often as you like if you want to cool down that way.

This exciting and unique show will feature beautiful watercraft from around Northern California. Dozens of wooden boats and early fiberglass boats will be on display. There is a unique love story behind each unique watercraft. I already know of several new to the show boats will be attending this year, which should include a “Wooden Boats for Veterans” 70’ sailboat. This show will immerse you in the stories of the beloved boats that will be on display. We ask that boat owners be on hand on the docks, by their boats, between 10:00 am and 11:30 am to share stories and answer questions about their boats.

During the show, we encourage you to fire up your engines for the public to hear, and even take your friends out for a short cruise to cool off. Once again, there will be a youth booth set up for children to participate in some activities, so be sure to invite all your friends and families to attend. Everyone at the boat show will have the opportunity to stroll through the many vendor booths or buy a memento of the day in the Antique & Classic Boat Society's Ships Store. Snacks, drinks and a barbecue lunch will also be offered for sale, and they’ve promised me that they will have plenty of food on hand for lunch.

Saturday will cap off with our members BBQ dinner at the outdoor eating area of the Sailing Club, overlooking the sites of the river. The theme for this year’s dinner is “Luau” so bring your best flip flops and your “Hawaiian Shirt” attire. We’ll have a great party and even give out some awards from the show.

Sunday morning will start with boats firing up and departing the Stockton Sailing Club at 10:00 am for a run down the river to a restaurant with plenty of docks for a no host lunch. We’ll guide you there, but the rest is on your own. You can explore more of the Delta or head back to the launch ramp and wrap up your weekend.

We have group rates at the Residence Inn by Marriott, 3240 March Lane, which is right down the street from the Sailing Club, call 209-472-9800, group code ACBS. A Studio room with a kitchenette is once again $159 +tax and includes buffet breakfast. These rooms are limited so reserve early. We have a small window to add some rooms at this price if we fill up soon but that has an end date.  A little further down March Lane is a La Quinta Inn by Windham 209-952-7800, the Hilton Hotel 209-957-9090 and about 15 minutes away on the river is the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel 209-944-1140. We haven’t locked in any room rates at these other hotels but it should be similar.

Our goal is to bring together people with a common interest in historic, antique, and classic boats and provide an affordable, fun and friendly atmosphere for everyone to be able to enjoy being a participant or spectator. Come have some fun with us for the 5th Annual Runabouts on the River. Space is limited so sign up early but encourage your other club members to sign up as well. The more boats, the more fun.

Hope to see you all there. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact Layne Davis (408) 234-7613.