Vintage boat show makes a splash at the Wharf in Gravenhurst

An antique boat is docked at The Wharf in Gravenhurst, Ont. ahead of the Vintage Boat Show being held on Sat. July 12, 2025.

The 43rd Annual Vintage Boat Show will motor its way into Gravenhurst this weekend at the Wharf. The event will take place Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is free to the public.

Mike Gridley, communication director for The Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS) Toronto, said there is a pent-up demand for these types of shows.

“Over 120 boats have already registered for the show,” said Gridley. “So we’re going to have full docks, full displays on land, everything from over 100 years old, originally steam powered boats up to classic glass.”

With limited parking, attendees will have options to get down to The Wharf with shuttle buses running from the recreation centre, and the city centre office.

“Our mission is to preserve the history, preserve the boats for future generations, and put on a show to let the public enjoy these fantastic wooden, fiberglass boats,” said Gridley.

The day will feature vendors, a flea market, a car show, as well as boats currently for sale. There will also be numerous activities for kids of all ages, including paddle carving and a ride-along program.

“You can sign up to take a ride in a vintage boat - in an antique boat - for free, which will be running in the morning for a few hours and again in the afternoon on Saturday,” said Gridley.

The vintage boat show is the largest of its kind in Canada, with an impressive variety of vessels.

“When you see somebody that’s not seen these boats before, you kind of watch them stop dead in their tracks because they’re works of art,” said Gridley. “They are hand-drawn lines and hand-built masterpieces and the restoration shops in this area do a phenomenal job of bringing them back to life and preserving them and keeping them going forward for the future.”