Unique Boats
Skimming the glistening blue waters of West Lake Okoboji is a 1939 Larson Falls Flyer and a 1962 Chris-Craft Holiday. These beauties are handcrafted wooden and antique boats and part of the area’s rich boating history. The boats are also one reason why Carlie Long loves her Okoboji summers and how she became passionate about vintage cars and antique boats in general.
“At 28 years, I’ve spent much time out in the garage or down at the dock with my family and no summer would be the same without these important factors and I cherish them very deeply,” Carlie shared. “The Larson Falls and Chris-Craft Holiday are two boats that mean a lot to us.”
This excitement for antique boats is one reason why Carlie joined and then became president in 2025 of the Jerry Dyhrkopp Iowa Great Lakes Chapter of Wooden and Antique boats. She’s excited about the upcoming 45th Jerry Dyhrkopp Iowa Great Lakes Wooden Boat and Antique Show, which every year decorates the docks along the State Pier in Arnolds Park.
“My father was first involved with the club many years ago, and I joined and participated for the first time in 2023. We brought our ‘Black Widow’ to the show and were stunned and honored to receive the Crowd’s Choice Award,” Carlie said. “In 2025, I assumed the role of President of the area’s chapter. After 2024’s challenges with the flood, there was some uncertainty so I stepped into the leadership role to support the preservation and celebration of Okoboji’s rich history of antique and classic boats.”
On July 25, this annual event celebrates the area’s rich heritage of boating and showcases the beautiful craftsmanship of vintage Chris-Craft and Century wooden boats. Some of them are native and never left the Okoboji area.
The Annual Wooden Boat and Antique Show
Each year, the majority of participating boats at the show are considered antique and classic wooden boats. Antique boats are ones built from 1919 to 1942, while classic boats were built from 1942 to 1975.
“Our historic summer show also showcases some newer boats that are particularly unique models that contribute to the story of boating on the Iowa Great Lakes,” Carlie added.
The chapter is also exited to announce that Mau Marine is bringing several of their latest Chris-Craft boats, which Carlie says gives visitors and enthusiasts the opportunity to witness both the past and the future of one of the most recognizable boating brands.
Other boats being showcased are John Franken’s 1929 Chris-Craft Triple Cockpit “Hermine” and Jacob Rodenburg’s 1940 17’ Chris-Craft Barrelback “Masquerader.” The Barrelback was named the 2025 Crowd’s Choice Champion.
Another very popular, historic boating brand is Century Boats. Century models of all sizes and ages regularly participate in the summer show each year. “However, it’s a particularly special year because 2026 is Century’s 100th Anniversary!” Carlie said. “Therefore, we are highly encouraging all Century owners and enthusiasts to attend our summer show in shared celebration.”
Besides the beautiful display of antique, classic, and modern boats, live music will be playing throughout the event, as well as special booths geared for visitors like the Jensen Real Estate’s “Boatique” for 2026’s merchandise and Carlson Real Estate’s “Fueling Station” for beverages and refreshments. Towards the end of the day, a chapter celebration will be held to present a trophy and this year’s honorary Garland of Roses to the Crowd’s Choice award-winning boat. There will also be a silent auction of both nautical and local goods to help fundraise support for the area’s chapter.
Special Wooden Boats
The Long family has always had a strong passion for antique and classic boats, which means Carlie has spent her entire life out on the dock or in the garage. “It would’ve been impossible for me to not develop a love for them!” she said. “Antique and classic boats have so many special qualities that modern boats can’t easily replicate—including craftsmanship, design, and era-specific personalities. Through ownership, the preservation of history becomes just as important as the boating experience itself.”
She has a special love for her family’s personal wooden and antique boats: 1939 Larson Falls Flyer Shamu 19’ Inboard (with a Gray Marine Phantom Inline 6 producing 90 hp) and 1962 Chris-Craft Holiday 20’ (with a 413 cu in Chrysler V8 producing 280 HP).
The Shamu is a 1939 Larson Falls Flyer that was built in Little Falls, Minnesota by Paul Larson. He began building these boats in honor of his local friend Charles Lindbergh—the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
Larson only built three inboard Falls Flyers in 1939: a 21' example, a 19' for himself, and the 19' inboard for Lindbergh. The boat architect built approximately twenty-five inboard Falls Flyers from 1938–1949, which were specifically created from thin cedar strips screwed onto white oak ribs. He then covered the wooden frame with aircraft canvas that was glued in place. The cream, black, and red tricolor paint scheme he used referenced Lindbergh’s first plane, a 1918 JN–4D “Jenny” biplane.
Due to the boat’s stunning black and white paint scheme and beautiful shape, the Long’s Falls Flyer received the name Shamu, which was named after the most world-famous female Orca whale. The younger of the Long’s boats is their 1962 Chris-Craft Holiday, the “Black Widow,” which was originally owned by the Okoboji Department of Natural Resources as a patrol boat.Carlie said the DNR ordered it with every factory option, including the obnoxious 413 cu in big-block Chrysler V-8, which produced over 280 horsepower. The rare bucket-seat interior featured four distinct vinyl patterns and a newly introduced single-lever throttle and gear shift, which was a cutting-edge innovation for 1960s inboards.
The “Water Safety Patrol” cruised the lake in style in the 1960s, chasing down lawbreakers with a flashing red “gum ball” light, blaring horn, and handheld stop sign. Department communication took place via a tube-style two-way radio.
Unfortunately, on the night of Saturday, July 7, 1962, a violent storm came through Okoboji with 65-mph winds and 8-feet tall waves. The storm slammed the DNR’s new patrol boat and blew it out of its hoist and slammed it against the shore. The force bashed a massive hole in the hull, while also shattering the windshield, crushing the horns, and destroying the boat’s spotlight.
After recovering the boat from the shoreline, the DNR decided to repair the damage to the boat.
“Restoring the rich brown mahogany hull to its original specifications seemed impossible—so they painted the boat gloss black (the only black boat in Okoboji at the time) and christened it as the ‘Black Widow,’” Carlie shared. “It returned to patrol service and served Okoboji for many years. We are proud that the ‘Black Widow’ can still call Okoboji home—it’s a true living legend out on the water.” She said they have a few other boats as well, but the firsthand experience with those two wooden boats has played a key role in the development of her passion for antique and classic boats.
Preserving a Wooden Boat
Owning a classic wooden boat is a labor of love, which Carlie said requires regular upkeep and attention to detail to preserve its beauty and performance.
“Traditional wooden boats with standard plank bottoms often need to be “soaked” before launching each season,” she added. “This process allows the wood to absorb water and swell up—properly tightening and then reducing potential leaks. Furthermore, revarnishing is an important part of protecting the boat from sun, water, and weather damage.” It can take multiple coats of high-quality marine varnish to help maintain the wood’s rich glow, while also preventing cracking and deterioration over time.
Modern restorations will often rebuild the hull with a 5200 bottom, which is generally referred to as a no-soak bottom. They then use layered marine plywood and flexible 3M 5200 adhesive sealant to create a watertight structure. This technology eliminates the need for soaking before launch and provides the owner with convenience, reduced maintenance, and the ability to put the boat in the water right away.
“This process is also not visually obvious, so it preserves the timeless elegance that make wooden boats so eye-catching,” Carlie explained.
Leading the Jerry Dyhrkopp Iowa Great Lakes Chapter
Despite being 28-years-old, Carlie has a passion for the area’s rich boating history and wants to continue to strengthen the chapter’s 45-year legacy by connecting people together in the antique and classic boat community. She is working hard to boost club membership and participation.
“Our community is a very friendly, somewhat niche community that typically shares other interests as well, including history, environmental protection, and other types of motoring vehicles,” she said.
Her other goal is to reach the younger generations and spark interest in antique and classic boats. “I want others to discover the same joy and passion for these boats—and the fascinating stories behind them,” she said.
Don’t miss this year’s 45th Jerry Dyhrkopp Wooden and Antique Boat Show on July 25 at Arnolds Park. Rich history will be displayed with these beautiful boats lining the shore.
The Boat Society
The Jerry Dyhrkopp Iowa Great Lakes Chapter was formally established in 1981, a local chapter of the United States Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS). A group of men owned and maintained wooden boats in the area and desired to showcase their vintage boats. John Wachter of Okoboji was listed as President, while William E. Kunze was named Vice President and the Secretary/Treasurer was Jack Textor. Founding trustees listed included Claire DeKoster, Frank Griffith, Peter Holt and Irving Jenson II.
Their first major project was to create an annual classic and wooden boat show to be held each summer, with the first one to be held in 1982. The first year there were 23 Wood Boats and Canoes lining the docks.
In November 1983, the owner of Wilson Boat Works Don Schroeder took over the Iowa Great Lakes Chapter. Schroeder had the original Chris-Craft dealership in the area and operated near the Arnolds Park Trail Bridge. The show was held at the Wilson Boat Works for over ten years. New owners took the reins in 1988, with the Richard Mau family (Mau Marine) hosting it until it was moved to the docks along the Arnolds Park Amusement Park several years later. The new theme became, “Wooden Boats Amidst the Wooden Roller Coaster.”
The Iowa Great Lakes Chapter was renamed the Jerry Dyhrkopp Iowa Great Lakes Chapter in 2004, in honor of “Dr. Chris-Craft,” who owned a wooden boat restoration shop within Wilson’s Boat Works in the 1970s. He later moved his shop into his own building, and Blue Water Restoration was established for the restoration and maintenance of the area’s wooden boat.
Carlie Long took over as President of the chapter in 2025.