Maritime Museum boat takes first place at international show

The Minnesota Lakes Maritime Museum (MLMM) in Alexandria registered its 1907 Fay and Bowen 24-foot standard launch, “Stella,” in the 2011 Antique and Classic Boat Society’s International Boat Show on Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

The boat took top honors.

Stella has been used at a number of local fundraising events.

The launch was purchased, restored and donated to the MLMM by Carl and Joyce Mammel.

Museum members and volunteers, Darin Erlandson and Jim Aamodt, improved the engine’s performance and reliability. Erlandson spent many hours making improvements and becoming proficient in handling the launch, according to museum leaders.

At the boat show, MLMM crew, Fred and Teri Bursch, Erlandson, Marie Anderson and Bruce Olson, worked together to make a positive presentation of Stella.

There were 140 water displayed boats, dozens of land displays and a waiting list of more than 100 more boats wanting to participate.

The crew handed out hundreds of brochures and answered many times that in questions about Stella and MLMM.

“It was a pleasure to see so many people wearing MLMM logos on caps, shirts and jackets,” Olson said in an e-mail to the newspaper. “We were surprised how many of these folks know of our museum, had been there or visited the website.”

Board member Lee Wangstad was in attendance to receive an award of his own at Saturday night’s dinner. “Lee is highly regarded,” Olson noted. “It was an honor to having him also accept the award for MLMM.”

When not in use, Stella is on display at the Minnesota Lakes Maritime Museum, 205 3rd Avenue West, Alexandria.

Tags: local news, news, boat