“Did you guys get splashed?” Howard Perkins asks excitedly as the Camp Sunshine kids climbed out of a 1960s vintage mahogany lakeboat after a trip around the lake.

“Yeah, that was fun,” the kids say as they loosen their orange life-preservers and head back down the dock to make way for the next group.

This is the fifth year Perkins and the Mountainview Woodies Antique and Classic Boat Club have hosted an afternoon of courtesy rides on their antique boats coinciding with this coming weekend’s Antique and Class Boat Show in Naples. Years back, the Woodies had been looking for an opportunity to share the boats with kids when they found Camp Sunshine, a retreat for children with life-threatening diseases and their families.

“It’s like a tradition,” Perkins said of the event. “We found Camp Sunshine and how can it be any better.”

Founded by Anne and Lawrence Gould of neighboring Point Sebago, Camp Sunshine serves as a one-of-a-kind getaway for children with cancer and other devastating illnesses. It is here that the children are given a chance to forget about their illnesses, enjoy the many recreational activities the camp offers and be embraced by a camp atmosphere that aims to restore hope, said Donna Lester, development director for Camp Sunshine.

“For the child that is ill, it’s to restore normalcy,” Lester said. “The intent is to leave behind their day-to-day difficulties and enable them to come into an environment where they get to breathe.”

Events like the annual antique boat trips are an added bonus for the children, many of whom are new to life on the lakes, says Matthew Hoidal, executive director of Camp Sunshine.

“The kids have a blast,” Hoidal said. “Some of these kids are from the inner city and have never seen a lake, let alone an antique boat. So it’s a treat for them.”

Riding on an antique lakeboat is a unique experience most people never get to enjoy. The classic runabouts are rare not only because of their age, but because of the mahogany and cedar woods these boats are made out of.

In the 60s, Perkins explained, boat manufacturers started to build boats using fiberglass which has become the standard today. Yet some manufacturers, like Lyman, still exclusively build wooden boats.

Over 30 antique boats will be docked in Naples for the yearly Antique and Class Boat Show on Saturday, August 6. Thousands of people typically turn out for the event, said Perkins, to see the Chris Crafts, Centurys, Lymans and other antique boats – some of which date back to the roaring 1920s.

“This is all part of what the club does the week of the show,” fellow woodie Jeff Murdock said of the afternoon at Camp Sunshine. “It’s fun to get all the boats together, but it’s also fun to do a benefit for these kids.”

Camp Sunshine kids and counselors wave goodbye to shore as they venture off in a classic lakeboat. The Mountainview Woodies Antique and Classic Boat Club brought down five of their classic lakeboats to the camp marina to give campers a tour of the lake. On Saturday, over 30 of these antique boats will be docked at the Naples Causeway for their annual classic boat show.

“Did you guys get splashed?” Howard Perkins asks excitedly as the Camp Sunshine kids climbed out of a 1960s vintage mahogany lakeboat after a trip around the lake.

“Yeah, that was fun,” the kids say as they loosen their orange life-preservers and head back down the dock to make way for the next group.

This is the fifth year Perkins and the Mountainview Woodies Antique and Classic Boat Club have hosted an afternoon of courtesy rides on their antique boats coinciding with this coming weekend’s Antique and Class Boat Show in Naples. Years back, the Woodies had been looking for an opportunity to share the boats with kids when they found Camp Sunshine, a retreat for children with life-threatening diseases and their families.

“It’s like a tradition,” Perkins said of the event. “We found Camp Sunshine and how can it be any better.”

Founded by Anne and Lawrence Gould of neighboring Point Sebago, Camp Sunshine serves as a one-of-a-kind getaway for children with cancer and other devastating illnesses. It is here that the children are given a chance to forget about their illnesses, enjoy the many recreational activities the camp offers and be embraced by a camp atmosphere that aims to restore hope, said Donna Lester, development director for Camp Sunshine.

“For the child that is ill, it’s to restore normalcy,” Lester said. “The intent is to leave behind their day-to-day difficulties and enable them to come into an environment where they get to breathe.”

Events like the annual antique boat trips are an added bonus for the children, many of whom are new to life on the lakes, says Matthew Hoidal, executive director of Camp Sunshine.

“The kids have a blast,” Hoidal said. “Some of these kids are from the inner city and have never seen a lake, let alone an antique boat. So it’s a treat for them.”

Riding on an antique lakeboat is a unique experience most people never get to enjoy. The classic runabouts are rare not only because of their age, but because of the mahogany and cedar woods these boats are made out of.

In the 60s, Perkins explained, boat manufacturers started to build boats using fiberglass which has become the standard today. Yet some manufacturers, like Lyman, still exclusively build wooden boats.

Over 30 antique boats will be docked in Naples for the yearly Antique and Class Boat Show on Saturday, August 6. Thousands of people typically turn out for the event, said Perkins, to see the Chris Crafts, Centurys, Lymans and other antique boats – some of which date back to the roaring 1920s.

“This is all part of what the club does the week of the show,” fellow woodie Jeff Murdock said of the afternoon at Camp Sunshine. “It’s fun to get all the boats together, but it’s also fun to do a benefit for these kids.”

Camp Sunshine kids and counselors wave goodbye to shore as they venture off in a classic lakeboat. The Mountainview Woodies Antique and Classic Boat Club brought down five of their classic lakeboats to the camp marina to give campers a tour of the lake. On Saturday, over 30 of these antique boats will be docked at the Naples Causeway for their annual classic boat show.