The first time Patrick Forrester saw a kayak with a sail attached, he laughed.
“That’s one of the dumbest things I’ve seen. It’s just so stupid, you can’t sail a kayak. It’s not possible,” Forrester, a lifelong sailor, remembers thinking. “And then, on a whim, I bought one after two years of watching them, and then I was like, this is so much fun!”
While he grew to love kayak sailing, he found the sail’s design to be clunky and flawed. So, he set out to make a better one for himself. His passion turned into a hobby, then morphed into a full-fledged business when he opened Falcon Sails in 2010 in Perrysburg, Ohio. It’s one of only a handful of businesses in the world that crafts custom sails for kayaks.
“If you can paddle and have a bit of common sense, you can kayak sail.” – Patrick Forrester
Today Forrester’s kayak sails ship across the world — including Australia, Japan, Ireland and Canada — and locally. Each custommade sail is crafted from sail cloth, using colors of the customer’s choosing. The cloth is laser cut, then sewn together.
You can buy just the sail ($160-$190, depending on the size) or a kit containing a sail and a rigging kit with everything you need to transform a kayak into a sailing kayak, including sail, rig and hardware ($645-$675).
Once installed, you can lower the sail and secure it to your deck in seconds.
Most kayaks can be outfitted with kayak sails, according to Forrester. “Nine out of 10 of our customers just have an inexpensive Walmart-type kayak, and they decide they want to pick up sailing.”
Kayak sailors vary in intensity; some appreciate small, calm ponds while others seek a full-on thrill complete with white caps.
Forrester is in the latter group, taking on adventures like the Everglades Challenge, a 300mile endurance race from Tampa to Key Largo.
“I’ve done the whole coastline of Florida, all the way to Key West,” Forrester says. “I’ve done Lake Superior, then Lake Huron, Lake Michigan.”
While kayak sailing has taken Forrester around the world (he even taught kayak sailing in Ireland), most of his adventures are in his own backyard, including the Maumee River and Lake Erie. The Lake Erie islands are his favorite place to explore, providing the perfect backdrop for a day on the water followed by camping at one of the island state parks.
Forrester is always willing to share his kayak sailing knowledge. It’s not uncommon for him to provide impromptu lessons to curious paddlers he meets on the lake.
That’s how kayak sailing spreads, Forrester says, “just word of mouth or social media.” And the thing is, he adds, “if you can paddle and have a bit of common sense, you can kayak sail.” falconsails.com
– Vince Guerrieri
Set Sail Yourself
Every summer, Patrick Forrester hosts the South Bass Rendezvous (June 6-8 this year) on Put-in-Bay. Visit sbikayakrendezvous.com for more info.
Patrick Forrester teaching kayak sailing in Ireland.
Lynn Ackerson learned to sail from Forrester — and then took off. “She got to be really good at it,” Forrester says.
New Li e on the Lake
An Ohio couple turns a 150-yearold Victorian cottage into an airy and bright modern retreat.
By Lynne Thompson
Mark and Jane Grindley are fearless when it comes to taking on major renovations and restorations.
The Columbus, Ohio, residents purchased their first home at a sheriff’s sale. Jane, a former teacher, began flipping properties regularly a decade ago — a hobby Mark took up after the plastics-manufacturing executive retired in 2021. And they’d renovated two of their own side-by-side cottages in Lakeside, Ohio.
“Our second cottage was actually condemned,” Jane says. So 418 Lakefront in Lakeside, on a path known as “Ohio’s Most Beautiful Mile,” didn’t faze them.
The folk-house-style abode had been erected in 1875, two years after Lakeside’s founding as a Methodist camp. Mark remembers the interior as a series of “very small, chopped-up rooms with a real small galley kitchen.” Far more troubling, the home was in need of major repairs like replacing a deteriorating foundation.
“It would have been a teardown for most people,” Mark says.
Instead, the Grindleys bought the place in 2023 and embarked on a painstaking restoration approved by the Lakeside Historic Preservation & Design Review Board. The result is a 4,200-squarefoot retreat that retains its original butter-yellow exterior, right down to a replication of the Victorian stick decoration under the gable, but
surprises with a contemporary floor plan and upscale décor punctuated by vintage-inspired elements.
“It’s a 150-year-old house that’s brand new,” Mark says.
Mark shares iPhone photos of 418 Lakefront jacked up four to five feet above the ground on two long steel beams so contractors could remove the foundation and build a full basement. John Feick, the Sandusky, Ohio-based architect who worked on the project, compares the excavation to “digging a basement with a spoon.”
“We went in with a Bobcat,” he explains. “[The operator] would take a scoop of material, come out, dump it in a bucket that was like a sled. And then would pull that down to the street and dump it into a truck.”
The wooden siding was removed and the interior gutted. Mark describes replacing roof trusses, building successive exterior and interior walls and then dismantling the ones those walls replaced, piece by piece — the historical preservation equivalent of demolition, Feick says.
“Everything was rotten with mold in it,” Mark recalls. “We rebuilt the house stick by stick.”
The house was sided in Hardie board and roofed in asphalt shingles. Workers enclosed the front and side porches with custom floor-toceiling windows, removed walls between the porches and living and dining rooms, and redistributed the weight they bore to exterior walls to create an open living area warmed by an existing fireplace. Feick replaced
the narrow L-shaped staircase that once stood in the center of the house with a space-saving counterpart on the side.
A quartz-topped island painted Benjamin Moore’s Caribbean Coast blue separates the living area from a white-cabinet-lined kitchen. John relocated the kitchen from the back of the house and used the square footage, along with that in an adjacent existing addition, to add a bedroom and ensuite bath, laundry and half bath.
“I’m the one who does the dishes and the cooking,” Jane explains. “And I always like to look at the lake. We made it for family living, so that everybody could be together.”
She chose to floor the space in white-oak planking and cover the walls in white shiplap — finishes that, along with the white cabinetry, white tile and blue accents, are repeated throughout the house to create a refreshing coastal decor.
“When you walk in there,” Mark says, “you feel like you’re in what we think of as a cottage.”
Feick reconfigured the second floor, which had consisted of six bedrooms and one hall bath, into three bedrooms with ensuite baths, a bunk room and full hall bath. The bedrooms boast vaulted ceilings created by eliminating the attic, while the baths feature basketweave-tile floors and showers with rain heads.
The kitchen features a quartz-topped island, white-oak floors and shiplap walls.
“WE MADE IT FOR FAMILY LIVING, SO THAT EVERYBODY COULD BE TOGETHER.”
But the standout is the bunk room with its wall of custom built-in bunk beds covered in multicolored sailboat-print sheets and a solid-maple floor painted Caribbean Coast.
Feick finished the basement by dividing it into two bedrooms (a large window provides the code-required egress), a full bath and living area with built-in Caribbean Blue wet bar.
Mark explains that he and Jane began the renovation with the intent of selling their second Lakeside cottage, which they maintain for their two adult sons and their families to use, and putting them up at 418 Lakefront instead. But Jane likes having the grandchildren right next door. So, the couple put 418 Lakefront on the market — a decision that continues to be debated.
“The kids get a look at it, and they come back [saying], ‘Well, maybe we should really keep that one,’” Mark says. “If Jane would say yes, we would keep it.”
The bunk room boasts a wall of custom built-in extra-long bunk beds and solid maple floors.
NEW TRENDS IN HOME DESIGN BRING NATURE IN
LARGE STATEMENT WINDOWS
WHEN YOU HAVE A HOME ON OR NEAR LAKE ERIE
, you try to bring the outdoors in as much as you can — and there are many ways to do so.
Jeremy Parish, the director of sales for Wayne Homes in Sandusky, Ohio, says windows are key, more for natural light than for air circulation.
“Large statement windows are popular right now, just walls of windows,” he says. “People with lake views, they just want to put as much glass on the wall as they can.”
Color is another way to add a more natural feel. “We’re starting
Color of the Year 2025 PANTONE®
to see a lot less gray,” Parish says. “We’re seeing more warm neutrals, taupes and tans, and green is coming into play.”
Clare Opfer of S&H Blinds & Floors in Sandusky says earth tones are popular in window treatments and other interior elements as well, noting that the Pantone color of the year is mocha mousse, a rich brown. And while white walls remain popular, Parish says, it’s now warmer whites, rather than cooler whites.
Then there’s texture, including wood, metal and even tile. “Fluted tile is very popular right now, as
an accent wall or as a shower or backsplash,” Opfer says. “The texture goes hand-in-hand with warmer, natural earthy tones.”
Decorative beams, wood trim and natural fiber light fixtures up the ante even more. “Some families are encasing openings to rooms with beams on all three sides, rather than just beams in the ceilings,” Parish says.
“Woven woods are popular for window treatments now too,” Opfer adds. “They’re made with natural products, although some are synthetic, but they have the character of bamboo and jute.”
TASTE O F ITALY A • ON • ONTARIO’S COAST
Paglione Estate Winery preserves Old World charm through handcrafted wines, rustic food and genuine hospitality day to night.
By Laura Watilo Blake
continues
The winery’s legacy
with Sandra Paglione and her partner, Robin Sheikh.
A STONE’S THROW AWAY FROM LAKE ERIE,
glasses clink, laughter rises and the scent of wood-fired pizza fills the air at the Paglione Estate Winery in Harrow, Ontario. Guests relax around tables on the patio shaded by blue umbrellas, drinking small-batch wine and sharing thin-crust slices fresh from the oven. Others are enjoying the sweet life, sitting in lawn chairs savoring hand-crafted gelato while sharing some laughs. It’s the kind of easy camaraderie that feels spontaneous yet intentional — exactly what Santino “Sam” Paglione hoped to create when he launched his namesake winery in 2013.
Though the setting might fool you into thinking you’ve landed in the Italian countryside, this Tuscan-style villa was born from Santino’s hands and heart along Canada’s southernmost coast. Paglione, who emigrated from Italy when he was 13, played a major role in shaping the region’s wine country as a general contractor, lending his expertise in stone masonry to construction projects like the Pelee Island Winery in Kingsgville and the historic Vin Villa restoration on Pelee Island. But having a vineyard and winery of his own was his dream — a place to bring people together over food, music and great wine.
Italian farmhouse lovingly placed in the doorway of the winery to the stone facade and warm terracotta tones reflecting his heritage and skill. Even more moving is the concertina he would play enthusiastically on the balcony above the tasting room. Today, the accordion-like musical instrument is on display inside the winery — a quiet tribute to the man who made this place come alive with music and personality.
After Santino passed away in 2015, his widow, Nancy, struggled with operating the winery on her own. Sam’s daughter, Sandra and her partner, Robin Sheikh, made the decision to leave behind
their busy lives in Toronto and relocate to the apartment above the winery to carry on the Paglione legacy.
“We didn’t want to turn it down,” Sandra recalls. “The opportunity was so great, but we knew it would have to make some changes to grow.”
One of many seasonal options to try at Paglione Estate Winery: a thin crust asparagus pizza with a white sauce base, Wrightland Farm asparagus, prosciutto, freshly shaved Parmesan and lemon zest
His touch is visible in every corner of the 37-acre estate, from the piece of stone from his family’s
Along with Nancy’s daughter, Becki Beetham, and her husband, Mike, they renovated the winery and then reopened in May 2019. Adjusting to rural life and taking over a working winery came with plenty of learning curves, but their determination kept them grounded. Sandra admits “being a farmer is very challenging. I don’t think we realized until we did this.” But over time, they’ve embraced not only the responsibilities,
but also the rewards of nurturing something so meaningful. The winery has seen 35 percent growth year after year.
“What I love most is the community feel,” Sandra says. “We have so many regulars, not to mention the many guests who come to the area to sample the region’s wines.”
Their dedication is evident not only in the hospitality but in the wines themselves. Paglione’s best-selling pinot grigio is a nod to traditional Italian winemaking. The grapes are left on the vine longer than usual, allowing them to develop deeper flavors and a more full-bodied character. The result is a pour with unexpected richness — crisp, yet round, and perfectly suited to the region’s sweet sunny days and fresh cuisine.
Santino and Nancy Paglione
Paglinone Estate’s awardwinning riesling is a customer favorite.
The 1,100-square-foot owner’s suite offers expansive views of the estate.
The winery’s broader portfolio spans the full spectrum of wine styles, from lively prosecco-inspired sparkling wines to dry and sweet whites, elegant rosés and reds that range from light to bold to full-bodied. The offerings reflect the Paglione philosophy: wine should be approachable, expressive and part of everyday life.
Sandra and Robin now live in nearby Kingsville, while the apartment above the
winery — the one Santino once shared with Nancy — has found new life as an Airbnb rental. Known as the owner’s suite, it’s a comfortable retreat with a turret balcony that overlooks the vines, a bedroom with kingsize bed, a spacious living room with a pullout couch and two bathrooms. The space offers couples or families a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in vineyard life, just steps from the tasting room.
During open hours, the buzz of the winery carries into the suite. Through closed doors, you can still hear the joyful hum of conversation, the pop of corks and the bustle of the patio below. But when the doors shut for the evening, the atmosphere shifts entirely. As the last guests leave and the daylight slowly fades, the sounds of nature take over — deer
AN EPIC WINE COUNTRY
wander through, wild turkeys rustle in the brush while the stars shine brightly overhead, unbothered by city lights. Guests often end their evening by the fire pit beside the vineyard, wrapped in blankets, sipping one last glass under the open sky. It’s the kind of peace that lingers long after the embers fade. By day, the winery serves as a perfect home base for exploring the region. Visitors can tour other area wineries, head into Kingsville or Leamington for boutique shopping and lakeside walks, visit Point Pelee National Park or even take a ferry to Pelee Island. But many find that the winery itself is an ideal place to unwind, connect and savor life at a slower pace. Every glass of wine, every conversation and every evening carries the spirit of Santino Paglione — his passion, his craftsmanship and his belief in the simple joy of sharing time together. Thanks to Sandra and Robin, his dream lives on.
Of the wine-growing regions in Canada, those in southwest Ontario’s EPIC wine country (epicwineries.com) have the longest growing season. Between Amherstburg and Kingsville, a rich tapestry of vineyards dots the scenic countryside. Pay a visit to the boutique wineries and estate vineyards to taste crisp whites, bold reds and refreshing rosés. Looking for the best lake views? Head to Viewpointe Estate Winery (viewpointewinery.com), which has live music on the lakeside lawn on weekends and Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery (sprucewoodshores.com), Canada’s only beachfront winery.
Gelato is another Paglione favorite.
10 MORE SITES TO SEE IN SOUTHWEST ONTARIO
“Tembo the Elephant” by Derrick Stephan Hudson at Windsor Sculpture Park.
1.
From breathtaking landscapes to a rich maritime history, Lake Erie’s north shore offers unexpected delights. | By Laura Watilo Blake
WINDSOR SCULPTURE PARK
This free open-air gallery features more than 30 works of large-scale, public art along a two-mile stretch of the Detroit River near the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor. It takes about 45 minutes to see all the sculptures and flower gardens. Tack on a visit to the Art WindsorEssex gallery (artwindsoressex.ca) gallery for more impressive works of art. visitwindsoressex.com
2. SANDHILL PARK
Towering 350 feet above Lake Erie, the massive sand dune in Port Burwell is a rewarding challenge to climb, with sweeping vistas of the lake and surrounding countryside as the prize. Formed by glacial deposits and shaped by wind and water, this natural wonder sits within a privately owned campground run by the Alton family, who have been the stewards of the land since 1854. The park will open its first log cabin this fall for overnight guests who aren’t campers or RVers. Otherwise, a day-use pass is $12. sandhillpark.com
3.
PELEE ISLAND
Just a 90-minute ferry ride from Leamington away, Pelee Island charms visitors with its relaxed, scenic spirit. Rent a bike or golf cart and buzz past quirky landmarks like the famous
Shoe Tree and the carefully stacked Stoneman sculpted by Pete Letkeman. Creativity runs deep within the artistic community that derives inspiration from the natural beauty of the island. Stop at Pelee Art Works to pick up an original work of art to take back to the mainland. pelee.org
4. POINT PELEE NATIONAL PARK
The last sliver of mainland Canada disappears under the waves of Lake Erie at Point Pelee National Park in Leamington. The park features stunning wild marshes and a dense Carolinian forest that comes alive with the singsong of migrating birds in spring and fall. In summer, walk the floating marsh boardwalk or kayak through the lily-filled wetlands to get up close and personal with nature and the wildlife within. parks.canada.ca
5.
LONG
POINT BIOSPHERE RESERVE
Sometimes called Canada’s Amazon for its incredible biodiversity, this UNESCO site covers nearly 50 square miles and teems with wildlife living within the park’s lush wetlands, tallgrass prairies, ancient forests and rolling dune habitats. The Marshview Patio and glamping tents at Long Point Eco-Adventures (lpfun. ca) offer unparalleled views overlooking the
Turkey Point Marsh. A visit to Point Provincial Park (ontarioparks.ca), offers swimming and camp sites among the dunes. longpointbiosphere.com
6. PORT STANLEY
For generations, visitors have been captivated by this harbor town, known for its boutiques and waterfront dining. Relax at the Blue Flag-certified Main Beach, then enjoy a frosty orangeade from Mackie’s — an iconic treat. Cap off your day with a Legends of Lake Erie sunset cruise (legends-of-lake-erie. square.site) aboard a 26-foot yacht. elgintourism.ca
7. PORT DOVER
Palm trees swaying in the breeze — an unexpected sight for Lake Erie — are just one of the delights afforded by this quaint beach town. The beach is the town’s main attraction, with nearby shops and take-away eateries catering to sunbathers and swimmers ambling by on Walker Street. ontariossouthwest.com
8. WELLAND CANAL
A vital waterway that allows cargo ships and other seafaring vessels to bypass Niagara Falls, the Welland Canal spans 27 miles and features a series of eight locks. At Lock 3, visitors can peruse the exhibits at the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre (stcatharines.ca) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily for a suggested donation of $5. Catch a ship passing through Lock 3, by looking at the ship-locking schedule (seaway-greatlakes. com/vessel-transit) managed by the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway Corp. niagarawellandcanal.com
9. OLD FORT ERIE
The first British fort constructed in what is now Ontario, Old Fort Erie protected trade routes between the U.S. and Canada. The fort standing today is a reconstruction based on its appearance during the War of 1812, when it was heavily damaged during the Siege of 1814. The battle is brought to life each August with costumed reenactors and musket-firing demonstrations. niagaraparks.com
10. NIAGARA FALLS
Just downstream from Old Fort Erie along the Niagara Parkway, millions of gallons of thundering water pour over a cliff into the misty gorge below. Evening illuminations light up the falls in a magical rainbow glow. niagarafalls.ca
More to Explore
ISLAND
Getaways
By Rachel Hagenbaugh
NATURE ENTHUSIASTS
Kelleys Island beckons with its rugged beauty and opportunities for exploration. The glacial grooves are a geological wonder, while the North Shore Loop Hiking Trail descends into an old quarry, providing a unique vantage point looking up at the grooves.
Middle Bass Island is also a haven for nature lovers, particularly the Kuehnle Wildlife Area and the East Point Nature Preserve,
which features a trail leading directly to the water’s edge.
Even Ohio’s smallest and most developed island, Put-in-Bay, offers quiet natural areas. Cooper’s Woods is located behind the baseball diamond, while the Duff Woods Preserve, accessible from Mitchell and Put-in-Bay roads, provides a long, looped forest path ideal for birdwatching. For shoreline fishing and walking, Scheeff East Point Nature Preserve is a must.
Meanwhile, Kayak the Bay offers rentals so you can paddle to destinations like Gibraltar Island and Massie Cliffside Preserve.
“You can find whatever it is that you’re into at each place,” says Jill Bauer, public relations manager for Shores and Islands Ohio. “Take the time to explore because you’d never realize how close these things are that make you feel a world away.”
FRENZY FOR FOODIES
Put-in-Bay is home to over 30 dining destinations. The Boardwalk and The Keys are popular for waterfront dining and lobster bisque. Mojito Bay offers swings instead of bar stools, and Goat Soup & Whiskey has a charming biergarten. For a more intimate experience, visit The Red Moon, a speakeasy within the Park Hotel.
“What I find interesting about the foodie scene, particularly at Put-in-Bay, is that there’s literally everything, which you wouldn’t expect for such a small island,” Bauer says. “Everything is unique to this area — it’s all local.”
On Kelleys Island, The Village Pump is a beloved institution, known for its Brandy Alexanders. Kelleys Island Wine Co. provides a delightful setting to grab a pizza and sample
Kelleys Island State Park
local wines. If you’re in the mood for Mexican, head next door to KI Cantina for margaritas and tacos. If it’s a lake view you’re after, you can’t beat West Bay Inn. A highly anticipated new addition is the Villa Eatery and Bar, boasting a menu of finer fare, including oys ters, mahi mahi wraps and steak.
Middle Bass Island is also getting in on the action. Prohibition delights patrons with another island speakeasy experience, while Island Grind is the go-to spot for coffee. George’s Bar has a waterfront patio, and J.F. Walleyes is renowned for its walleye bites. Meanwhile, locals love the pizza at Middle Bass Island General Store, which has a full restaurant and bar.
Perry’s Cave Family Fun Center is a hub of excitement complete with a butterfly house, crystal cave, rock wall and giant maze. All ages will appreciate a trip to Kimberly’s Carousel, built in 1917, to ride on the original wooden horses and Pete the Perch.
KID-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES
Put-in-Bay is a treasure trove of family fun. The Aquatic Visitors Center, reopened after two years of renovations, offers a free look at Lake Erie’s ecology and marine life, with hands-on fishing for children 16 and under. Similarly, Lake Erie Islands Nature and Wildlife Center focuses on conservation and education, with new
Kelleys Island offers mini-golf, gemstone mining and plenty of ice cream shops. When it’s time to cool off, visit Kelleys Island State Park. The beach is known for its shallow, calm waters, making it ideal for families with young children.
HISTORY BUFFS
On Put-in-Bay, you can’t miss the towering Perry’s Victory and International Peace
Memorial and its observation deck. Beyond the monument, the lobby of the Park Hotel gives visitors a glimpse into the island’s rich history with Victorian-era antiques. Perry’s Cave Family Fun Center also has a free Antique Car Museum, home to the island’s oldest automobile and other vintage vehicles.
On Middle Bass Island, the Lonz Mansion has been transformed, with the first floor serving as a museum showcasing what the mansion looked like when the Lonz family resided there, while the second floor can be rented by families or groups of up to eight people.
STAY THE NIGHT: All three islands’ state parks offer campgrounds, ranging from rustic tent sites to full-service RV and trailer spots, with some right on the shoreline.
Indoor Adventures: Fun for the Whole Family
When the sun gets too hot, head indoors for a day of excitement at Lake Erie Arms! Our state-ofthe-art indoor shooting ranges offer a safe and thrilling experience for shooters of all skill levels. Whether in the 25-yard, 100-yard, or the indoor TopShot Clay House, there’s something for everyone in your group. No equipment? No problem! Rentals are available on-site.
Sip & Savor: Cool Cocktails & Savory Bites
With our expert mixologists, every sip is a celebration! Featuring a crafted menu of signature cocktails and a full kitchen serving eccentric culinary creations, take your taste buds on a culinary adventure and elevate your summer dining experience with different specials every day! READY TO PLAN YOUR
South Bass Island State Park Camp Grounds
The Keys at Put-in-Bay
More to Explore
Summer Summer
National Comedy Center, Jamestown, N.Y.
Chautauqua County boasts its namesake lake, but also the venerable Chautauqua Institution, storied lighthouses, the National Comedy Center and more. Farther west in Ohio, you’ll find Common Ground, which offers 2to 3-hour guided treetop zipline tours, both during the day and at twilight.
It’s summer — and now’s the time to explore new waters and let your spirit soar.
Catawba Island Township,
Commond Ground, Oberlin, Ohio
Inside the Maritime Museum of Sandusky
150 Years of Lyman Boats
Tıdes Tradition OF
Celebrate the stories, craftsmanship and connections that make boating a cherished way of life across generations.
On the Water Ohio Readers, DEAR
Welcome to this edition of OMTA’s On the Water Ohio. We’re glad you’re here, and we are excited to share some stories that speak to the heart of what makes boating so meaningful in our region.
This issue takes you inside the Maritime Museum of Sandusky, where local history and lake life come together in a way that’s both educational and inspiring. It’s a place where stories are preserved and shared, connecting us to the generations who came before.
We’re also celebrating an incredible milestone — 150 years of Lyman Boats. Built by hand, passed down through families and loved by so many, Lyman boats are more than just beautiful vessels; they’re a symbol of the connection between people and the water.
In “Passing the Passion,” we meet families who’ve made boating a tradition. It’s about more than time on the water — it’s the early mornings, the quiet moments and the laughs shared across generations.
And in “Anchoring a Legacy” we highlight the folks who have turned their love for boating into family-run businesses. Their stories are about hard work, legacy and the pride that comes from doing what you love, together, across generations.
Thanks for picking up this issue. We hope it reminds you why boating is more than just a weekend activity — it’s a lifestyle that brings people together.
All the Best, Michelle Burke
MICHELLE BURKE President of the Ohio Marine Trades Association
Cedar Point Marina • Castaway Bay Marina • Sawmill Creek Marina
When you dock at a Cedar Point Marina, you will not only be at one of the finest marinas on Lake Erie, but also close to the fun and excitement of Cedar Point — A Place Like No Other®.
• Two Cedar Point Gold Pases including the All Park Passport
— unlimited season-long access to Cedar Point, Cedar Point Shores, Kings Island and Legacy Cedar Fair and Six Flags parks
• Exclusive perks including Early Entry to Cedar Point plus discounts on food, merchandise and more
• Complimentary parking and Cedar Point peninsula shuttle service
• Access to essential amenities: including multiple restaurants & bars, convenience store, security, air-conditioned restrooms and showers, pool and spa, cable TV and much more
Visit cedarpoint.com/marinas, email marinainfo@cedarpoint.com, or call 419.627.2334 for details.
CRUISE through HISTORY
The Maritime Museum of Sandusky gives visitors a chance to get up close and personal with local maritime history.
Stories by Ruth Corradi Beach
BEGINNING IN SUMMER 2026, visitors to the Maritime Museum of Sandusky will be able to live history while learning about it by cruising on a fully restored,1939, 24-foot Lyman boat. The Gull was owned by Oscar Lay, who was vice president of Lay Bros. Fisheries, one of the first freshwater fisheries in the area and one of the largest inland freshwater fisheries at the time. The boat is being restored at Classic Marine in Vickery by Dwight Davis and Isaac Zimmerman.
“The Gull is really special, because it takes these two stories of Oscar Lay Bros. Fisheries and Lyman and puts them together in one boat,” says museum Executive Director Molly Sampson.
While the Maritime Museum displays focus on all aspects of local maritime history (including a cannonball from the War of 1812 found at Sandusky Bay), Lyman boats are very important to the museum, just as they are to the Sandusky area. In 1928, Lyman Boat Works (founded in 1875) moved its shop from Cleveland to Sandusky, where it remained until it closed.
Once the Gull is fully restored (with modern safety updates), museum visitors will be able to include a cruise in their visit. “People will
Boat
be touring on a historic boat that was built in Sandusky and owned by a prominent member of the Sandusky maritime business community, so they will be living history while enjoying the water and learning about history as we give the tour information,” says Sampson.
The two- to three-hour cruises will be memorable for many reasons, from the historical aspect to the beauty of the trip, Sampson notes. “We can look at Cedar Point and Johnson’s Island, and we can go across the Sandusky waterfront and look at where Lay Bros. Fisheries was located,” she says. “We’ll try to get a sunset route that ends at the coal dock. The coal docks at sunset [are] absolutely beautiful to see.”
The Gull is currently under restoration at Classic Marine.
Soul Boats with
Lyman Boats celebrates 150 years of family, craftsmanship and love of
IN 1875, BROTHERS BERNARD LYMAN AND HERMAN LYMAN founded the Lyman Brothers Boat Builders and Lyman Boat Works in Cleveland. Now, 150 years later, Lyman love is still going strong. Lymans were built specifically for the waves of Lake Erie and surrounding lakes, and the wooden boats’ impact on boating culture, especially locally, is considerable.
There are many Lymans still in use today, some having been passed down through generations and restored. Other families may acquire their Lymans from a reseller, often accompanied by an oral history of the family who owned it before them. In fact, so beloved are Lyman Boats that finally, new Lymans are again being made — one at a time, by hand, just the way Bernard and Herman intended.
PRESERVING HISTORY
Pat Dietrich of Sandusky Bay Marine Association grew up around the boats he now repairs and restores. Dietrich’s father owned Vacation Land Marina (now Venetian Marina) in Sandusky, just down the street from Lyman Boat Works. While the Dietrich’s marina did not sell Lymans (they were too close to the factory to be given a dealership, Pat explains), Pat and his dad did haul boats for the company.
“I remember getting boats loaded on the trailer,” he says. “I made a lot of trips to New York and Connecticut and out on Long Island, up in that area, delivering boats.”
In addition to hauling them, Pat was surrounded by Lymans growing up, he recalls. “Having the marina, we had a lot of customers who had Lyman boats and would dock them at the marina, but that’s all I knew about them. I didn’t know the construction or anything like that.”
That would change in 1980 when, fresh out of high school, Dietrich stopped by to visit thenowner of Don Forrest Inc., Don Forrest, who was restoring Lymans in a space he rented from Pat’s father. “I said, ‘Do you need help?’ and he said, ‘Well, as a matter of fact, I do.’ So, 45 years later, here I am.”
Dietrich worked for Forrest for 14 years before taking over the business, where he estimates that
99% of the work he does is on Lyman Boats. His customers come from as far away as Texas.
Dietrich notes that the legacy of Lymans is carried on in his business through some of the customers he serves. “I’ve got customers that I’ve had for years — I mean even going back to when Don had the business when I was working for him,” he says.
When asked why Lymans have maintained their popularity for a century and a half, Dietrich explains, “I always say they’re built on Lake Erie for Lake Erie, and nothing rides like a Lyman. But that’s not the whole reason — it’s the design. The boats just have great lines and the lapstrake construction is a part of that. They’re just unique boats. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of them that didn’t survive, but there’s a lot of them that were ready for the boneyard that we brought back.”
Deitrich uses tools like the ones at the original factory. “If we take planks out, that [plank] is my pattern to make the new planks off of. You can’t just pick one up off the shelf,”he says.
A man who grew up on a marina and is now a sought-after Lyman repairman, Dietrich muses, “I’ve got Lake Erie running in my veins, so it seems only fitting that I’m working on Lymans.”
CONTINUING THE LEGACY
Boaters who can’t get their hands on an original Lyman now have a chance to own an official Lyman made using original blueprints
“We’re just trying to build a boat that people will be proud to own and have a lot of fun with and really spend high quality time on the water with their families and their loved ones.” — Nate Sublett
“I’ve got Lake Erie running in my veins, so it seems only fitting that I’m working on Lymans.” — Pat Dietrich
the fun that we had on that boat. It’s something that I wanted to continue,” he says.
In addition to the skilled craftsmen who were already on hand, Sublett hired Kurt Cerny, a marine architect who grew up in North Olmsted and is now based in Annapolis, Maryland. “Kurt came here, and we went down to [see] Doc Lyman’s (Tom Koroknay’s) amazing collection of drawings from the Lyman factory that he rescued when the factory closed down,” says Sublett.
“I’m a little cabinet-builder that always thought that boat building was the pinnacle of my craft,” he summarizes. “I like to call it a forever boat, but I know things don’t last forever. We’re just trying to build a boat that people will be proud to own and have a lot of fun with and really spend high quality time on the water with their families and their loved ones. That’s the goal.”
and updated to meet current boating regulations. Nate Sublett founded Chippewa Boatworks during the COVID pandemic, when his company needed to pivot, he explains.
“My company, Benchmark, has been around for many years,” Sublett says. “We design and build exhibits for museums and trade shows and also high-end interiors. When COVID hit, museums closed up and shows stopped. I had a crew of guys here who are highly skilled craftsman, and me being a totally committed boat guy and a lover of wooden boats decided, ‘Well, let’s put these guys to work building a few boats.’”
Sublett now has two businesses: Benchmark and Chippewa Boatworks. “The reason for that is we’re right close to Chippewa Lake where all the boats get their first sea trials in.”
Sublett became a “totally committed boat guy” thanks to his wife Susan’s grandfather, Bill Reese. Nate and Susan were middle school sweethearts, and he joined her family at Pelee Island on Bill’s Lyman beginning in 1968. By the time Sublett was 30 and he and Sue had three kids, Bill’s Lyman was so well-loved and frequently used that “it became a flowerpot in front of our cottage,” Sublett shares. The family had other boats after that, but “the Lyman had always stuck in my mind. I always loved the way it looked and
The team settled on a drawing for a 1957,16-and-a-half-foot Lyman as the inspiration for the boat. “Kurt did a fantastic job of redesigning the hull so it has all the handling features that we were looking to get, including the legendary great handling for short chops of Lake Erie that Lyman was famous for. But [the newly built ones] handle even better, and the boats meet all the current Coast Guard standards for small boats,” Sublett says.
Chippewa Boatworks has made five Lymans in the last two years, and Sublett hopes to ramp up that number to two boats per month. Cerny, the architect, is updating some old plans for a 23-foot version. Boats are made to order, Sublett notes.
“We offer a list of options that they can choose from. The hull is what it is, but we can fit out the interior as a runabout or as a center console or as a tender, and then all the other things that go along with it; the electronics, a depth sounder GPS on it, 50 horsepower or 70 horsepower outboard motor — all the things that people would want to make it their personal boat. Our customers are involved in the process from the beginning to end, and they get the boat that they really want, with all the craftsmanship the Lyman has, but taking advantage of the new technology and new materials that we can put to use.”
The Lyman community, while a little hesitant at first, has really embraced these brand-new, classic Lymans as the real deal, says Sublett, and he couldn’t be happier about it.
CELEBRATE LYMAN BOATS
Want to celebrate the 150th birthday of Lyman Boat Works? There are lots of options. The sesquicentennial kicked off with a 10,000-square-foot Lyman Museum display at January’s Progressive Cleveland Boat Show. If you missed that, no worries — there’s more to come.
“Going forward throughout the year, many antique boat shows, actually throughout the country, will be celebrating Lyman and the 150th,” says Michelle Burke, president of the Ohio Marine Trades Association (OMTA).
The Antique Boat Museum in Thousand Islands, New York, will spotlight Lyman Boat Works as part of its 61st annual Antique Boat Show and Auction (Aug. 1-3).
The Lakeside Wooden Boat Show and the Maritime Museum of Sandusky will also have special displays.
Show your Lyman Love with a graphic tee that commemorates Lyman through the ages. Clothing and accessory company Lyman Life and Cleveland’s GV Art + Design teamed up to create four terrific styles you can wear for years to come (available at lymanlife.com).
“It’s awesome to get out and go boating with your kids, whether it’s waterskiing or cruising or just going from restaurant to restaurant.” — Jim Armington
Armington got his first boat when he was young, he says. “When I was probably about 7 years old [my dad] got me a little 14-foot aluminum boat with a 9.9 motor on it. I’d head out in Lemon Bay, south of Sarasota, in the mornings and just spend the day out tooling around the bay in my little boat. I thought it was pretty cool he let me do that on my own.”
If 7 years old sounds young for solo boating, Jim Sr. agreed. “I found out later on in life that about 10 minutes after I left, he (Jim Sr.) would head out on his boat and follow me around,” Jim Jr. says with a laugh.
It’s important to Armington that he was able to share his love of boating with his own children and now, his grandchildren. “I was fortunate enough when my kids came along to do a lot of boating, both up here and down south,” he says.
Armington is still boating with his son, James III.
“It’s awesome to get out and go boating with your kids, whether it’s waterskiing or cruising or just going from restaurant to restaurant,” Armington says. “I really have always enjoyed my time on the water with my grandfather, my father and my kids, and now my grandkids as well.”
PASSING the PASSION
For many families, boating is a beloved tradition that brings generations together on the water.
ASK A BOAT OWNER THE BEST THING ABOUT HAVING A BOAT and they’re likely to respond that it’s a terrific family activity. Jim Armington of Buckeye Sports Center notes that a big reason boat sales skyrocketed during COVID is that the sport is so family friendly.
“[Boating is] a great way to keep the family together and spend time together. It boomed so much during COVID because families realized that it gives them a way to be with just their family, a little bit isolated from the rest of the world, and enjoy their time together.”
Armington’s boating history began with his own family. “It started with my grandfather [Stuart] and going out on his boat when I was little, mostly down in Florida. Then my father [Jim Sr.] got a place down there and had a boat when I was very little still, and we would go out boating with him.”
Unlike Jim Armington’s experience, Lara Wilken was introduced to boating by her community rather than her immediate family.
“What I mean by that is we live on the Sandusky Bay and I was a kid who spent a lot of time fishing with the boys,” she recalls. Wilken grew up to marry one of those boys, Jake, whom she met in junior high. “We would go to Bay View and fish off the railroad tracks,” she recalls.
On her second date with Jake (when they were adults), the pair went to Deep Water Marina. It was there that a lifetime of family boating took hold.
“His grandpa was standing on the deck [of his Lyman], just tinkering around,” Wilken remembers. “To this day, we still say that was one of our absolute best dates.”
It was also the moment that a treasured memory was created for Lara. “The very first time I saw Jake at that steering wheel was on our second date. I was sitting in the back of the boat and he was standing (he always stands in the Lyman) and driving.”
This tableau would be repeated over the years, with important changes. “I have this whole imagery in my mind of seeing him standing there, from our second date to watching him throughout all of these years stand there with our children by his side,” Wilken says.
Those children, daughter Delilah and son Lyman (yes, named after the boat!), have been boating their entire lives.
Delilah got her boating license before she got her driver’s license, Wilken notes, and Lyman got his first boat when he was a year old. “We had his birthday party at the Maritime Museum of Sandusky,” she remembers. “I didn’t even
“I have this whole imagery in my mind of seeing Jake standing there, from our second date to watching him throughout all of these years stand there with our children by his side.”
— Lara Wilken
know. Jake said he had to run out and he’d be back, and he pulled up with a 13-foot Lyman for Lyman’s birthday.”
With that comes responsibility to make sure the kids understand boating safety. “Jake always takes the time, whenever we’re out there, to
“Jake and I both have a fascination with water, and we just really love to be on it. We both have very busy lives, and it’s something that really calms us.”
— Lara Wilken
really educate the kids on the safety of boating and to really promote it.”
Jake Wilken grew up in Sandusky as the fifth generation to run the family’s heating and air conditioning company.
In addition to that work, his grandpa Carl worked at Lyman Boat Works for a time. This solidified Lymans as the boat of choice for the family.
For Carl Wilken, Lymans were one of the joys of his lifetime. “One of the very last times Jake spent with him was spent fishing on the boat,” Lara shares. “Jake and his father built a lift for his wheelchair so they could put straps under [the wheelchair] and then lift him onto the boat.”
The Wilken family also includes extended family in Michigan, and the whole group, including cousins, aunts and uncles, gets together to go boating.
When asked what, specifically, it is about boating that has so captured the entire family, Lara Wilken says that the reasons are many.
“It’s kind of a blend of things,” she says. “Jake and I both have a fascination with water, and we just really love to be on it. We both have very busy lives, and it’s something that really calms us. In addition to that, there’s this nostalgic connection, specifically between him and I, because of the fact that we grew up together fishing on the Sandusky Bay and on Lake Erie. It’s all come full circle. It’s just really a lifetime legacy of family, friendship and love.”
YOU CAN START THE TRADITION
If you don’t have a family history of boating, you can be the one to ignite the spark.
“There are boat rental companies where you could rent a boat,” says OMTA President Michelle Burke.
“There are clubs like Freedom Boat Club. You could become a member and try out boating [by reserving a boat to use for a limited time] and see how much you use it before making the investment of buying a boat.”
Experience
If you’ve never been on a boat before, charter one from a boat dealer or fishing charter, captain included. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources offers boating classes, as does the United States Power Squadron. And don’t stress about the costs just yet.
“I thought you had to be rich to have a boat [before I got one]. You don’t,” notes Burke. “You can get into boating at any price point. I thought you had to have a big super yacht. You don’t. There’s Lake Erie, but there are also many inland lakes throughout the state of Ohio that people enjoy. The best thing you can do is get a friend who has a boat,” Burke laughs.
FREEDOM BOAT CLUB
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
UNITED STATES POWER SQUADRON
“That’s why we have stayed in the business of selling boats — because we know the positive effect it can have on a person’s life and their family.”
— Jim Armington
ANCHORING A LEGACY
Buckeye Sports Center and Clemons Boats have preserved their business legacies for generations, nurturing a love for boating and family connections.
MANY FAMILIES HAVE A LEGACY OF BOATING TOGETHER, so it only stands to reason that selling boats might be a family affair, too. Indeed, there are two noteworthy boat sellers in Ohio that are longtime family-run businesses: Buckeye Sports Center in Huron and Peninsula and Clemons Boats in Sandusky. At these businesses, Jim Armington and Jason Clemons, both descendants of boat sellers, are now serving descendants of customers their forefathers sold to. For both, their family legacies of selling boats helps other families start traditions of their own.
BUCKEYE SPORTS CENTER
Jim Armington is now vice president of Buckeye Sports Center. His son, James III (who goes by Bob), is the third generation of Armington men to be president of the company, which was founded by James Armington Sr. (Jim’s father) in the mid 1950s. In 1960, James Sr. built the store that still stands today.
In 1976, Jim Jr. took over for his dad, and at that time, the family decided to narrow the focus from sporting and hunting goods and focus exclusively on boats and snow sports equipment, two items that require specialized knowledge to sell and to service.
“Both [Bob and I], and my father, too — our two greatest passions are boating and snow skiing,” Jim says. “We wanted to stay in that and believed that we could not only have fun at it but make a living at it and help other people and their families get involved in it.”
The family now operates two Buckeye Sports Center locations in Ohio, as well as Marine Center of Indiana. When asked why the Armington family has stayed in the business of boating for three generations, Jim responds, “The love for boating came first. As a result, that’s why we have stayed in the business of selling boats — because we know the positive effect it can have on a person’s life and their family.”
Buckeye Sports Center: 4610 State Road, Peninsula 44264, 330-929-3366; 309 Lake Erie Parkway, Huron 44839, 419-500-9499, buckeyesportscenter.com
CLEMONS BOATS
Jason Clemons is the fourth generation of boat sellers in his family. His great-grandfather, Alan, founded Gem Beach Marina on Catawba, the original Lyman Boat dealer in the area. Then, in 1966, Jason’s grandfather opened Clemons Boats. Jason’s father, John, and uncle, Dan, took over as partners. John and Dan have retired, and Jason is now the owner of Clemons Boats.
“There’s something about running a business that has your name on it,” Jason says. “Keeping the family legacy and family name in boating and keeping it going at a high level is 100% my motivation.” He adds, “It’s all for the family aspect. [Not only is] it a family business, but there’s nothing that keeps people together more than being on the water.”
FOUR GENERATIONS OF THE CLEMONS FAMILY HAVE BEEN IN THE BOATING BUSINESS.
Don't Miss
LAKESIDE WOODEN BOAT SHOW
Hotel Lakeside, Lakeside
July 20, noon-4 p.m.
In 22 years, this show has grown from three boats to more than 80 on display on the grounds of Lakeside, Ohio. “We have a unique venue,” explains director of the Lakeside Wooden Boat Show Mame Drackett. “Most boat shows are held [at] a marina so they can use the docks and the parking lot for boats. We use the shaded lawn of the Hotel Lakeside, so we have a gorgeous Victorian hotel in our background.”
The beautiful setting is the ideal place for the Plein Air Art Festival that happens at the same time. Artists are painting at various places around the grounds for several days up to and including the boat show, so you can watch their art taking shape.
The non-juried Wooden Boat Show is free with entry to Lakeside Chautauqua and features live music by Wally and the Beavs. A picnic-style meal is available for purchase.
For more information or to register your wooden boat, visit lakesideohio.com/events
ALL CLASSICS FESTIVAL
Huron Boat Basin, Huron
Aug. 1-3 for participating boat and car owners (free public boat- and car-viewing takes place Aug. 2 beginning at 10 a.m.)
While the festival is hosted by the Lyman Boat Owners Association (LBOA), boats of all types are welcome, says committee chair Katy Burant. “We see a wide variety of makes [including] Chris Crafts and Lymans,” she notes. Each boat displays information including make, model and type of
engine, as well as identifying the owners and the boat’s home port. Upwards of 60 boats and 60 cars will be on display this year.
Saturday is the public day of the festival. Attendees can grab something to eat at one of the food trucks and listen to fan-favorite DJ Cruisin’ Zeake playing classic hits. The Divots will play live acoustic and country rock at the end of the day.
“The history of the cars and the boats gets people talking and sharing information with the younger generations,” Burant says. “It truly is a family event for everyone to enjoy together.”
For more information, visit facebook.com/ AllClassicsFestival
Your dream is just that: yours. Whether it’s having a great big place where the whole family can gather or a cozy weekend retreat on the lake, your dream home should be a perfect reflection of your life and your style. And we can help. After 50 years of building custom homes across the region — including Sandusky — we’ve helped turn thousands of dreams into pinch-me-I-must-be-dreaming homes. Now it ’s your tu rn.
