named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
ACBS Awards Program
Recognizes outstanding contributions to the society and the classic boating community through peer-nominated awards such as the Founders Award, Rover Award, and Chapter of the Year
ACBS Judging Program
Encourages high-quality restoration and preservation of classic boats through a structured judging system with categories for Preserved, Restored, and Resto-Mod boats at local and international events
Chapter Network
Supports over 50 regional chapters across the U.S., Canada, and France that organize local events, cruises, and boat shows to foster community among classic boat owners
activities · 7 groups
What they do
-
Historic Vessel and Equipment Preservation 1 activity
- Facilitating community knowledge sharing and preservationProvides a forum for members to share knowledge, history, and experiences related to historic, antique, and classic boats through educational materials such as articles, workshops, symposiums, how-to videos, and access to the Terbrueggen Photographic Collection of over 22,000 historical boat images.
-
-
Industry-Specific Student Scholarships and Competitions 1 activity
- Funding scholarships for boat building studentsFunds student scholarships in approved boat building programs to preserve classic boating heritage, providing annual contributions of $5,000 or more to six U.S. schools and distributing a seventh scholarship for international students to four U.S. schools that enroll international participants.
-
-
Regional Chapter Network Support 1 activity
- Operating regional and international chaptersOperates local and international chapters across the United States, Canada, Europe, and France—including the Adirondack, Allegheny, Bay State, Northern Europe, and France chapters—to support antique and classic boat enthusiasts and promote preservation efforts regionally and globally.
-
-
Organized Vehicle Show Events 1 activity
- Organizing classic and antique boat eventsOrganizes over 100 annual events across North America, including boat shows, workshops, cruises, social gatherings, and the ACBS International Show, which features antique and classic boat displays, vintage car exhibits, and live entertainment. Specific events include Vintage Boat Week 2026 in Port Huron with river and lake cruises.
-
-
Professional Membership and Association Benefits 1 activity
- Providing member resources and benefitsOffers members access to exclusive resources including a searchable database of members, boats, and engines; instructional videos; membership discounts on insurance, services, and rental cars; and specialty merchandise such as burgees, apparel, coolers, and boating books, including limited edition 50th Anniversary gear in 2025.
-
-
Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Recognizing members and chapters through awardsRecognizes individuals and chapters annually for stewardship, volunteerism, communication, and financial contributions, including peer-nominated stewardship awards during Vintage Boat Week, chapter performance awards since 2010, communication excellence awards starting in 2025, and the Terry Fiest Award for sustained volunteer leadership. Also presents the Hagerty Safety Award for outstanding safety articles and honors major donors with the Major Benefactor Award.
-
-
Uncategorized 2 activities
- Conducting boat judging and awards programsConducts formal boat judging for Historic through Late Classic boats in Preserved, Restored, and Resto-Mod categories, presenting Best of Show and category awards at events, including a dedicated Best of Show Resto-Mod award at the International Show.
- Producing and distributing classic boating publicationsProduces and distributes Rudder magazine and other news coverage through a quarterly publication featuring informational content and color photography, delivered via website, email newsletters, and exclusive member access.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$480K
Contributions & grants$27K6%
Program service revenue$309K64%
Investment income$42K9%
Other revenue$102K
expenses
Total expenses$539K
Program expenses70%
Admin / overhead30%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$188K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.48M
Cash$141K
Investments$1.20M
Liabilities$80K
Net assets$1.40M
Liquid reserves29.9 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -5.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LORA NADOLSKI HANSON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $114K |
board members · 17
- ALICIA BOARDMAN — MEMBER
- BJORN BAKKEN — TREASURER
- DAVE BORTNER — MEMBER
- DON LEUTZ — DIRECTOR AT LARGE
- ED ANDREWS — VICE PRESIDENT
- JIM BARRICK — MEMBER
- JIM FOELLER — MEMBER
- JOHN HEIDERICH — MEMBER
- KATHLEEN CROSS STOUT — MEMBER
- KATHY RHODES — MEMBER
- LINDY ROBINSON — MEMBER
- NEIL SATTERLY — MEMBER
- ROB CASSELL — SECRETARY
- ROB LYONS — PRESIDENT
- RYAN RUSKOWSKI — DIRECTOR AT LARGE
- STEPHANIE RYAN — DIRECTOR AT LARGE
- TIM BUSH — PAST PRESIDENT
relationships · 23
Who they work with
- ACBS Chapters Network — Local chapters organize events and gatherings under the ACBS network.
- ACBS Chapters Network — Local chapters participate in organizing boat shows and may exercise discretion in awarding Resto-Mod class prizes.
- ACBS Headquarters Partner — Processes orders for Ship’s Store items by phone during business hours.
- ACBS International Boat Show Partner — Hosts the Annual Membership Meeting in conjunction with the ACBS International Boat Show.
- BoatUs Partner — Offers members a discount on membership and water towing services through a group code arrangement.
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Port Huron, MI Partner — Provides discounted lodging for ACBS members during Vintage Boat Week 2026 under group code ACB.
- Fairfield Inn, Port Huron, MI Partner — Listed as an additional lodging option for ACBS members attending Vintage Boat Week 2026.
- Finger Lakes Chapter Network — Donated the Broken Gunwale Award, presented in the spirit of fun and good humor during ACBS events.
- Hagerty Classic Marine Insurance Partner — Employer of Ryan Ruskowski, Director at Large, indicating a partnership role in ACBS leadership.
- Hagerty Classic Marine Insurance Partner — Provides members with up to a 10% discount on classic boat insurance through a partnership with Hagerty.
- Hagerty Classic Marine Insurance Partner — Provides the Hagerty Safety Award and supports the recognition of individuals who publish outstanding articles on boating safety.
- Hampton Inn, Port Huron, MI Partner — Listed as an additional lodging option for ACBS members attending Vintage Boat Week 2026.
- Holiday Inn Express, Port Huron, MI Partner — Offers discounted lodging for ACBS members during Vintage Boat Week 2026 under the rate code “ABS Antique Boat Show”.
- Manotick Classic Boat Club Partner — Donated the Mary Herwig Award to honor individuals who contribute broadly at the chapter level to further the Society's objectives.
- Manotick Classic Boat Club Partner — Recognized as a chapter affiliate of The Antique and Classic Boat Society Inc. in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec.
- Michigan Chapter Network — Donated the Founders Award, which recognizes lifetime achievement in furthering the goals of the Society.
- Northern California/Lake Tahoe Chapter Network — Donated the Major Benefactor Award to recognize significant financial contributions to the Society.
- Pay Pal Partner — Processes donations for ACBS scholarship and education funds
- Societe Nautique Bordeaux Partner — Hosts the France Chapter of The Antique and Classic Boat Society Inc., supporting international engagement in antique and classic boating.
- St. Clair Inn, St. Clair, MI Partner — Listed as an additional lodging option for ACBS members attending Vintage Boat Week 2026.
- Sunnyland Chapter Network — Sponsors the Terry Fiest Award to recognize dedication, leadership, and vision of chapter members serving in key boat show roles.
- Toronto Chapter Network — Donated the Rover Award to recognize outstanding effort in organizing on-water events that promote the use of classic boats.
- Vintage Boat Foundation Partner — Partner organization linked through the North Carolina Coastal & Piedmont Chapter website, collaborating on vintage boat preservation.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Authenticity-Based Preservation Incentivesmethodology: authenticity_based_preservationBy using judging standards that reward maintained originality and a 60% original material threshold, the organization promotes the preservation of historic integrity in classic boats because formal recognition systems incentivize owners to retain original construction over full restoration.
- Community-Driven Engagement and Knowledge Sharingmethodology: community_driven_engagementBy connecting classic boat enthusiasts through membership networks, shared events, peer networks, and regional chapters, the organization strengthens engagement and sustains the hobby because peer-facilitated interaction fosters belonging, shared learning, and long-term participation.
- Experiential and Multi-Format Educationmethodology: multi_format_educationBy delivering educational content through diverse formats—including articles, workshops, symposiums, and online videos—the organization teaches preservation skills to members of all ages because varied modalities increase accessibility and engagement across different learning preferences.
- Heritage-Based Experiential Engagementmethodology: heritage_based_engagementBy hosting events in regions where vintage boats were originally used, the organization deepens member connection to the historical context of their craft because place-based experiences reinforce cultural heritage and stewardship motivation.
- Recognition-Based Motivationmethodology: recognition_based_motivationBy recognizing outstanding achievement through an annual awards program, the organization encourages members and chapters to advance preservation standards because public acknowledgment motivates higher performance and commitment to organizational goals.