THE JUDGES

The judges of the Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance come from various walks of life and from all around the United States. They range in age from 30 to 90 and include some of the most knowledgeable and capable individuals in the antique and classic boating community. Some are professional restorers, some are amateur restorers, but, most importantly, all of them have a passion for wooden boats and have been actively involved in the use and presentation of them for years.

Concours tries to align the judges and escorts with their area of expertise, and with so many different boats in the Marque class, the talent is spread across the entire field of boats.

THE POINT SYSTEM

The Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance strives to raise the bar each year, earning its reputation as the most prestigious boat show in North America. The show uses its own 100-point system. Each boat is judged on its own merit and multiple 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place awards can be won in each class. Boats are compared to each other when selecting Perpetual Awards. The collective goal is to reward those who have restored their boats to the authenticity and standard as they appeared when they were shipped from the factory.

The judging process begins long before the exhibitor boats pull in to the docks at Obexer’s Boat Company. Each year the panel of judges review the previous year’s show to confirm what the previous judging teams have learned, what discoveries have been made and, most importantly, work on forming a consensus about what constitutes a fair deduction for a certain flaw or incorrect item. The teams of judges also do extensive research to get to know each boat and get an upfront and personal look at its history. They assemble reams of documentation to substantiate and validate how each boat was built including build sheets, vintage literature, and original photographs.

In addition, Concours has a team of technical advisors comprised of experts who inspect each boat as well as a team of operational checkers to ensure engines, gauges, lights and other accessories are all operational. This information is provided to the judges and is incorporated into the score sheet.

Concours Chief Judge Terry Fiest stresses three things:

1. Judge what is in front of you today – not what it used to be or might be one day.
2. Base your decisions on what you know to be true – not what you think you know. Facts are verifiable, opinions are just that – opinions.
3. This should be fun for all involved! After all, at the end of the day it’s just a “boat show.” One of the best in the country, but still just a boat show.

PERPETUAL TROPHIES

Winning an award at the Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance is the embodiment of fulfilling a dream and receiving recognition which will remain an everlasting benchmark in boating history. In addition to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place “in class” awards, Concours presents its Perpetual Trophies, which are bestowed to the most meticulously-restored, highest-point boats each year. There are now 17 trophies in all, the oldest having been awarded every year since the first Concours in 1973. It is the highly-coveted silver Overall Best of Show, and it is why we say “to the winner goes silver.” One of the newest, first awarded in 2003, is an elegant glass pedestal bowl with wooden base for Best Original Tahoe Boat. All of the Perpetual Trophies are made possible by the generous assistance of endowers, many who have competed and won their own share of precious Concours silver, crystal, and mahogany over the past 50 years of this event.