LAKE ST. JOHN— Boat themes at this year’s flotilla ranged from Paris Hilton behind bars to pirate ships with fireworks and fighting buccaneers on them.

Many teams poured sweat and some of their soul into their creations. But for those who went a bit overboard with the amount of their soul they invested Rev. Louis Sklar was at the event to redeem them.

“I am holding a special mass on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. so that anyone who may have partied a little can still make it to church,” Sklar said with a chuckle as he watched the boats approaching for their annual blessing.

When each boat cruised past the Steckler family pier Skalr anointed their vessels with holy water and reminded them of his special “flotilla service” on Sunday.

But one of the pirates on the Pirates of Killarney must not have thought the holy water got him quite well enough and he proceeded to eject him self off the plank of his creation into the merky depths of Lake St. John.

The Steckler pier has been the blessing point for boats in the flotilla since anyone on the pier could remember. And, everyone cruises past the pier for their annual cleansing. Even Flotilla king Richard Alwood, queen Donna Maroon, and the grand marshal state Rep. Andy Anders stopped by for their blessing.

Float boats included an almost full sized replica of a paddle boat with smoke stacks, a paddle wheel and even people on the second deck of the creation. But the crowd favorite, at least at the Stecklers’ seemed to be the Paris Hilton boat.

“That thing was great,” Gerrit Steckler said. “It was funny and had to take some time to create.”

The Paris Hilton boat was a construction of bars and a black banner that took two boats to properly demonstrate. Paris Hilton look a likes did anything but pout behind the bars as they passed by.

Everything from Candyland to Christmas-themed boats had been blessed and passed by but by no means were the festivities and fun over for the float builders or crowds.

The boats continued around the lake to collect prizes from certain decorated piers.

“I know no one will party too much not to make it 9:45 mass,” Sklar said. “But just in case I want to reminded everyone of the Flotilla mass (Sunday) night.”