By Robert Greco, Sunnyland Chapter It started with a garage sale. I have been collecting old Johnson outboards for a few years, eventually gathering up the whole 1956 lineup, from 3 to 30 HP, my favorite motors. A friend of mine spotted an old Johnson outboard at a garage sale not far from my house,…
By Rich and Joan Garvin, Michigan chapter My wife Joan and I both learned to water ski behind a mahogany Century and after going to the wooden boat show in Hessel Michigan in 2016, we decided to keep an eye out for a Chris Craft or Century boat. As is usually the case, according to…
By Donald Drexler, Finger Lakes Chapter It all started in early November 1981 when I was driving down the West Lake Road on Conesus Lake in New York. Sitting on a cradle with a for sale sign, was a 17-foot Century Resorter needing a lot of work. There was no question the style was extravagant,…
By Laurence G. Kolk member of the Blue Ridge chapter It was this particular motor launch that master boat builder Bryan favored to replicate; the classic integrity of batten seam construction was his inspiration. But he added new technology on power with a Honda four stroke outboard. Harry’s vision was to explore the limits of…
by G. James Sammarco member of ACBS The first time I saw it, it was rolling slowly against the dock pilings on Chautauqua Lake, NY. My family vacationed at Chautauqua since 1915 but had never owned a boat. It was love at first sight. It was delivered to my Uncle Charlie on the Fourth of…
by Cheryl Ahlcrona member of the Bob Speltz Land-O-Lakes chapter My father, Edgar Ahlcrona, owned Tonka Bay Boat Works in Tonka Bay, Minnesota, from 1947 through 1972. They manufactured Crona Crafts and marketed these runabouts as the new style trend in the mid 50’s. Boating for my father and his brothers (Robert, Richard and Bertil)…