Obsession

By John Adams member of the Michigan chapter It all started in the late 1950’s when growing up on the Clinton River near Mount Clemens, Michigan. A neighbor who had several Chris-Craft Woodies would cruise to Lake St. Clair in a beautiful 18’ Capri; dressed for dinner with his wife and return after dark. I…

The Family Entry

By the Krzyzanowski family members of the Manotick chapter FE-32 is a mid-1970’s Checkmate owned and restored by the Krzyzanowski family of Ottawa, Ontario. The Krzyzanowski’s have been involved in the ACBS for several decades and share an interest in the classic raceboat hobby as well. The FE (Family Entry) class of boat racing was…

Time Out Of Mind

By Kenneth Boeschen member of the Blackhawk chapter I went about the restoration of a Chris-Craft U-22 sportsman in my garage. I did not attempt a historical restoration, I just wanted a wooden boat pretty enough that when people saw it, they would say,” Wow, what a beautiful boat”! After removing all the internal components…

The Trout Boat

By Ted Hall member of the Wine Country chapter My Great Grandfather, George W. Hall built approximately 40+ boats in the 1920’s and 30’s on Keuka Lake, in Branchport, NY. He and his wife, Carrie Campbell operated Campbell’s Beach with cottages for rent and George Hall “trout boats” for each cottage. Campbell’s Beach today is…

Becoming A Reality

by Kenneth Moeri member of the Lake Hopatcong chapter My dream of owning a classic boat became a reality in July 2010. I acquired Hornblower with love in my eye in beautiful Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey from an ACBSLH chapter member. Hornblower is a 1954 20 ‘Chris Craft Special Sportsman had been basically restored to…

My Affair

By Kevin Stephani member of the Wine Country chapter The wood boat bug bit me as a 10-year-old child in 1968 in dad’s 1958 Chris-Craft. Always taking a Monday morning fishing trip on Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey. A memory well cherished. Fast forward to the summer of 1992 while as a newlywed, and vacationing on…

Hathor’s Restoration

By Larry Larkin member of the Blackhawk chapter Hathor is 73’ long, with a 13’ beam and displaces about 60, 000 pounds. Hathor was built in 1898 by the Racine Boat Manufacturing Company in Racine, Wisconsin, for Martin A. Ryerson of Chicago, who was best known as an art collector and philanthropist. The boat was…