by Bill Olmsted member of the Wine Country chapter I first got interested in wood boats when I was a teenager in the late 50’s in North Tonawanda, NY. As it happened, we lived next door to a guy who was building a marina on the Niagara River, and I spent as much time there…
by Ronald Lane member of the Pacific Northwest chapter Hacker-Fermann Naval Architects Co. of Detroit Michigan advertised plans for a “New 55-foot Bridge Deck Cruiser” which allowed customers options of equipment and furnishings. On December 11, 1925 Mr. Ivan Kirlin signed a contract with the Defoe Boat and Motor Works Co. of Bay City Michigan…
by Gregory McLean member of the Thousand Islands chapter The Vanquish caught my eye at first glance – as a classic inboard river boat and that was enough to spark my initial interest. My lap-strake Lyman needed work and without a boathouse I thought fiberglass might be a more durable way to go. I had…
by Clark Oltman member of the Sunnyland chapter I have owned this boat a little over 2 years. I was looking for a boat that I could trailer and use, not requiring immediate major work. I had looked on several websites and found that Dave Bortner at Freedom Boat Service had a couple that I…
by Greg Finch member of the Rocky Mountain Classics chapter I grew up in Toronto, so I spent a lot of time in the Muskoka Lakes area of Ontario in the 60’s. I have such great memories of the woodies from those days. Most of which were built right there, with a few Century’s as…
by Ron Yandt member of the Inland Empire chapter I grew up in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho about three blocks from the City Park and beach. I spent a lot of time at the beach swimming and watching wooden taxi boats taking people on rides. Several of the taxis were built by my Uncle Bob and…
by Jon & Kait’s V8s member of the Lake Hopatcong chapter Chris Craft, Grey Marine, Chrysler, Cadillac, Palmer, the options are too many to choose. Pre-war blue, post-war blue, Grey Marine green, Fireball-red, how is one supposed to pick? Asking me to pick my favorite engine is like asking a mother who her favorite child…
by Robert Black member of the Southwest chapter I had never seen an Aristo Craft before I went to a boat show in Mt. Dora, Florida. The boat is made in Atlanta, GA. and most of them have been sold on the east coast. I looked for a year or so to find one in…
by Steve Locke member of the Bay State Classic Boat Club chapter My passion for Cobalt boats all started back when I was a kid, where I spent every Fourth of July on Lake Winnipesaukee with my family. My mother’s cousin Neil owned a camp right on Paugus Bay where we would stay. Every year…
by Mike Yancey member of the Heartland Classics chapter Caravelle Boats began in 1966 and at the time were manufactured in Conway AR by Centark Industries which went out of business in 1982. However, the brand was resurrected, but financial issues resulted in another change in ownership in 2010, moving the company to Americus, GA…
by Ned Smith member of the Dixieland chapter Our 1960 Chris Craft was purchased new in 1960 to my parents. The boat “Belle of Shaley Shores” was named after my sister, Barbara and my mother, Nelle. Their lake house was named “Shaley Shores.” When the parents got tired of the lake house and boat, I…
by Carmen DeLeo member of the Mid-Atlantic chapter While driving home from Avalon New Jersey in the summer 1981 and passing a Marina I spotted a wooden boat. I stopped to take a look and snapped a couple of pictures. The following week I decided to visit the marina during business hours and inquire about…