by Ian Devlin member of the Okanagan chapter I am pleased to share some of my views about owning an historical antique boat and how I was able to learn some of the “secrets” that my old boat reluctantly gave up to allow me to understand what was happening. History lessons have always been one…
by Karl Dietz member of the Southwest chapter I bought this boat last August from a private collector in Traverse City, Michigan to be a little sister to my 1958 Century Coronado. I found her on an online dealer website and after several questions, emails and survey, I made an offer and a deal was…
by Gene Porter member of the Lake Champlain chapter My 1959 23’ Lyman Sleeper started life as a fishing boat on the brackish Elk River at the North end of Chesapeake Bay. The fisherman had installed bait wells in place of the rear seat and had sprayed the decks with automotive undercoating to provide underfoot…
by the Lawrence Family (Bobby& Brandy)members of the Payette Lakes chapter Last summer I called a family meeting with my wife of 20 years and our three boys, ages 13, 11 and 8. The question on the table for consideration? Do we want to stay in the classic boat business? I say “business” because according…
by Kent & Audrey Lewis members of the Sunnyland chapter A few years back we were looking for a small boat for short cruises around our bay in Northwest Florida. We wanted a boat that could carry 4 adults and we liked the lapstrake look that was popular in the 1950s. We began our search…
For those who don’t know Bob Hamilton, understand that he has very high standards of excellence and he commits himself fully to those standards in any role that he takes on. For a number of years, he has not only served as our chapter’s Secretary, but as the Chairman of our well known Boat Festival.…
by Preston Smith member of Northern California/Lake Tahoe chapter In 1998, I rescued this 1956 Chris-Craft, rotting away in a run-down slip in Norfolk, Virginia. She was shipped to California where the next three years she provided a home for hundreds of wasps. Originally, I dreamed I would restore the big Utility himself but quickly…
by Steve Lattmann member of the Sunnyland chapter Many decades ago, I grew up on the South shore of Long Island. My parents were avid boaters and over the years of my childhood they owned a number of different boats. One of those boats was a 17’ 1958 Thompson. It was the same lemon yellow…
by Cheryl Ahlcronoa 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)…
by Warren Olson member of Pacific Northwest chapter The history as I know it started in the fall of 2016. A restorer friend of mine, Rob DaPron from DaPron Marine, called me and said;”I’ve got a boat for you!” Well, I wasn’t in the market for a new boat. But Rob said it would be…
by Richard Stout member of Thousand Islands chapter It’s not an antique or classic. It is FRP with a lot of exterior wood. We ordered Navy Blue from a Seattle broker and it was custom built to our specifications in China. I had previously owned a 1962 Chris-Craft Constellation and loved the layout and functionality…
Karen Birch member of Blackhawk chapter This boat was purchased new in February 1957 by Karen’s late parents, Robert and Maxine Birch, of Griggsville, IL. Her dad became a Chris-Craft dealer in 1956 and Karen has his original franchise certificate. The boat is all original and Karen has the original prop, fenders, hand spot light,…