Browse news articles, stories and media for the the Antique & Classic Boat Society; including photographs and stories related to ACBS International and it’s chapters.
By Bud Stout memeber of ACBS My “Lyman life” started in 1955 when I was 13 years old. We spent our summers at my grandparent’s home on Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. That year, Father ordered a new 15 ft. Lyman outboard with a 25HP Johnson and a red steering wheel. The boat came from “Hoppy”…
By Richard Shorney member of the Sunnyland chapter ’59 Memories is a 1959 Crosby 16’ 7” “Custom” runabout manufactured by Aeromarine in Grabhill, Indiana. This model is called the Fish-n-Ski and its design caters to those who enjoy water skiing and open cockpit fishing. Crosby runabouts were also used for water skiing demonstrations in the…
by Jack Singer Jr. member of the Northern California/Lake Tahoe chapter Stardust is a 1951 Besotes boat built by George and Charlie Besotes in Stockton, CA and is the second one they built. The first one is at the bottom of Lake Tahoe. I learned about Stardust while attending a Besotes boat club event on…
by Rob Bamberg member of the Michigan chatper Sedgwick, is a 1931 Chris-Craft Model 301 18’ Split-Cockpit Runabout. This was the first year for the 301 and the only year that it came with a 6-cylinder Pontiac engine modified by Gray Marine. She is still sporting her original bottom, steering wheel, instrument panel, engine and…
by H. Jay Spiegel member of the Chesapeake Bay chapter In 2005, I decided to look for a wooden boat to enjoy on the Potomac River near my home. Finally I, saw an ad in the July/August 2005 edition of Wooden Boat Magazine for a 1985 24’6″ Zebcraft, Show-Quality Speed Boat. The boat was owned…
Above Photo L-R: Herb, Barbara, Betty & George G. Hall | November 2012 | Photo Credit: Wayne Mooers “In 1976 we set out to buy a classic boat at Sierra Boat Co. Somehow… we ended up buying the whole company.” George G. Hall, December 2012 ACBS NC/LT Chapter Historian Wayne Mooers interviews and presents George…
by Jeff Morgan member of the Sunnyland chapter One day, while pumping gas at a truck stop on Interstate I-95, I looked over and happened to see a very unique boat at the next stall over. So, I walked over to get a closer look as did another gentleman. We both started commenting on how…
By Gwen and Bob Mitchell members of the Michigan chapter The 2014 Mitchell Sea Ray Bow Rider purchased in July of 2014 replaced our 50 year old pristine 1964 Thompson Sea Lancer that had been shown in the 2013 Hessel & Presque Isle Michigan Boat Shows. In our portfolio of boat inventory and the need…
by Denny Trooien member of the Bob Speltz Land-O-Lakes chapter The year was 1982. My wife Sue Ahlcrona and I had a 22’, 1948 Chris-Craft utility that we used on White Bear Lake, Minnesota. We also had a six-month-old son, who was our first child. As a young lawyer I did not have much extra…
By Leeann Wickens member of the Michigan chapter The Nicodemus is a John’s Bay Lobster Picnic Yacht that was built in Maine in 1996. The builder, Peter Kass, specializes in commercial lobster boats and this was one of the first custom pleasure boats he constructed. While in Charlevoix, Michigan for a wedding, we met with…
By Erika Kleckner of the Southern California Chapter. My 1964 Glasspar Seafair Sedan was purchased from my “Grandpa”, Jack Armistead, whom we fondly refer to as Salty. While boating with our friends on the California Delta, Jack invited us aboard his Seafair for a cruise. Little did I know, Jack was looking to sell his…
by Dwain & Ginny Schuette members of the Bob Speltz Land-O-Lakes In September of 2003, while looking for a classic wood boat to purchase, I came across a farmer that had an old boat sitting behind his barn. During our conversation, he asked if I would like to see his boat collection. The next day,…