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 Ann Reinhart on behalf of Tim Mehrer member of Pacific Northwest chapter The Bellingham, Washington based Schooner Zodiac, designed by William Hand, was built in 1924 in East Boothbay, Maine for the Johnson & Johnson family. 127’ on deck,160’ overall, she spent most of her life as a San Francisco Bay Bar Pilot boat…
Dear ACBS Member, The ACBS Board of Directors held its summer meeting today. During the meeting, the ACBS Board of Directors voted unanimously to cancel this year’s boat show September 18-19 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The health and safety of ACBS members, guests, sponsors, and the public are most important along with the restrictions and…
by Rick Means member of the Pacific Northwest chapter In my younger years I was surrounded by friends who all had a lake place. Whenever the opportunity arose, we would head out to somebody’s cabin to go boating and water ski. This comradery built up my dream that someday I too would have my own…
By Ken & Jeanne Nappi members of Dixieland chapter To start I must say it is quite the privilege to introduce the ACBS to my 84 CC Scorpion 168. Our story with this boat began in the Winter of 2014. My youngest son Jason had befriended an elderly neighbor and from time to time would…
by David Arscott member of the Water Wonderland Chapter Why and How does my Dad, starting in 1948, a 45-year-old full-time employed mechanical engineer at GM ‘Pontiac Division’, married and father of three young children (JAmes 6, PAtrica 14 & DAvid 11) start to build a ‘speedboat’ from ‘scratch’? Having not asked my Dad ‘the…
by Dennis Padden member of the Heartland Classics chapter I grew up in a family that always owned a boat. We spent most summer weekends and vacations at our favorite lake in Oklahoma, Tenkiller Lake. When I was 6 my step dad had an early 60’s mahagony Chris-Craft, he named her “Ski Mist”. This was…
by Raymond Reynolds member of the Lake Hopatcong chapter Photos by Bob Kays I was introduced to wooden boats at an early age. My wife became a boater when she married me. At the time of our marriage I owned a 1942, 17′ Century Sea Maid. I sold it a few years later. It would…
by the Quast Family members of the Blackhawk chapter This boat brings a lot of fond memories to me and my family. Our Lyman is knick-named “Bee Bop”. Don’t ask me how my Dad, Arnie Quast Sr. coined that name, but for my entire life that is the affectionate title of this stately 1964 18’…
by Peter Takvorian member of the Lake Hopatcong chapter Riva wooden speedboats manufactured in Sarnico, Italy from the 1950’s through the 1970’s, are generally considered the pinnacle of design, construction, and elegance. In 1965, Carlo Riva and his designer, Barilini, discussed plans for a fast (45 mph) 18-19 ft boat with room to walk around…
By Dave Matthews member of Finger Lakes chapter Lancea’s documented history goes back to the fourth previous owner, Russ Balmer, who sailed her out of the Port Huron Yacht Club in the 1960s. Before that the history is murky but the last previous owner believed her to be the very same boat that was originally…
By Rick Peebles member of the Rocky Mountain Classics chapter As far back as I can remember we were always going to “the lake”! Lewis & Clark Lake was created when the US Army Corps of Engineers built Gavins Point Dam as part of the Flood Control Act of 1944. Recreation on the lake opened…
By Wright family members of the Michigan and Water Wonderland chapters By Norma Wright member of the Michigan and Water Wonderland chapters Chrissy is a 1948 Chris Craft custom deluxe runabout with the original triple carburetor motor. When she joined the family in 1974, she was covered with fiberglass and painted brown and white. She…