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 Leigh & Rory Hettick members of the Rocky Mountain Classics chapter In the 1960’s I worked summers at an island camp above Lake George in the Adirondacks. Transportation to the island was via a fleet of beautifully maintained 50’s Chris-Craft Holidays. In 1965, the camp was given a new Correct Craft ski boat. Those…
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…
Magie Mae is a 1968 Lyman 26-foot Cruisette. She is owned by Ike and Deb Dilkes. This picture was taken in Waterford, NY after completing the transient of the Cheapeake Bay, C & D Canal, Delaware Bay, coastal Atlantic, Hudson River and starting the Erie Canal. Turn the key and let’s go! This…
By John Ables, ACBS Member I bought the boat back in 1974 when I was 25 years old and living on a lake in the Grand Rapids Michigan area. When I was a child my dad’s company had several of this same model that were available for use and they were kept on Lake Texoma.…
by James Rand, Inland Empire Chapter My childhood in the 50s and early 60s was spent on Long Island sound where we belonged to a yacht club. My father had Chris-Craft cruisers beginning with wooden ones and later fiberglass. I bought my first boat at age 14. I loved fishing, water skiing, and scuba diving.…
Daniel Stober says, “My Thompson was restored and used by my best friend the late Andy Butchard for over 20 years. She is 19-feet and powered by a 90 hp Honda that has been re-badged as an old Johnson. Custom touches have made her the most wonderful user boat. Member of ACBS and Eagle Mountain…
by Dan Dial member of ACBS I first came to be interested in steamboats when I was a teenager in So. California. I had gone to a small beach in Newport Beach and there was a steam launch there on the beach. As I recall, it looked a lot like what is now the Arla…
By John Carapiet, Northern California/Lake Tahoe Chapter Several years ago, I was visiting ACBS member Neal Gapoff’s car collection/workshop and I noticed in the back, on a trailer, a Gar Wood Speedster. The name really got me, Hi Yo Silver and the hook was set. I said to Neal if you ever want to sell…
Andreas Jordahl Rhude owns many Thompson boats. Valhalla is one of them (pictured above). She is a 1957 Thompson 17-foot Sea Lancer with 1957 Johnson RDEL-19 outboards. Andreas Rhude is a member of the Bob Speltz Land-o-Lakes and Glacier Lakes Chapters. Here is a Classic 1962 Dorsett 17-foot Catalina with a 1989 Yamaha 90 hp…
By Bob Schoepe, Penn NE Harveys Lake Chapter My stewardship began unexpectedly in 2018. Her name is August Belle. Oh my! I am the fortunate recipient of previous efforts that I knew nothing about at the time. The pictures you see here were all taken before I came along. She is hull #52535, a 1940…
By David Dickens, North Coast Ohio Chapter As I kid, I had the good fortune of spending the summers at my grandparents lake house on Lake Geneva, WI. I vividly remember going to bed at dusk and hearing my parents head out to the end of the pier as a boat would arrive to pick…
The 1949 Globe Runabout Deluxe is owned by John and Kim Kadimik. She is 14-feet and powered by a Gray Marine Phantom engine. Her name is Wiki-Wiki. John and Kim are members of the Lake Hopatcong, Wine Country, Sunnyland, and Mid-Atlantic Chapters. Twisted is a 1957 17-foot Century converted to a custom hacker…