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 G. James Sammarco member of ACBS The first time I saw it, it was rolling slowly against the dock pilings on Chautauqua Lake, NY. My family vacationed at Chautauqua since 1915 but had never owned a boat. It was love at first sight. It was delivered to my Uncle Charlie on the Fourth of…
By Robert DiNesco, Sunnyland Chapter Bob DeNisco, Jim Wynn and George Peroni were all childhood friends and graduates of Miami Edison high school. After military stints and college each found their way to be involved in the offshore boat racing community in Miami, Florida. The Cigarette was the progeny of Don Aronow’s vision of a…
By Edward Cox, Blackhawk Chapter Our Streblow V Drive “The King” came to us from Indiana in the spring of 2019, just in time for a summer on the water. Measuring 28 feet and weighing in at 8,000 pounds, everyone agreed that he surely would be “The King” of Geneva Lake. Already 20 years old,…
By Mark Handelman, Adirondack Chapter In the spring of 2000, my family decided we needed a ski boat to tow our avid water skiers. While kayaking in Dunham’s Bay on Lake George, New York, I saw the perfect boat for sale … a 1982 Century Coronado in like new condition with only 225 hours on…
By Ken Muscatel, Pacific Northwest Chapter It remains one of the most popular unlimited hydroplanes ever built. To this day, the deck-to-deck duels between “The Pak” and “The Bud” remain legendary. Dave Heerensberger’s Pay’n Pak was as revolutionary in its design and construction techniques as it was popular for the futuristic wing on the back…
By Steve and Wendi Herzog, Niagara Frontier Chapter Our Chris Craft adventure began at the Western New York Boat Show, February 2015. Steve always attends the boat show with his brothers – Mike, the genius mechanic and Bill, the consummate salesman. Only the men are allowed. They take their time, check out all the engines…
By Dallas Cooley, Blue Ridge Chapter Best I can recollect, my love for boats began as a kid hanging my head over the bow of my grandfather’s Lazy Days houseboat on Lake Lanier. Watching the V-hull slice through the water with the roar of twin V-8’s was euphoric. The tradition continued with my father’s houseboats.…
By Jeff Hamilton, North Carolina Coastal & Piedmont Chapter The family history with Lyman Boats began when my Grandfather bought a 13-foot Lyman just after WW2. We used that Lyman (which my sister currently has) and our 1969 18-foot model up at our family cottage on the Upper French River in Ontario Canada. About 10…
By Steven Horwood, ACBS Member Sitting on a 1965 Vance tandem axle trailer and repowered with a Ford 5.0L, MISSing AuTrain is a 1965 Correct Craft Barracuda. I purchased the boat in November of 2010 here in Michigan, after being assured by the previous owner of intact stringers, only to later find out that 70…
By Steve Murphy, Heartland Classics Chapter My wife and I own and maintain a 1971, 31-foot sedan style Chris Craft Commander. It’s powered by twin 383Q’s (formerly 327Q’s) and has a flybridge. We’ve enjoyed Edelweiss for 9 years on Table Rock Lake in Southern MO. After months of searching for the “right” boat, we found…
By Michael Stevens, Columbia Willamette Chapter She’s a Monson which was built in Seattle on Lake Union some time last century. I tried to research the origins of the company, Monson Boat Yard, Inc, owned by Marty Monson from the mid 30’s to 85′ when the company ceased to exist. The boatyard burned down sometime…
By Jun Morris, Bellevue, WA (photo above – Jim (dark hat), Diane, and grandson Eric) Our very good friend James A. Holler of North Tonawanda, NY passed January 17, 2021. He was born March 8, 1928 in Lima, Ohio. Jim’s father was employed by the Indian Lake Boat Company of Lima. Jim had been around…