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 Jeff Dunn I came across old classic wooden motor launch advertised on Ebay. Although in a pretty sorry and dilapidated state my heart was drawn to her. It had always been a pipe dream of mine to own one. Ever since I first saw those old blue open fishing boats anchored off Cap De…
By Domenica Burns member of the Wine Country chapter Back to the garage in Hamburg, once the wood was replaced, the specific dark red paint was coated perfectly inside. This left a clean visual as the wiring followed through the boat in preparation for the lights, gauges, engine, ignition etc. Again everything labelled on paper…
By Domenica Burns member of the Wine Country chapter My dad grew up with an appreciation of wooden boats. This later became a love because it had been associated with influential people such as grandparents, parents, family & friends and full of good memories. As life carried on, opportunity to dabble in restoration came with…
On Saturday, July 20, during a Wine Country ACBS Chapter event on Keuka Lake (Hammondsport, NY), a 1955 Century Coronado exploded on the water. One passenger was treated and released, while the other remains in the hospital with substantial burns on her legs and feet. According to a friend, the accident occurred with the bilge…
By Ray & Ann McDowell members of Penn NE/Harveys Lake chapter Like many enthusiasts my age, my love of wood boats started in childhood during summers in Madison Connecticut. Ann and I have attended the Antique Boat Museum show and auction for many years while staying at my cousin Janice’s lake house near Clayton, NY.…
By Robert Little member of the Northern California/Lake Tahoe chapter Aquarius is a 1962 Besotes. Besotes boats were built in Stockton CA primarily in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Nearly 200 boats were produced,and 44 boats are currently known to exist. Materials used were plywood and fiberglass over Mahogany framing and topped off with mahogany plywood…
On Saturday, June 22, our Hudson River Chapter participated in the first annual Maritime Festival held at the Hudson River Maritime Museum. This event combined our annual boat show with the museum’s third annual Boat Building Challenge, a nationally sanctioned event, and a large mix of activities and vendors. The turnout was estimated at 1,100…
By John Tyler member of Columbia Willamette and Inland Empire chapters. In the early to mid-1950’s the pleasure boating industry was rocked by the introduction of a light weight marine engine producing remarkable power. This engine was based on the 331 cu in Cadillac V8 and produced in racing trim 285hp. which made it the…
By Roger Richman member of the Tidwater chapter My boat is a 1967 Glasspar Seafair Sedan. Glasspar in the 1950’s was among the most widely known makers of fiberglass boats and today there’s an active group of collectors and restorers of these classic small cruisers. You can see from her hull form these are fast…
By Jeff Birtch members of the Niagara Frontier and Adirondack chapters I was first drawn to the legendary design of the Peterborough in the summer of 1976, when friends invited us to an old hunting and fishing club. Their cabin was one of about 25 nestled among the wood-lined shores of a stunning glacier lake…
By Eddie & Helen Rennpferd members of the Glacier Lakes and Blackhawk chapters This classic one-of-a-kind 16-foot ski boat, was custom built in 1960 by Douglas Marine Co. Douglas Marine Co. was in business in the late 1950s and early 60s building custom boats in Milwaukee, WI. A retired GM engineer owned and operated the…
By Alan Hills, NC Coastal and Piedmont Chapter. Blackbeard Sailing Club (BSC) located at Fairfield Harbour in New Bern, NC graciously allowed the NC Coastal & Piedmont Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society to use the facility for a poker run held by the chapter on Saturday June 22nd. This was to reciprocate…