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 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…
By William Goold member of the Smith Mountain Lake chapter Red Velvet is the name of a 17 foot ChrisCraft Sportsman. This ChrisCraft has lived almost all of its life on the fresh waters of Smith Mountain Lake, in Virginia. The 1956 mahogany and white oak boat has all of its original wood. The second…
by Willard McJilton member of the Chesapeake Bay chapter In 1987, we decided to sell the NOVA. After making the decision and agreeing on a sale, it became apparent that this was a mistake and asked the new owner to bring it back when he was ready to sell. We are the 3rd and 5th…
By Whitey Smale member of the Sunnyland chapter Joe Charles phoned me as I was cruising into Midland to tell me he had a 1929 or 30 26 ft Ditchburn for sale. He said he could meet me at the Midland dock later that afternoon to show me a picture of the boat in the…
by Glenn Feilhauer member of ACBS Our Chris Craft ORA232103V Lancer Inboard, fiberglass hull designed by Jim Wynne, was built in Cortland, New York, the year was 1973. We found this particular Lancer as we were passing through Celoron, New York in October of 2011. We were on our way back from New Jersey to…
by Jim Gould member of the Finger Lakes chapter I had always wanted a Chris-Craft so when I retired in 1995, it seemed a perfect time. My search ended when I found Boyd Mefferd (Boyd’s Boats, Canton CT) and an “easy project” 1955 20ft. Chris-Craft Continental. A research visit to the Mariner’s Museum in Newport…
by Skip Bliss member of the Blackhawk chapter Lake Geneva is the second largest Inland Lake in Wisconsin, and has long been recognized as a mecca for Sailing and Motor Boating enthusiasts. At roughly 5,000 spring fed acres and 160 feet deep it attracts both summer tourists and year round residents. I have spent my…
by G. Douglas Ball member of the Northern California/Lake Tahoe chapter When I was a young boy my father was stationed in Japan as part of his Air Force duties. While there he and my mother commissioned a 24′ wooden cabin cruiser to be built at a boat yard in Tokyo. We had many hours…
by Pat Penhallegon member of the Blackhawk & Bluegrass chapters In the summer of 1966, my older brother Bill, who was home between his sophomore and junior year of college, answered the newspaper ad for this 20′, 1942 Chris Craft Custom Runabout. He and his best friend each chipped in $250 and bought it. The…
by Carolynn Wesp member of the Chautauqua Lake Twin Tier and North Coast Ohio chapters My husband Dave has been a boat lover all his life and began boating on Chautauqua Lake in a 13′ Boston Whaler when he was just 10 years old. His love of boats continued at the Chautauqua Lake Marina where…