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 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…
By Darryl Zengler member of the Southern California Chapter I grew up in a bay house in Long Beach, CA. We had a dock in our front yard that moored my father’s sailboat. Years later as an adult living in Pasadena, CA, I yearned to boat and I was thinking about purchasing a small runabout;…
By Don Knauff member of the BSLOL chapter I was looking on the internet for some information about my 1955 Chrysler Imperial and I saw a photo of a 1955 Desoto pulling a boat with large fins that really intrigued me. I knew I absolutely had to have a boat like it to pull with…
By Barry & Diana Hall member of the Blue Ridge chapter Bill and Scott Turner custom built Hanky Panky for my wife and me in the summer of 2017. She is a 1955 model Torpedo 16-foot with several custom features: inlaid wood trim aft quarter, interior fabric seats and back cushions, floor boards, mahogany steering…
All of us at the Niagara Frontier Chapter cordially invite exhibitors to attend the 41st. Buffalo Antique and Classic Boat show held September 7th and 8th at the beautiful Buffalo Launch Club on Grand Island NY. Enjoy a visit to Buffalo and Niagara Falls on your way to the International Show in the 1000 Islands.…
By Walt Stashkiw member of North Coast Ohio Chatper On Saturday, June 22nd, the annual Portage Lakes Boat Show took place on the docks of two restaurants; The Harbor Front Grille and Picks PLX for the 44th time. This show started as a prelude to the 4th of July fireworks on the Portage Lakes and…