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 Pete Sampair, member of the Bob Speltz Land O’ Lakes Chapter Be apart of history and come aboard this exciting trip back in time where your name was determined by your craftsmanship. Known for being a master sailboat maker, J.O. Johnson and the Johnson Boat Works was synonymous with White Bear Lake. You could…
Lou Rauh gathered people who had worked for The Antique Boat Connection (center) for the last 30 years for a celebration of friends and wood boats. The idea of having a central location for buying and selling classic boats occurred to Lou in the 1980s when he was looking for a boat of his own. He turned…
By George Blosser, member of the Smith Mountain Lake Chapter. The SML Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society recently presented two awards to long time chapter member Don Smith. Don’s longtime service to the chapter and Smith Mountain Lake were recognized by Vicki Gardner the Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Director and by…
This picture was taken at the Antique Boat Museum’s Vintage Race Boat Regatta on August 20th, 2016. What makes this interesting is both of these gentleman’s race boats were built over the same period 2013-2016, but worlds apart! Lady Shores by Keith Kipp in Canada and Marguarite by Peter Cavill in Australia. The boats are based…
By Mark Moulton, member of the Water Wonderland Chapter The Mary T. II has been a passion of mine since the age of thirteen. Originally named Amy, I am the third owner of the 89-year old boat. She was built in October 1929, just as the Stock market crashed, and the production of new Hacker…
Plans expansion of lighthouse tours, school field trips, charters, & more KINGSTON, NY. The Hudson River Maritime Museum is pleased to announce the purchase of a 100% solar powered 44 foot tour boat the Solar Sal. Built by the Hudson River Maritime Museum’s restoration crew under the direction of Jim Kricker, this vessel is the…
By Richard Shorney, photos by the Shorney Family This story is about “Little Joe”, a somewhat lost, 10 1/2 foot step plane race boat originally manufactured by the Brooks Boat Company in the United States of America. Little Joe is a vintage step plane originally designed and manufactured as a “kit boat” that one could…
By James Sanders, member of the Michigan chapter. I purchased this boat in 2003 after riding in a similar boat in some very rough water. At that time I owned a 31’ Chris Craft Commander and a few wood Chris’s prior to that. The first summer we used the boat primarily in the Algonac area…
This week’s Tuesday Tour of Vintage Boats features I/O and Outboards from the 2018 ACBS International Boat Show. Best of Show Non-wood and Platinum Award Winner 1965 Larsen All American owned by Amanda and Jon VanderWeele, Grand Rapids, MI. Gold Award Winner 1959 Cruisers, Inc. Commander 300 owned by Jane Larsen, Mequon, WI. Gold Award Winner…
By Ann and Bob Guldemond, members of the Michigan (primary), Bluewater, Toronto, Glacier Lakes, Indiana, and Water Wonderland Chapters. Wet Pet was created in Algonac MI. The story we have heard, it was to be a 1966, but the workers went on strike, so it became a 1967. It is a 48’ Constellation, with three…
By Gary Fesperman, ACBS Secretary and member of the Blue Ridge Chapter. Several members of the Blue Ridge Chapter, the “5200 Bottom Gang,” got together to install the outer bottom planking on two boats in three days last week. The first boat was a 1965 17′ foot Chris Craft Ski Boat owned by Lee Mapp…
By Jeff and Renee Davey, members of the Glacier Lakes chapter. Our Higgins obsession started about 37 years ago while on vacation in northern Wisconsin. We stopped at a local marina and purchased a 1947 19’ Higgins Deluxe Runabout. After sitting in storage for over 30 years, we finally decided to restore her. She is…