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 Cal Martell, member of the Glacier Lakes Chapter. It is a 1960 14′ Tomahawk Ski-Mate. I’ve been rebuilding classic fiberglass and wood boats for 32 years. Some to keep, some with the intention of resale. Thirty-two times I’ve told myself, I’ll never rebuild another classic boat and thirty-two times I have lied to myself.…
This week’s Tuesday Tour of Vintage Boats is led by Long Island Chapter members Fanny and Matt Kleisler. After a great deal of searching as an adult for the same boat from his childhood, he ran across one that seemed to speak to him. In 2015, Fanny and Matt purchased a Viking 23. Built in…
By Alexander Watson, member of ACBS. “Some enchanted evening, you will see a stranger. You will see a stranger across a crowded room.” (Rodgers & Hammerstein II. South Pacific. 1949). The evening was February 2001, the stranger was a 1955 Chris-Craft Corsair, and the room was an abandoned dock on Lake Texoma, crowded with boats…
By Jeff Cobb, member of the Bayou Chapter. What an excellent and enjoyable Kickoff Meet and Greet today (2/2/19) at Middendorf’s Restaurant. We had a great crew with both some new faces along with some of the regulars. After lunch we went around the table with members introducing themselves and stating the boats that they…
By Terry Feist, Chairman of the Sunnyland Boat Festival. February 4, 2019 NO MORE DOOM AND GLOOM AND NO MORE CLOUDY SKIES!!!! THE PATH FORWARD IS BLUE SKIES AND WATER DOCKS!!!! Last week the City of Tavares stepped up and solved the Dock issues. They contracted with a company out of Monett, Missouri named EZ…
Today’s Tour of Vintage Boats starts with Skidaddle, a 1962 Correct Craft Compact Skier. She is 16 feet long and pictured here on Mirror Lake in Lakeland, Florida. Photo by Brandon Baker. Skidaddle is owned by Bruce Kester, Past President of the Sunnyland Chapter of ACBS. You will see her at the Sunnyland Boat Festival March 22-24,…
By Greg Lewandowski, member of the Michigan chapter. Photos by Gale Woods, member of the Michigan chapter. What does the Michigan Chapter do when the lakes are frozen and the boats are stored for the winter? Well, our Commodore, Jack Warren (chairman of Boat the Blue fame), puts out the call for volunteers to come…
By Al Olsen, member of the Blue Ridge Chapter. The Blue Ridge Chapter of the ACBS was out in force last weekend. Several members attended the South Carolina Upstate new boat show in Greenville South Carolina. They brought 10 boats including classic glass, and wooden boats ranging from a car top carrier to a 1951…
By Marshall Campbell. Growing up I was introduced to boating at a young age. We lived on a small farm with a pond and had an older boat with a Johnson 9.9. After that came a standup Kawasaki jet ski as well as canoes and rowboats. My parents afforded my brother and I several cruises…
Sea Lyon is a 1929 Sea Lyon 28 ft Triple Cockpit antique boat. She runs on a 6 cylinder Scripps 202 engine. Sea Lyon is owned by Don and Teresa Kehr, members of the Sunnyland Chapter. Will we see Sea Lyon at the Sunnyland Festival at Tavares in March? (picture from ACBS membership files) Swing was ordered…
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…