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 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…
By Mike Noland and Cyndi Geist, members of the Rocky Mountain chapter. Our 1939 Chris-Craft 33-foot dual cabin enclosed bridge cruiser was delivered new to Wayzeta, Minnesota and she had spent her life up to that point in that region. I purchased her from a family member in 2002, had a trailer built and off…
1949 23′ Higgins Deluxe Convertible, Owned by Jeff and Renee Davey “It all began when we acquired the boat in 2016 from Pastor Keith Lingwall who had some restoration work done about 8-10 years ago. The boat had been missing the complete windshield for quite some time, maybe 30 or 40 years? After pulling up…
By David Price, member of the Hudson River Chapter. I hope the title of my story proves to be not true but, as of today, it seems entirely appropriate, especially to my wife and friends. My wife Barbara and I joined the Hudson River Chapter of ACBS some 16 years ago after Barbara bought, on…
By Chris and Julie Bullen, members of ACBS. Being an active member of the ACBS sure has its fun built in. You meet the nicest people. As a result we headed down I69 to Algola Indiana eh! Thanks to Jeff & Jan for encouraging Mike & Nancy to join our Blue Water Michigan Adventure last…
By Ken Kelly, member of the Water Wonderland Chapter. The Back Story I first became interested in wooden canoes when I purchased a 1930s built log cabin in 1993. I was looking for a summer place on an all-sports lake with the plan of getting a mahogany runabout soon there after. Already a wooden runabout…
Dear Fellow Boaters: Time to start thinking about the Sunnyland Antique Boat Festival and getting your boats ready for the FIRST show of the 2019 Boating Season. As most of you know, we have suffered the wrath of Hurricane Irma and the City of Tavares is working very diligently to re-build the Marina. A contract…
Best Wishes for a Healthy and Happy New Year!