One thousand one hundred sixty-six. No wait – there are more!
If you have a mahogany boat, you’ve probably been asked, “Is that a Chris Craft?” And no wonder. There are more of those registered with active members of the Antique and Classic Boat Society than any other, then followed by Century, etc. But the number and variety of manufacturers of vintage boats grows in our Directory every year. Active members this year have named 1,166 different makes of boats.
Some of those have only one boat listed, but in order to have the manufactured listed in the Directory, the boat owner must show evidence to headquarters that a “company” did or does exist. Evidence might include a sales brochure, an advertisement which shows more than one model, a dealership’s promotion of the name brand of boats. When one person or a family builds one or two boats and puts the family name on the boat, that really doesn’t count as a manufacturer. The boat may still be listed as antique or classic by its age but the make will be stated as “other” or “home-built.”
As more Late Classic boats (1976 through 1992) are registered, the list is growing. We are looking for more documentation which should be supplied when the boat is registered if the manufacturer is not already in the list. Even then, information about the different models and their specifications is helpful.
Finding that information is not just a need for the newer classics, but also for those that have been lost or ignored for a long time. Please share the information you find. All of that information helps those who are trying to authentically preserve or restore vintage boats.
ACBS members can search for boats in the Members Only Online Directory. That is a good way to find out more about your own boat and to find others with the same interest or needs.
The boat pictured as the headline of this news is a 1957 Fleetform 14′ Commodore. It is powered with a 1957 Johnson Golden Javelin 35 hp outboard. Ken and Bethany Marvel own this interesting classic with the curvy lines. They are members of the Sunnyland Chapter. The boat named Tout Pret was shown at the Sunnyland Boat Festival.
Among other unique boats at Sunnyland were these:
Gorgeous boat!
I have a 1976 Classic. Similar to a Seaswirl or a cuddy cab. I can not find much of anything about it the first 3 of the HIN is CSB. The company Blackwater did not make this boat.
My grandfather built boats for years. 1960 to 1980 ABT Manufacturing out of Fontana Ca.
I would like to find out if anyone still has any of his boats. I have the one my father helped him make for our family ski boat.
What was his name?
Fyi The link to the marquis classes appears to be broken. Getting a ‘forbidden’ message. Don’t you want to let us in? 🙂
Sorry. This page is no longer available from the ACBS website. More information on Marque Clubs can be found at http://www.boatxchg.com.
I am currently working, with my brothers and a member of our club, to bring back to life a 1962 Lone Star (believe it to be a Malibu), but the HIN is missing! Hope to have her ready for our club, Niagara Frontier Chapters annual boat show, September 16-18.
Looking for who made a. Aquarian boats yes that the correct spelling