Vintage boats, an essential part of living the summer dream. We’ve been thinking about summer a lot in the vintage picks of the week and this post is not going to break the trend.
As a lifelong summer resident on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, I have happy memories of cruising the lake in a red and white fiberglass Custom Craft with fins, similar to this 1962 Custom Craft Manta Ray, available in Grand Rapids, MI for only $500. (It needs some work.) As recently as ten years ago, I spotted our old boat in a vintage boat yard, but lacking the skills to restore and maintain a vintage fiberglass boat, we didn’t buy it back. We do, however still have the extra seat that went between the two front seats.
Vintage fiberglass is not the only vintage boat type in the world, even I am willing to admit there are other awesome vintage boats out there, so here are a few that caught my eye.
1948 Chris-Craft 25′ Sportsman Sedan
Why this is awesome: What a classic, what a beauty. A wood hull Chris-Craft is the thing lake dreams are made of. The restoration of this beauty had to be a work of love and skill combined.
What I would do with this: There would be a natural temptation to parade through a busy area that connects two parts of the lake, the Weirs Channel, just to watch the admiring glances from other boaters.
1914 Fay & Bowen 22′ Torpedo Hull
Why this is awesome: This canvas-topped launch, named Faye, has been places and done things in her over 100 years of life. Her original Fay & Bowen engine was lost at some point, she was transported to Canada to be converted to steam. That didn’t happen, but she was given a Chris-Craft engine in 1987.
How I would use this: This would be the start of a new business venture, ferrying people on scenic cruises.
1970 Montgomery Ward Sea Kind 15
Why this is awesome: This beauty is listed on eBay with the bidding starting at $200. Yes, you read that right, $200. It’s had one owner and the description, which has its whole story, says its museum quality and it has never been in salt water. (Putting a boat in salt water is like putting crystal in the dishwasher. You can do it but there are condition consequences.)
How I would use this: This would be our family boat. It’s a bowrider, it’s got a super stable hull that can deal with rollicking lake traffic and it is minty beautiful vintage.
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3 comments
Loved this unusual post! When we visit friends on Lake Monomonac if we are lucky we get a cooling ride on their little party boat. The skipper will bring us by one particular camp with a small dock and boathouse. If we are lucky we get to see what we believe is a 1950s Chris-Craft. We go very slowly so we can give homage to this elegant quite vintage boat.
Amazing! This brought back memories from my childhood. My favorite photo of my dad is him at the helm of a ski boat out on the lake when I just a toddler.
My husband is in the market for a new boat, Laurie. Think I’ll share your finds with him because we both agree vintage rules! 😉