Every boat holds a story, whether spoken aloud or etched silently in her weathered frame — in the graceful arc of her bow, the softened edges of her stern shaped by time and tide. What follows are glimpses into the rich histories of beloved vessels, shared by the captains who’ve steered them through calm waters and unruly waves alike.
photo by Noah Couser
#6
1946 Chris-Craft Custom 20
Patrick & Lisa Roberts
This 1946 Chris-Craft custom 20 was bought by Lisa and I about 14 years ago. We believe it’s probably the oldest Chris-Craft Custom operating right now. It was the sixth hull off the line of 366 made. The Chris-Craft customs were the first boats manufactured for civilians after their war effort in 1946. It is a family boat, and we enjoy taking rides on Lake Cascade and Lake Payette in Idaho during the summer. Truly looking forward to running it on Whitefish Lake.
AT LAST
1956 Century Resorter
Greg & Mary Batie
I purchased this 1956 Century Resorter for $500 in 1976 when I graduated from college. You could say it was a garage find in West Seattle as she was pretty gray and the upholstery nearly nonexistent. Apparently, the owner trailered the boat from St. Paul, Minnesota and after several tire failures along the way, he left the boat with his brother-in-law.
Since I had always enjoyed wood working and was ready for a project, I decided to take her on. Little did I know it would take me over 40 years to get her back in the water.
I joined the Pacific NW Chapter of ACBS in 2016 just before showing the boat at Mahogany & Merlot. After launching, both bilge pumps ran continuously for 3 hours, and we made sure to plug in a trickle charger that night to prevent draining the battery. Once I learned what I should have done to prevent the bottom from leaking, I started the second restoration in 2018 to install a 5200 bottom and new hull planking. The boat is much more seaworthy now and we renamed her At Last in the hope that she was finally finished.
We are looking forward to making our first trip to Whitefish Woody Weekend this year!
ATOMIC BLONDE
2009 Chris-Craft Woody Speedster
Carl Straub & BB Bernheim
In 1874, Jesse James’ gang robbed a train at Gads Hill, Missouri; Harry Houdini, the magician and escape artist, was born; Levi Strauss began marketing blue jeans with copper rivets at US$13.50 per dozen; and the Sydney General Post Office in Australia opened. Later, barbed wire was invented before Jesse James’ gang returned and decided to take another train, this time in Kansas, just before Christmas.
It was also the year that Chris-Craft began building pleasure boats and, in the ensuing decades, a lot of water has passed under the hulls of this enduring American icon. And one can’t overlook the list of dignitaries who haven’t
recoiled from being seen aboard a ChrisCraft. We acquired our first Chris-Craft Speedster (2005). However Porsche filed a Trademark suit against ChrisCraft so the Speedster name became a Lancer. Our Speedster was fitted with a six cylinder and we wanted more speed. This led us our current boat a 2009 Chris-Craft Woody Heritage Edition, #74 out of a total of 99 built. It was a one owner boat kept in a custom made garage for the boat and trailer in the Delta in California. Best of all it had 100 hours so in 2017 new upgraded. It has continued to serve us well. This Boat is an absolute head turner! With the combination of the sleek looks and the sound of the roaring exhaust, it’s almost guaranteed that every time you’re out on the water you will have people pointing and asking about the Chris-Craft Woody Heritage. It is the Maserati of the waterways! A boat that will never go out of style and can be kept in families for generations.
BANANA BOAT
2024 CLC Expedition Wherry
Home Built
Patrick & Emilia Claytor
Banana Boat is my first foray into boat building. I have always dreamed of restoring a classic boat or building a runabout from plans. This is the first step toward that goal. The project started in the winter of 2020. After working sproatic evenings and weekends, with a few months of hiatus thrown in to attend to life and enjoy summers, Banana Boat was launched in May 2024. She is an Expedition Wherry from Chesapeake Light Craft made from mahogany plywood using stitch and glue technique. At 18 feet with a 3 foot beam she is stable enough for rough waters and large enough to hold weeks worth of camping gear. My future plans are to row-camp around
Flathead Lake and Hungry Horse Reservoir with a big dream of taking her the full length of the Columbia or Missouri Rivers, or both. I am at the finishing stage for my daughter’s 8 foot CLC Wood Duckling kayak which will enable her to tag along on some of my summer adventures.
BEAUTIFUL DAY
1948 Chris-Craft Custom
Ron Stevenson
The 20’ Custom was the first ChrisCraft model created as a “blonde boat”. The blonde mahogany is bleached and the darker mahogany is stained. The “bubble-butt” designed transom is curved top to bottom and side to side. The folding windshield and hardware are also unique.
The hull, number R-20-306, was finished June 14, 1948. Chris-Craft built 366 of this model from 1946 to 1949. Rumor has it that Customs were too expensive to build so they stopped making them.
I bought this particular craft in 2003 as a decrepit gray “pattern boat” out of of a Montana storage yard. It was purchased “as is” with no engine or hardware. Restoration was done in stages as time and money allowed including the installation of a more modern V-8 engine — 100 pounds less, 100 more HP.
BLEW BY YOU
1967 Chris-Craft Cutlass
Steven & Kim Liss
Blew By You is a 1967 Chris-Craft Cutlass 26ft twin engine manufactured in Algonac, Michigan. It is one of 250 of which 50 were twin engine models.
I first became aware of the boat in 2018. John Witcomb had a snow mobile trailer for sale and was all too happy to show the boat to me as well.
In 2020 Ken Gimbel let me know the vessel was for sale. I had to have her. We agreed on a price and she was mine. In September 2020, the boat then called My Mistress, was moved to Glen Dutro’s.
Under the careful tutelage of Terry Deems and Glen with encouragement from Ken and Murray Danzig, renovation
began. There was no interior, sole, seating boards, helm seats, lights, pumps, or starters. Improvements and repairs took 30-40 hours a week for most of the year.
In summer of 2021 we launched and found out the engines and transmissions were junk. Last year, we installed new tuned engines. These two engines are custom built, General Motors 350s, built as marine engines, broken in on a dyno rated at 305 horse power each, 400 lb ft torque.
I’ve recently added a foot rest, cup holders, a spotlight, and a life ring bracket. The bottom has been sanded with new copper anti-fouling. The painter did a beautiful job of cutting and buffing the harbor rash. The name of the boat, Blew By You, aside from the song is Maricious Blue and quite fast.
BOUNTIFUL
1958 Shepard Runabout Ken Cook
Lloyd Henry Shepherd and his son Howard Henry Shepherd founded Shepherd Boat Works in 1928 in St. Catharine’s. In 1939 they opened the plant at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario with few boats ever crossing the border. Shepherd boats were designed and constructed to meet the highest quality standards. As one of the first pioneers of the “V” drive, Shepherd discovered that by implementing the new “V” drive in its runabout and mounting the engine
further back it created more room in the cockpit. Shepherd boats are well-known for their strong construction and dry ride in rough conditions especially suited for the Great Lakes. The firm was bought out by Trojan Boat Co. of Pennsylvania in 1958. Most inboard builders made the switch from wood to fiberglass, however Shepherd did not follow suit. The market for wood boats had all but dried up. They phased out construction of all Shepherd runabouts by the early 60’s.
Bountiful is a 1958 Shepherd Model 110. It is 22 feet long with a 7’ 4” beam. She has the original double planked mahogany bottom and original Chrysler 331 Hemi engine.
CANDYMAN
2012 Home Built Monte Carlo
Dale & Candyce Brevik
Candyman is my 26-foot triple cockpit barrel back that I built in the style of the 1940 Chris-Craft. It took me three years to build and was launched on July 4th of 2012. I purchased the plans for the Glen-L Monte Carlo years ago and had been collecting hardware and parts while waiting for retirement to bring me to the point of starting the build. White Oak for the frames was purchased and sawdust started hitting the floor on July 8th, 2009.
In 2012 the boat was trailered down Main Street in Polson Montana for the 4th of July parade. It then went directly to a launch site and was put in the water of Flathead Lake for the first time. Since then it has been part of the Big Sky chapter of the ACBS boat shows on both Flathead and Whitefish lakes in Montana.
CHIPS & CAVIAR
1956 Chris-Craft Cavalier
Bob Bailey
This 1956 Chris-Craft Cavalier was purchased by Rob Bailey, its third owner, in 2024. The boat has spent most of its life between Whitefish Lake and Coeur d’Alene. Known for exploring the edges of what’s possible in life, Rob now gets to explore from the helm of Chips & Caviar.
COMET
2025 Kielgass/Lobb
Triple Cockpit
Ike Keilgass
The original 1926 Stanley raceboat Comet was designed by Charlie Parker and built by Stanley Boat Works in Cape Vincent, NY. This one-of-akind split cockpit boat was originally powered with a Hispano Suiza Aero engine and was repowered in the 1930s with a 120hp 6 cylinder flathead marine engine. Mr. Parker raced Comet on the St. Lawrence River and won 8 championship trophies. She was purchased by Winniford Fox of Watertown, NY in the 1930s and renamed The Fox. Mr. Fox continued Comet’s racing career as The Fox and raced her on the St. Lawrence River and Cranberry Lake in the Adirondacks.
Now part of the Antique Boat Museum’s collection, line drawings and plans of Comet , one of the few remaining Stanley built boats in existence, were created in 2017-2018 by Ken Bassett of Onion River Boat Works. The ABM had the line drawings added to the Museum’s archives which will preserve Comet’s history for future generations, and for boat builders such as Ike Kielgass and Dave Lobb.
Ike and Dave started construction of Comet in September of 2023, but chose to make a triple cockpit boat instead of a split cockpit boat. This triple cockpit Comet was framed with sapele and planked in khaya (African) mahogany. All original hardware of the period was sourced and modern power - a 350 Mercruiser - was used.
DEBBIE TOO
1957 Correct Craft Custom Fred & Beth Goughnour
Debbie Too is not my old girlfriend... literally or figuratively! The Correct Craft 19.5ft hull is technically a Debonnaire model. She is the first antique wood boat I purchased after working in wood boat restoration for 15 years. Debbie Too arrived in our stable of boats for sale at the Minnesota shop where I worked. At the time, I was restoring the same make/model only 4 hull numbers difference. I became impressed with the combination of Correct Craft construction and performance on the Debbie One, as she was referred to. So when Debbie Two showed up I made her mine. The details that impressed me include a non-batten construction alternative, which uses a two-layer planking method similar to a Chris-Craft bottom but uses .25in plywood for the inner layer for not only the bottom, but the hull sides and decks as well. This, along with a lower freeboard, make a stiffer hull resulting in a 20ft hull that handles like a 24-footer.
Because I restore boats for a living, working on my own was going to take a while. A step-by-step restoration process was completed in reverse order as compared to what we typically do with a customer boat. First, I redesigned the decks to compliment a racing runabout model that Correct Craft put out in 1950 with basically the same hull. After completing the custom deck installation and switching the powerplant from a Ford Y-block to a Chevy 283, I got married and had some kids. So the one cockpit boat with Debbie Too on the transom was pre-family. After about two years, I cut out a rear cockpit for some extra room. (I did pre-frame the opening when I redid the new deck–just in case.) The hull sides were replaced a couple years later. The bottom was replaced when water started coming through the bottom on plane and drenching our feet. I did eventually replace the old 283 Chevy with a 350 Chevy crate motor, which gets her up to 45 mph. She has been a reliable runabout! It is fun to take to boat shows and explain the customization of the boat and my skills working on wood. My wife Beth will tell a different story on how the name Debbie Too came to be!
DECO
1930 Dee Wite
Split Cockpit Runabout
BK Powell
DECO is a 1930 Dee Wite named in reference to the “Art Deco” theme of the 20’s and 30’s. Dee Wite boats were manufactured in Detriot, Michigan by the Dwight Lumber Company. “Dee Wite” is a variant of the name “Dwight” Dwight provided the lumber for both Chris-Craft and Century boats as both companies were near Dwight.
In 1929, Dwight made the decision to manufacture their own line of boats. Starting with one model in 1929 they expanded to seven models in 1930. Dee
Wites were known for their excellent construction and handling. They contrasted with other pleasure boats of the time, being of a narrow modern design, using African Mahogany and White Oak with 8” convex decking and 1800 copper boat “rivets” on the hull sides. DECO was discovered in New Hampshire (a barn find) After a restoration ( DECO has 95% of her original hardware) of two plus years she was ready to float again.
Dwight Lumber succumbed to the Great Depression in 1936, taking the boat division with it. Today Dee Wites are considered extremely rare, with less than a handful known to still exist.
Trivia: DECO sold for $3,200 in 1930, equivalent to $57,836 in today’s market.
DEE DOO
1952 Stancraft Deluxe Day Cruiser
Bob & Betty Moore
Dee Doo is a 1952 25ft Stancraft Deluxe Day Cruiser which has been repowered with a 270 HP V8 OMC engine. This boat was built Stan Young, the founder of Stancraft at their manufacturing plant on Flathead Lake. I purchased the boat from Sid Young, the second generation of the Stancraft boat building family in September 2013. Sid had ridden in the boat as a child since he was a friend of the original owner’s son. The boat went through several ownerships but remained on Flathead
Lake until Sid and his wife Julie purchased it in 1998 and brought it to their home on Coeur d’Alene Lake. Sid make some interior changes in the boat, but kept it’s original look. My wife I had just attended a boat show at priest Lake where we were soaked by rain and waves, and my wife was wanting a drier ride. A friend had suggested that we take a look at this Day Cruiser on our way from Priest Lake, so we contacted Sid and arranged for a visit. My wife was sold, and when that happens a wooden boat lover doesn’t pass up a chance to have one more boat, so in 2013 we became the owners of what is now known as Dee Doo (my wife’s grandma name). It has become our favorite boat.
EDELWIESS
1966 Chris-Craft Sea Skiff
Jim & Randy Mohn
Edelwiess is 22 feet long and powered by a 210 HP Chris-Craft 327 c.u. V-8. Her hail port is Point Caroline, on the West Shore of Flathead Lake, just north of Lakeside, Montana.
Her name honors the owner’s grandparent’s summer home on Point Caroline, built in 1940 in the Chalet Style and named “Chalet Edelwiess”. That name was chosen in respect to the edelwiess flower, or Leontopodium alpinum, a cherished symbol in Austria and Switzerland, where it has long been prominent in folklore and popular sentiment. Edelwiess is a wildflower and grows high in the Alps and at the former summer home to this day.
EMPRESS
1992 Hackercraft
Triple Cabin Runabout
Shawn & Christina Isakson
Built in New York in 1992, the Empress is a 30-foot Hackercraft Triple Cabin Runabout powered by a 454 XL Crusader engine—a striking blend of vintage elegance and modern engineering. Her design reflects over a century of Hackercraft heritage, dating back to 1908, and stands out as one of the most admired layouts ever produced: fast, elegant, and socially inviting.
We acquired her in 2021 from a private collector in California, and she now calls Whitefish Lake home—where her mirror-finished mahogany hull and deep engine rumble have become a familiar presence. In 2022, she underwent a 1,000-hour restoration by the craftsmen at Coeur Custom, located at Hagadone Marina in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The work included fresh mahogany, a stowable cocktail table, ambient LED lighting, and a bow thruster for smooth docking—all while honoring her original lines.
Named after a favorite summer ritual—sipping Indigo Gin and Tonics that shift from deep indigo to glacier blue—Empress captures the beauty of transformation and mountain lake evenings. In her inaugural appearance at Whitefish Woody Weekend in 2024, she was honored with the People’s Choice Award.
With a nod to pop culture, the same Hackercraft model was featured in The Crown, portraying the Mediterranean cruiser used by Princess Diana and Prince Charles. More than a boat, Empress is a floating sanctuary—an invitation to timeless memories, bold exploration, and the enduring magic of American lake life.
This year, she channels the spirit of Safari—celebrating adventure, natural beauty, and purpose. Our team is proud to support Fountain of Life Africa (FOLA), a nonprofit bringing clean water, education, healthcare, and opportunity to rural African communities. Learn more or contribute at www.fountainoflifeafrica.org.
HOBO
1929 Chris-Craft Model 3
Triple Cockpit
Dean Sackett & Barb Rigg
Hobo is a 1929 24ft Chris-Craft Model 3. Built in Algonac, Michigan, she was inspected on May 6, 1929 and shipped to Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey. Hobo was purchased by a 24-year-old well driller, Harry Tarakajian, for $2750. Harry built a two-story boathouse which he nicknamed “Hobo Jungles” for the new boat. Bud Abbott of Abbott and Costello fame was known to go out with Harry in Hobo .
For a time, Harry operated a Speed Boat Ride business. The Speed Boat Rides poster displayed in the boat is a copy of the original which is currently displayed in the Lake Hopatcong Museum. In the late 60’s Harry removed the original 106HP Chrysler LM Motor and replaced it with the Chevrolet 327 that is still in the boat today.
Harry passed away in 1989 at the age of 84. He had owned Hobo for 60 years. Harry left Hobo to his only daughter Winnie, who passed away in 2001, which was the last year Hobo was registered when I purchased the boat in 2007.
In 2017 Hobo travelled to Stanwood, Washington where Restorer Alan Thomle did a complete restoration, including bottom replacement, engine rebuild, upholstery and refinish. Hobo now resides in Queens Bay in Polson, Montana.
HUCKLEDYBUCK
1953 Shepherd
Sportsman Runabout 22-302
Tom & Janet Cathcart
Our Shepherd 110-S, 22 foot Chrysler Hemi powered Runabout was produced in Niagra-On-The-Lakes Ontario in 1953. We are the third owners of this boat and are simply amazed at the performance and comfort it affords us. This is our first and only boat, and have owned it (or has it owned us?) for the last eighteen years. It is rugged and dependable, and its high freeboard allows easy movement within its spacious interior and keeps us dry in rough waters.
HUTCH
1958 Chris-Craft Utility Tony & Jill Keyser
Hutch was born in Algonic, Michigan at the Chris-Craft factory 1958 and raised in the deep blue of Lake Tahoe. Mr. Hutchinson was the sole care-taker for many years. At her mid-life crisis, Hutch needed a makeover and was sent to Post Falls, Idaho to the fine craftsmen at the Wood Boat Restoration Company in 1998. Upon completion, one of the skilled woodworkers Nick Kerfoot, honed his trailering skills and returned Hutch to Lake Tahoe and Mr. Hutchinson.
At some point later, Mr. Hutchinson retired Hutch to a fella who abandoned Hutch in a warehouse at the north end of Flathead Lake. She sat for some 16 years. The next & current owner had a longing for a wood boat. Having the tentacles of
the internet at their disposal and cold, dark winter nights, the Keyser’s began a journey to find the perfectly crafted yacht. They found Century Runabouts without a trailer, and Chris-Craft’s without engines–until they chatted with Steve at the Classic Boat Company located at the north end of Flathead Lake.
A quick transaction occurred, and once again Hutch was towed directly back to the Wood Boat Restoration Company in Post Falls. Exactly 24 years later, Nick Kerfoot skillfully rebuilt Hutch with new planking, a rebuilt engine, and insane amounts of varnish. A rebirth of her original trailer cradles her for a smooth and classy transport.
Sparing no expense, Hutch is completely new and showing for the first time at the Woody Weekend. Thank you to everyone who has owned, shared, and voyaged with Hutch, we welcome you aboard!
IDLE RICH
1956 Dixie Runabout Rich Halbert II
This past year has been a very difficult one. My father, Captain Richard Halbert, Sr. passed away in September last year. We were blessed with several years with our fully restored Dixie runabout, the Idle Rich , one of only two known surviving Dixie Boat Works wooden boats. The time spent together getting her restored and running will never be forgotten.
It was last year, the Saturday of Whitefish Woody Weekend XII, when my Dad, my wife Peggy and I took the Idle Rich around Whitefish Lake right around sunset. That day was when the above picture was taken. In retrospect that was a time of absolute peak happiness and freedom – not a care in the world. All together cruising around in a place of astounding beauty. Knowing what I know now, that was
the last day my Dad was not facing a health crisis for he woke up on Sunday not feeling so good and a long series of existential health hurdles came his way until God decided that the journey here on earth must come to an end.
This year is a bit of a pilgrimage back of sorts. He would want to be here. He would want us here with him. This place and this first class event, and the wonderful people we meet, shall always be special to us and we feel very fortunate to be included.
For my dad, the Idle Rich was both a museum piece to preserve but also a conduit to timeless freedom on the water, and everywhere we went people always loved talking about his unique find – and he sure would tell you all the stories of its history and background!!
Now my Dad is a part of that history and we will cherish the memories forever – May the Idle Rich continue to bring great times with great people for generations to come. We love and miss you Dad.
INTERCEPTOR
1957 Correct Craft Collegian Jim Livie & John Bourquin
Interceptor is a 1957, 18ft Correct Craft Collegian double planked Runabout powered by a Dearborn 312 Interceptor V-8 215 HP. She was built in Pine Castle, Florida (near Orlando) by Correct Craft. Correct Craft was originally named Florida Variety Boat Co. which started in 1925. In 1930 they changed their name to Pine Castle Boat and Construction Co. and again in 1938 to Correct Craft. In 1961 they introduced their first “Ski Nautique” fiberglass ski boat. The Interceptor operated out of Cypress Gardens, Florida until the early 1970’s and then relocated to Flathead Lake Montana with a new owner. In the 80’s the Interceptor was entered in local classic wood boat shows by the fourth and fifth owners.
We purchased and started the extensive restoration in 2004 working on her only as time permitted. Due to a heated garage and beer, we were not in any big hurry. In 2020 we began to realize that father time was beginning to catch up with us and earnest restoration began. With guidance from Doug Tweto, replacement included a cold molded epoxy bottom, wiring and electrical components, deck and stern planking, plus many other parts. The engine was blue printed and balanced in the 80’s and gone through in 2005. The original trailer was completely rebuilt in 2021. All varnishing and polishing were done by Doug Tweto in Woods Bay. The restoration was completed in the spring of 2023 .
LAST CALL
1954 Chris-Craft Holiday
Chris & Courtney Werner
My Chris-Craft, Last Call, had been in my family for 25 years before I took ownership of it from my father four years ago—believing it was time better spent on Whitefish Lake. It had spent many of those years in storage, not living up to its potential. Since then, we’ve used it regularly for summer outings with my wife and kids, whether it’s cocktail cruising, swimming in the coves, or towing the kids for a quieter ride onboard.
MARGORIE
1935 Stancraft Runabout
Carlo Ferreira
Founded in 1933 by W.H. “Billy” Young and his son Stanley C. Young on the shores of Flathead Lake, Stancraft has been making hand-crafted, iconic wooden boats for over 90 years. Margorie is a Starcraft 20-foot split cockpit racing runabout. This fine representation of the first generation of Stancraft boats was built in 1935 and is believed to be the oldest Stancraft still on the water.
MIKE
1947 Chris-Craft Sportsman
Mike Mayer
Mike is a very original boat, even down to her….ughhh, his name. Mike was picked up at the Chris-Craft factory on April 24, 1947. They were ordered from the factory with the name Mike on the transom. The upholstery has been replaced and the boat has been repowered with a Flagship 283 about six years ago. Mike sits on its original bottom and the sides, decks, dash, instruments and hardware are all original to the boat.
The 22ft Sportsman was the most popular boat that Chris-Craft ever made, in numbers sold. It is a big, but manageable boat and a true joy to own. It can carry a lot of people safely and provide a great space to enjoy a day on the water.
The sides were painted white on these early post war boats because there was a shortage of mahogany. Chris-Craft saved the mahogany for the fanciest boats and used cedar, instead for sides and bottoms on the low to mid range boats. Once trade opened again they resumed building all mahogany boats until the sad change to fiberglass.
MISS ST. LAWRENCE
1922 Cupernall Runabout Joseph & Marie Frauenheim
The very existence of the Miss Saint Lawrence after over one hundred years is a testament to the talents of the designer George Crouch and the builder Ira Cupernall. Built over a cold Northeast winter with heat provided by a wood stove the talented woodworkers installed planking without seams that have stood the test of time. Planking is attached by rivets rather than screws which have remained tight with time. Her stiff construction and light weight results in a remarkable performing craft with exceptional lines.
She was built at the docks of Murdock & Hutchinson in Clayton, New York. She is thirty-five feet long by six feet seven inches wide with a hard chine “Hydroplane” hull; a concave vee shape that runs the full length of the hull,
allowing the whole boat to lift evenly rather than leap and crash from one wave to the next. The hull is oak ribbed with Mexican mahogany planking and copper rivet fasteners but nary a frame in sight. Two rigid bulkheads fore and aft of the engine provide lateral stiffness while heavy full-length sheer strakes maintain longitudinal integrity in heavy seas. She was powered by the tried-and-true Sterling Dolphin Special.
Miss Saint Lawrence was acquired by the present owner in 1979.
OBSESSION
1990 Hacker Craft
Triple Cockpit Runabout
Jim Valeo
Obsession, a 24ft triple cockpit runabout, was built in the Hacker Boat Company shop in Lake George, NY in 1990. Like most reproduction Hacker’s, she is built along original lines drafted by John Hacker, a famous marine architect of the 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s. He was responsible for designing many successful racing boats found on the internet.
We bought Obsession in Gig Harbor, WA in 2005 from a man who had bought her used at the Hacker shop in Silver
Bay on Lake George. The previous owner toured his way back West stopping along the way at lakes to use her. Afterward, he kept Obsession in a shed and used her for vacations in Washington, Idaho, and Montana. I don’t think she was ever in salt water. My family could not think of a more suitable name (some say it’s bad luck to change the name of a boat), so she is still Obsession . Obsession lives in a shed on our ranch outside of Missoula and is used sparingly on Whitefish Lake and Flathead Lake. She was stripped to the bare wood a refinished by Fred Goughnour in Montana in 2016.
ORO-Y-PLATA
1930 Chris-Craft
Upswept Runabout
Jo & Ken Cook
In June 1930, the boat was shipped to George & Bliss, a large Chris-Craft dealer in Clear Lake, New York. Those who sold the craft to me had no prior history of the boat. They bought it in New Hampshire as a grey shell.
The original name was Isis, which is an Ancient Egyptian Goddess. It carried that name for 88 years. Obviously,
with the current world environment, I changed the name to the Montana motto Oro-y-Plata. I have owned the boat since 2018 it is a model 103 –new cost $ 2852.00. Muller Boats did the woodwork and I freshened the mechanical items.
The Kroh top is a real original and has been used to caste reproductions by Muller Boat works.
POCO LOCO
1952 Chris-Craft Racing Runabout
Jamie Shannon
Poco Loco is a 1952 Chris Craft Racing Runabout. Five hundred three Racing Runabouts were produced between 1948 and 1954. They originally came with the option of an MB or MBL engine. Poco Loco has been repowered with a 350 crusader. Whitefish Lake is her home lake.
RED, WHITE & BRUT
1942 Chris-Craft
Special Runabout
Derek & Amber Bronken
This 1942 17ft Chris-Craft Special Runabout, one of 241 produced for the model year, was delivered new to a dealer in Greentown, Pennsylvania in September of 1941.
The original owner cared for her for roughly a decade, before Dr. Evans “Beau” Guequierre purchased the vessel, in 1954, and christened her “Infidel”; derived from Masonic nomenclature, of which Evans was a devout member. Dr. Guequierre would own the boat until the day he died in 2017. Following his death, the good doctor’s brother sold the boat to us.
It was decided that, prior to crosscountry transport, the Chris-Craft would undergo an exhaustive restoration, carried out by Wooden Boat Restoration of Millington, Maryland. Following the yearlong restoration, the boat was delivered to its new homeport of Whitefish Lake in May of 2019. She was re-christened Red, White & Brut; a punny, patriotic nod to the Bronken family business in wine and beer distribution.
She is enjoyed as frequently as possible by our family as well as my parents Peter and Barb. The boat retains its original Hercules “K” engine, producing 95 HP. Everything but the varnish and gold-leaf are as it left the Chris Craft factory in Algonac, Michigan.
Red, White & Brut was featured on the cover of The Brass Bell magazine, Spring of 2022.
RHUBARB
1961 Shepherd 110
Scott Mason & Patty Ludden
Purchased in 2014, Rhubarb’s hull was preserved and updated to our preferences by Alan Thomle Boat Works, with the engine, transmission, and drive rebuilt by Marty Haack of Block Head Machine, all under the guidance of our mentor and advisor, Craig Magnusson. We live on Lake Tapps in Western Washington, near Sumner—the “Rhubarb Capital of the World”—which inspired her name. Over the past eleven years, Rhubarb has traveled more than 30,000 miles and has attended 10 of the last 12 ACBS International Boat Shows.
ROCKET SONG
1947 Chris-Craft Special Runabout
Bill & Vickie Coale
My Boat is a 1947 Chris-Craft Rocket. Interesting fact is the Rocket was the first “non war” utility model designed and built by Chris-Craft in the Holland, Michigan plant by Christopher Smith’s grandson.
According to Chris-Craft factory production records, 1040 Rockets were built from 1945 thru 1948. Mine is one of only 40 boats produced in 1947. It was then shipped to Dave Cook Sporting Goods in Denver, Colorado.
In the fall of 2006 it was purchased from a couple in Spokane, Washington by “Classic Boat Restoration” of McCall, Idaho, restored that winter and named Rocket Song . Summer of 2007 it won “Best Utility” in the Payette Lakes Chapter annual McCall classic boat show. It was purchased at that show by a private party from Lowell, Oregon. I purchased it in 2022 from a relative of the Oregon owner after it had been stored in climate controlled garage for about 2 and half years. Put a battery in it, tuned it up, and have been enjoying it ever since.
SHADY LADY
1955 Chris-Craft
Continental Hardtop
Tim & Deb Salt
Shady Lady is a 1955 22ft Chris-Craft Continental Sedan Hardtop. Chris-Craft introduced this top-of-the-line utility model in 1955. Of 102 Continentals built that year, 28 were equipped with a 200 HP Hemi engine and 20 were built with the sedan hardtop. Only three were built with both the Hemi and sedan hardtop options.
The Shady Lady is believed to be the only one of the three built still on the water today.
The boat shipped from the ChrisCraft Michigan factory to a dealer in San Francisco, CA in June of ‘55. She underwent a complete makeover in the mid-80’s and had a West System bottom installed in the mid-90’s. The Shady Lady arrived in Montana from Indian Lake, PA in 2010 and was then refinished in 2011 and 2014 with the engine being rebuilt in 2013. She is a “preserved” classic boat.
The Shady Lady was reportedly used for illegal activities in the Sacramento Delta area in the 1970’s. With her signature hardtop and the legend of her illicit past, it was only fitting to rechristen her the Shady Lady on June 14, 2010, her 55th birthday.
SOLLAZZARE
2000 Hacker Craft Runabout
Tom Suiter
Sollazzare is a Hacker Craft Runabout 2000 built by Hacker Craft in their factory on Lake George, NY. I took delivery of the boat in July of 2000.
When we took Sollazzare for its first ride, the first boat my son Scott and I encountered was a wooden boat called Red Dog. The captain of that boat was Skip Kennison, who was well known around Whitefish Lake. Skip used to be the captain of the Lady of the Lake, the wooden boat owned by the Lodge at Whitefish Lake. We found it very coincidental that the first boat that crossed our path was a wooden boat! Scott always loved Red Dog and ended up buying it from Skip many years later. To add to the tale, Scott and his wife Maryly named their first child (and our first grandchild) “Skip Thomas Suiter”. So now we have an official “Skipper” in our family!
Sollazzare is in its original condition, and has only had some minor clean ups done over the years by Steve Nichols, owner of The Classic Company in Somers, MT.
During one of the clean ups, I needed to have the transom gold leafing redone, so I did it myself. It was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had!
When we needed to name the boat, my family was having breakfast at the Buffalo Grill in Whitefish. We recently had returned from a vacation in Italy, and one of our boys had an English/ Italian dictionary. We found the word “Sollazzare” which means, “to entertain and have fun”. That is exactly what we’ve done with our boat for 23 years!
On our inaugural boat ride, after crossing paths with Skip, I looked down in the bilge and saw quite a bit of water. I reached down and unscrewed the brass drain turnkey, and the whole turnkey came out! I couldn’t screw it back in! PANIC! My cocaptain and son Scott, being a modern version of “McGyver”, jumped out, took a wine cork we had and shoved it into the hole. Once we got it back to our dock we were able to screw the turnkey back in correctly. I had visions of my boat sinking on its maiden voyage! Thank goodness we didn’t have a “Titanic” on our hands! She still floats perfectly today, 23 years after that scary incident!
STELLA
2012 Alexander
Stella Nova V-25
Joe Lovell
I am very pleased to present this incredible mahogany masterpiece. This boat named Stella Nova V-25 is not your ordinary mass produced, run of the mill boat. This masterpiece is a hand crafted, LS7 505 HP floating piece of art.
The Stella Nova V-25 was completed in 2012 and is produced by Alexander Boats LLC of Otis Orchards, Washington. The company was started in 2001 in California and in 2005, moved it’s production to Otis Orchards, WA.
The Stella Nova V-25 was the creation of Raymond Alexander. He was inspired by a boat that he saw named the “Alpha Z.” Raymond had always had special
feelings for wood. He built his first wood boat when he was a young man. It took Raymond 22 months to build the prototype of the Stella Nova V-25. His wife, Stephanie still has that boat, and they like to take it out on Lake Coeur D’ Alene, in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho.
Built using cold-molded construction, this vessel boasts 10 bulkheads and an outer surface of rich African Mahogany, complemented by a strong internal framework of Russian Birch and Okume.
Powering the Stella Nova V-25 is a marinized LS7 Corvette engine delivering an impressive 505 horsepower, paired with an Arneson Twin Disk surfacepiercing and articulating drive system. With a fuel capacity of 40 U.S. gallons, the boat achieves speeds exceeding 55 mph. Its luxurious finish includes 12 coats of epoxy and polyurethane for maximum durability and gloss, while the interior is outfitted with premium marine vinyl upholstery for comfort and style.
SWEET ANNIE
1956 Chris-Craft Capri
Bill & Anne Roberts
The 19ft Sweet Annie (Hull # CP-19350) was built and delivered from the Cadillac Factory in Detroit, Michigan in February 1956 to the Culver Boat Company on Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver, Indiana.
The original name was Bobby’s Girl, previously owned by Bob Meimbresse from Barnegat Bay, New Jersey. Bob spent 5 years restoring the boat from 2015 to 2020 to its original 1956 build configuration, down to the interior color (cerulean blue) only offered by ChrisCraft in 1956.
Upon retiring and moving back to Idaho in 2021, I was searching for a nice wood boat. I found her in Minnesota at Mitch La Pointe’s Classic Boat & Motor. I flew
to Minnesota to see the boat and meet Mitch. When I saw the boat for the first time, I had to call my wife to get her permission to buy it and told her the boat was perfect and we should by it that day. She was surprised to say the least. Well, she said, “Ok”.
Now rightly named after my wife, Anne, it was then I decided to have the name changed to Sweet Annie because my wife was so sweet to allow me to buy this boat. When Sweet Annie arrived in Idaho, I surprised Anne with the name on the back of the boat being in honor of her.
Sweet Annie has the original Chris-Craft Marine KLC engine (restored) and all the original instruments and hardware.
We have enjoyed every summer since 2021 attending many classic wood boat shows with Sweet Annie.
TOMGIRL
1955 Tomahawk Spirit Deluxe
Linda & Tim Babiak
Tomgirl is a 1955 12ft Spirit Deluxe made by Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Corporation in Tomahawk, Wisconsin. She was already 50 years old when we purchased her in 2005 and at the time was being restored 300 miles away from her home in Wisconsin across Lake Michigan at Starboard Marine Restorations in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
We were told she had all of her original hardware and the original steering wheel. She is sporting a vintage and sometimes problematic 1956 18hp Johnson Seahorse motor. This motor has an electric start, which that part is very dependable and also rather hard to find. Unwilling to give up on our electric start motor, hope springs eternal, we continue to nurse along the vintage Johnson Seahorse.
The couple who had this boat for sale had never been to Yellowstone Park and offered to meet us in the Park for delivery, so that’s how we came to acquire our cute as a bug’s ear, Tomgirl.
This is an interesting sidebar written by Gary Thompson, son of Royal Thompson, co-founder Thompson Brothers Boat Manufacturing, about the founder of Tomahawk Boat company:
“Tomahawk Boat Co was started by a guy named Franklin Winters. He worked for my dad a bit in northern Wisconsin, then went and worked for Rhinelander Boat Co. for a while. Then he started the Tomahawk endeavor, but had a hard time making it thrive. Of more interest, he was EARLY into fiberglass, and for quite a while was a major supplier of fiberglass bodies for Harley Davidson Golf carts. (Harley being based in Milwaukee, WI.)”
ULFBERHT
2016 Levator Boatworks
Excellence
Robert & Kathy McElrath
Ulfberht (Viking Sword) is a single racing shell (single person rowing boat) designed and hand crafted in 2016 by Jurgen Kaschper, owner of Levator Boatworks Limited, Dorchester, Ontario, Canada. Jurgen is the son of renowned designer and shell builder Jakob Kaschper, who brought his skills and expertise to North America in 1958 from his ancestral home in Eberbach, Germany. Ulfberht is a hybrid woody construction, incorporating traditional wood and contemporary materials. It was built using a carbon fiber/s-glass inner hull and honeycomb Nomex deck for maximum racing stiffness, and steam laminated with figured South
American mahogany. The A-frame riggers are anodized aircraft tubing fitted with titanium oar lock pins. The hull was finished by hand brushed polyester with hours of wet sanding.
By the numbers, Ulfberht measures 27ft 4.5in in length, the waterline beam is 10in, and her weight is 35 pounds. It is stiff and fast on the water with an excellent run.
I purchased Ulfberht in 2022 out of the Atlanta Rowing Club and have logged many kilometers on Whitefish Lake and other Flathead area lakes. Unquestionably, however, Ulfberht is most in her element on the majestic flat water of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park.
UNCLE BOB
1963 Yandt Boat Works Utility
Ron & Jane Yandt
Uncle Bob was built by the Yandt Boat Works on the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene at the same site as the presentday Coeur d’Alene Resort. My Son, Wes, and I decided that it was important to have a Yandt boat in the family to carry on the legacy of Yandt Boat Works. The 20’ utility, Uncle Bob , was built in 1963 and had several owners on Lake Coeur d’Alene and the Seattle area before I purchased it in 2003.
The restoration process was started in 2003. We finished in 2010. All the wood that you can see is new plus much that you cannot see. In the past 15 years, we have repainted the bottom and added 3 more coats of varnish. We have participated in boat shows every year since completing the restoration.
WEST
1956 Dunphy
Imperial Grayling
Chris Johnston
I’m the third owner of this 1956 Dunphy outboard. The original owner purchased the boat, engine and trailer, as well as a new 1956 Buick from the same dealer in Western PA. He put the entire package in storage in 1960 in his heated warehouse where it remained until he passed away in 2015. All three remained in good condition. During the restoration, the decks were taken all the way down and refinished. All chrome was replated. The upholstery is original and in excellent condition, and it matches the flow of the two-tone mahogany decks. Because it is the top trim level that Dunphy sold, the interior is fully upholstered. The boat has rod steering (no cables). Dunphy boats were manufactured in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and were one of the highest quality outboards at the time.
ZIN
2020 Zin Boats Z2R
David Donovick
Developed by Seattle-based Zin Boats, the Z2R is an all-electric runabout that blends cutting-edge design with sustainable performance. Introduced in 2020, it was the world’s first highperformance production electric runabout and held the world record for speed in its category. With no maintenance, no emissions, and an ultra-quiet operation, the Z2R set a new standard in boating. Zin Boats is pleased to unveil the Z7, their nextgeneration electric boat, launching in mid-summer 2025.
UNNAMED
1966 Century Coronado
Dan & Kathy Lungren
While spending summers on Payette Lake in the sixties Joe Albertson (yes, the founder of Albertsons) had a boat like this and he would take us kids for afternoon boat rides. I have wanted one ever since. We purchased this boat in 2022 and had McCall Boat works refinish the wood, put a new bottom on it, new fabric on the hardtop as well as the deck and rebuild the original motor.
