Century is a renowned manufacturer of runabout, utility, and water ski boats. Starting out in Milwaukee in 1926, Century continues to be a leader in the powerboat industry today. This book traces the company's humble beginnings to market prominence, focusing on the wooden-hulled inboard and outboard boats built from 1930 to 1968. In the wood era, the company offered utilities, triple cockpit speedboats, and streamlined runabouts that performed exceptionally well against the competition.

Century is a renowned manufacturer of runabout, utility, and water ski boats. Starting out in Milwaukee in 1926, Century continues to be a leader in the powerboat industry today. This book traces the company's humble beginnings to market prominence, focusing on the wooden-hulled inboard and outboard boats built from 1930 to 1968. In the wood era, the company offered utilities, triple cockpit speedboats, and streamlined runabouts that performed exceptionally well against the competition.

As the most prestigious name in American boatbuilders, the Chris-Craft is a lovingly crafted vessel with wood hulls, swank chrome and brawny motors. Color photos take a look at the history and details of this beloved boat. 100 photos.

Be it a small runabout or a grand sedan cruiser, every classic power boat of yesteryear shares the same essential features at heart: beautiful flowing lines, exotic hardwoods, and the need for loving care. The history of these personal wooden power boats unfolds in over 100 photos, with insights into building, upkeep, and the passion that drives their owners.

This look back at the great boatbuilders that sprung up on the shores of the Great Lakes stretches from the first use of internal combustion for marine applications in the late nineteenth century to the early-1960s, when wooden construction was increasingly replaced by fiber-glass and aluminum, and on to the early 1980s. More than covering lovely mahogany runabouts, this work also includes chapters on racers and cruisers/commuters. In addition to familiar names like Chris-Craft, Hacker, Century, and Lyman, there are also less frequently covered boats from names like Richards, Matthews, Burger, and Tiara. The final chapters explore the use of non-wood materials. Detroit was the epicenter of early-20th century boat-makers using engines from the nation's nascent automotive industry. Boat-makers, however, did not cluster as tightly around that city as did auto manufactures; they were found from the Thousand Islands of Lake Ontario to Chicago and Duluth. Despite this regionalism the Great Lakes builders, more than any others, influenced the entire world's power-boating community.

Larry Pardey is accepted as one of the master craftsman of the wooden-boat building world. He and his wife, Lin, have built and repaired many boats including two strong, handsome cruising cutters and sailed twice around the world in them. This impressive book shows the process of constructing a boat hull with extensive photographs and drawings and includes ample time-saving procedures. From financial and time planning, lofting, floors and framing, selection of materials, planking and spiling, design considerations, to deck beams, man-hour norms and details critical to wooden boat construction, this volume serves as th emost comprehensive guid a potential builder could ever use. Reders will also appreciate the discussions of how to select from numerous construction methods and materials, how to set up the shop and tips for sharpening and making your own tools. The new appendix on proper adhesive selection is "must" reading.

Boat owners, perhaps more so than other motoring enthusiasts, want to spend their time playing, not maintaining, their toys. Unfortunately, due to their higher exposure to damaging elements, their longer periods of non-use, and the remote locations to which they transport their users, it could be argued that boats also require more care than cars or motorcycles. This guide breaks down by system the routine maintenance procedures every boat owner should know, presenting in more digestible chunks the upkeep of any modern boat, whether it's 16 or 60 feet, inboard or outboard, open-hulled or cabin-equipped. Much of the information included is even applicable to sailboats, as well as runabouts and cabin cruisers.

Luxury, elegance, speed – these are just a few of the characteristics that one inevitably associates with classic wooden yachts. Even though owning one of these originals may remain out of reach for most of us, models of these "runabouts" can be built by anyone. In this book, Patrick Matthews describes in detail all the steps for building a mahogany yacht based on a kit and thus saves even beginners from the pitfalls of such a construction. But experienced modellers will also appreciate the comprehensive tips – especially in the often-dreaded area of finishing. Many tips on improving kits, but also perspectives on building models according to blueprints round off this book on mahogany yachts in the model. From the content: • Overview of different kits • Tools and workplace • Building a kit • Hull construction and propulsion • Finishing • Details • Drive operation • Drive improvements • Remote control electronics • Improvements • Model gallery • Construction documents • Sources

"John Gardner's work has engaged and inspired more individuals connected with traditional small craft than will ever be counted."--WoodenBoat magazine "Deserves an honored place on the library shelf."--National Fisherman "Poses clear and impassioned means to go from the armchair to the open water via your own boat shop."--Sea History This big, handsome legacy volume contains all the plans, measurements, and directions needed to build any of 47 beautiful small boats for oar, sail, or motor.