Eras

The golden age of wooden boat building. Craftsmen built hulls by hand from mahogany and oak. Racing heritage drove innovation. Every boat was a statement.

The peak of wooden boat culture. Chris Craft dominated the market. Families gathered at lakes across America. The runabout was the centerpiece of summer weekends.

The war years saw wooden boat building redirected to military purposes. Higgins boats carried troops to hostile beaches. PT boats hunted enemy ships. The skills and production capacity built during wartime would transform peacetime boating when the veterans came home.

America's boat boom. GIs came home, the economy boomed, and lakefront recreation exploded. Chris Craft and Century scaled up production. Wooden boats were at their peak.

Wood gave way to glass. Chris Craft and other manufacturers shifted to fiberglass production. Wooden boat building became a specialty craft. The era of mass-produced boats began.

The restoration movement begins. Enthusiasts rediscovered wooden boats. ACBS chapters formed. Boat shows celebrated the classics. What was old became collectible.