Pre-War
1900-1941
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.
Historical context
Before fiberglass, before mass production, boats were built by craftsmen who understood their waters. Gar Wood set speed records and then built boats for enthusiasts who wanted that heritage. Chris Smith built racing boats before he built the Chris Craft company. Every boat was an individual creation.
Defining characteristics
- • Hand-built mahogany hulls
- • Brass and chrome hardware
- • Race boat heritage influencing production designs
- • Regional builders serving local waters
- • Gasoline engines becoming reliable
Boats from the Pre-War
Chesapeake Bay Buy Boat
Buy boats were the tractor-trailers of the Chesapeake. They'd anchor among the tonging and dredging ...
Chesapeake Bay Deadrise
The deadrise is the Chesapeake Bay. Watermen have worked these boats for a century — crabbing, oyste...
Chesapeake Bay Log Canoe
The log canoe is America's oldest racing class still active. Maryland watermen built these from mult...
Chesapeake Bay Pungy
The pungy was the thoroughbred of the Chesapeake oystering fleet. Faster than skipjacks, they were b...
Chesapeake Bay Skipjack
The skipjack is Maryland's state boat, and the last working sail fleet in the United States. Marylan...
Gar Wood Baby Gar
Gar Wood was the speed king of American powerboating. His racing boats set world records, and the Ba...
Gar Wood Speedster
Gar Wood won more Gold Cup races than anyone. He held the water speed record for over a decade. And ...
Hacker-Craft Runabout
John Hacker was the naval architect who defined the American speedboat. His 'V-bottom' hull design r...
Herreshoff 12½
Nathanael Herreshoff was the greatest yacht designer in American history. He designed America's Cup ...