The Wooden Runabout Company, LLC

Geneva Lake Boat Show–Lily takes home three awards.

Mike — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:00:35 +0000

Congratulations are again in order for Chad and Andrea Durren who took home three awards from the Geneva Lake boat show this past weekend. Their 1952 Chris-Craft 18′ Sportsman was delivered by The Wooden Runabout Co. this spring. They have brought her to three shows (Traverse City, Hessel, and Lake Geneva) and have come home with 6 awards. At the Geneva Lake boat show they earned Best in Class, Best Chris-Craft, and People’s Choice. To view photos of the restoration of Lily or any of the other boats at our shop, simply click on our current projects page.

Pentwater Boat Show

Mike — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 02:14:59 +0000

Congratulations to Ken and Trudi Lautenbach, owners of Trudi, a 1939 Chris-Craft 19′ custom. They received “Best of Show” at the Penwater boat show in Pentwater Michigan this past weekend. Photos of the restoration process for this boat can be seen on our current projects page as well as our brokerage page.

Hessel Boat Show

Mike — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:53:35 +0000

Congratulations to Wooden Runabout Co. customers Chad Durren, Mark Leonard, and Jeff Smith, who each showed their boat and took home awards at the Hessel boat show last weekend.

Chad Durren received a first in class (18-19 foot utility) with Lily, his 1952 18′ Chris-Craft Sportsman. Lily also won first in class (post war utility) at the Traverse City boat show two weeks ago. Photographs of Lily’s restoration can be seen on our current projects page.

Mark Leonard received a first in class (21-24 foot utility) with his 1959 Century Coronado. Photographs of the Century Coronado’s restoration can be seen on our current projects page.

Jeff Smith received a second in class (21-24 foot utility) with his 1953 24′ Chris-Craft Holiday Amazing Grace. Photograph’s of this restoration can also be seen on our current projects page.

Mike — Fri, 29 May 2009 01:42:03 +0000

We recently finished the restoration of Lily, a 1952 Chris-Craft 18′ Sportsman. This boat was remarkably well preserved and during the restoration we were able to utilize the original wood for the hullsides, deck, and all interior wood. The owner has put together a slideshow detailing the restoration. Additional photos can be seen on our current projects page.

Bottom Replacement

Mike — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:15:30 +0000

We’ve added a series of photographs detailing the process we use during bottom replacement to our current projects page.Â The particular bottom shown is from our restoration of a Chris-Craft 20′ custom.Â The previous bottom had been replaced previously but failed prematurely due to poor techniques and sub-par materials.Â We take pride in putting as much care into the work we do below the waterline as we do in our finish work.

What’s in a name?

Mike — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 02:59:23 +0000

There is one part of a restoration that doesn’t require archive searches or pouring over vintage photographs.Â What you choose to put on your transom is entirely up to you.Â You can’t find the answer on your hull card or anywhere else–and that is exactly what makes it one of the most difficult choices to be made during the restoration process.Â Our sign painter recently paid a visit to our shop to hand-letter three boats.Â You can see more photos on our projects page.

Video Footage–1936 Chris-Craft 19′ Special Race Boat

Mike — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:49:28 +0000

We shot some video footage during the final water test of the 19′ Chris-Craft special race boat that just underwent a complete restoration at our shop. This rare boat is one of only 51 built, of which 6 are still known to exist. It is powered by a Lycoming UHES that red-lines at 5,000 rpm. The very first boat built to this design made its debut at the 1935 President’s Cup regatta in Washington D.C. In November of 1935, Power Boating magazine provided this description:

“The first runabout event of the day, for class I runabouts (boats powered with engines of under 825 cubic inches) was featured by the initial appearance of Jay-Dee III, a new sport type 19-foot Chris-Craft, powered with a six-cylinder 225 class Lycoming racing engine and owned by Jack Dunn of Miami. Racing against much larger and more powerful craft the beautiful little…Chris Craft made a runaway race of it and finished far in the lead with the remarkable average speed of 45.023 miles per hour.”

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1936 19′ Special Race Boat Water Test

Mike — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:22:35 +0000

Our complete restoration of a rare 1936 Chris-Craft 19′ Special Race Boat is complete. Photos of the water test as well as the complete restoration can be seen in our photo gallery. 51 of these amazing boats were orignally built in 1936 and 1937 and the number remaining today can quite literally be counted on one hand.

The Perfect Finish…

Mike — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 02:05:42 +0000

Our restoration of “Trudi”, a 1939 Chris-Craft 19′ barrel back is complete. Photos our water test as well as the entire restoration can be seen on our projects page.

1938 Century Sea Maid receives recognition at Bay Harbor

Mike — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:16:53 +0000

A 1938 Century Sea Maid which was in the shop for some varnish maintenance over the winter received an award of excellence at the Bay Harbor Concours d’Elegance this past weekend. This boat was restored over 12 years ago and is still winning ribbons. The show was filled with stunning cars and boats including two gold cup race boats with original engines as well as the 96 foot Ted Geary designed Canim, which took best in show honors.

This Century Sea Maid was Century’s response to the 19′ Chris-Craft special race boat that had been tearing up the race boat regattas for the previous two years. It was even available with Lycoming 6 cylinder racing marine engine, as was the 19′ special race boat from Chris-Craft.