The Joys of Restoring a Classic Boat

Antique- and classic-boat restoration captures the joy of the boating culture. John Tiger

It’s no secret that boats are, in today’s parlance, hella expensive. You can spend well over $50,000, $100,000, even $150,000 on a medium-size runabout, fishing boat or wakeboard boat. So, if you want to get on the water and you don’t want to dump all that scratch into a boat at once or take out a mega-loan on what’s basically a seasonal-use toy, what to do? Would you consider restoring an old boat?

Recently, I spent the weekend at the annual boat show held in Tavares, Florida, by the ­Sunnyland chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society. I last visited this show a dozen years ago, and wow, things have changed—for the better. The show has improved and the participants prove much more interesting, simply because… times have changed. This means that unlike in the past, you don’t need a perfectly restored, high-dollar “golden woodie” to participate. Now, fiberglass classics (even outboards!) from the 1950s through the ’80s are not only accepted but welcomed.

I went to the show not just to observe, but also to participate. I displayed my vintage 1968 14-foot Glastron Jetflite outboard runabout rigged with a 1975 Evinrude Hustler 75 hp two-stroke outboard, with the Florida Chapter of the Antique Outboard Motor Club (AOMCI), which has its own section at the Sunnyland show. While far from perfect, what with its aging gelcoat and nonmatching engine, it was good enough to win a plaque for Best Classic at the Sunday morning awards ceremony. This is a perfect example of a classic ’60s runabout, and a great starter rig. My wife, Laura, and I have less than $6,000 invested, and while this boat is better suited to a couple than a family, it’s a fun, fast and attention-grabbing rig, whether you’re at a show or simply gassing it up at the local fuel dock.

The author’s beloved 1968 Glastron with an Evinrude 75 outboard made a great presentation at the show. John Tiger

Here’s what I found by diving headfirst into the antique-boat-club circuit. As time marches on, boats from boomers’ youth are more and more desirable—and ­becoming more collectible. ­Because they weren’t built all that long ago, they’re also arguably easier to restore. And it doesn’t matter if your classic boat is perfectly restored, with ­matching engine and rigging; at this year’s show, many fiberglass and wood classics were well-presented whether they were flawlessly restored and matched with the “correct” engine or rebuilt to the owner’s liking and fitted with a modern powerplant.

What makes getting and staying involved today much easier versus a decade or three ago is the ease of connecting and communicating with other like-minded folks. The internet and social media have made everything faster and easier. Getting connected with a local club, finding boats, engines and parts, and getting help when needed are all more convenient by using your phone or computer. Of course, a big part of the fun is putting in the time to resurrect a rig, and the thrill of firing it up on the water for the first time. However, an equally gratifying part of the experience is the social aspect. Most clubs have at least one or two gatherings annually, and the Southern clubs such as Florida’s Sunnyland and AOMCI chapters have many more, thanks to their nearly year-round boating weather.

To get a sense of who participates and different levels of involvement, I spoke with a handful of enthusiasts at the Sunnyland show. Here’s what they had to say about their participation, and why it might be a blast for you to try too.

Mike Hodes is about to cast off in his Wason wooden triple-cockpit runabout and take a spin. John Tiger

Mike Hodes (Clermont, Florida) displayed a beautifully restored wooden 1929 Wason runabout with Evinrude Big Four outboard. Hodes has been an antique-boat and ­outboard enthusiast most of his life, has a handful of restored rigs, and serves as the secretary of the Florida chapter of the Antique Outboard Motor Club. As Hodes notes, “I got my first outboard when I was in 4th grade from my step-grandfather who was a boat racer in the 1930s, and I’ve been hooked on boats and outboards ever since.” 

Fifteen-year-old Owen Turner enjoys the day on his restored Aristo-Craft Torpedo. John Tiger

Owen Turner (Dawsonville, Goergia) is a remarkably poised 15-year-old with a great pedigree in vintage boating. He displayed an awesome 1956 Aristo-Craft Torpedo runabout with a matching restored 1957 Mercury Mark-55E outboard. Turner belongs to the Aristo-Craft Turner family, who still operate Aristo-Craft as a fully functional facility. Interested parties can purchase a new Aristo-Craft or have theirs professionally restored there. “I was pretty much born into classic boating, and as I’ve grown, I’ve become more and more appreciative of the classic lines and the meticulous work required to restore these boats,” Turner says.

Mike and Manjot Sweet are sweet on classic Correct Craft ski boats; they show off their immaculate 1970 Barracuda, one of several classic ski boats in their collection. John Tiger

Mike and Manjot Sweet (Cleveland, Ohio) trailered a wonderfully restored 1970 Correct-Craft Barracuda inboard runabout. The Sweets are especially proud that their Barracuda is equipped with the rare Holman-Moody Ford ­high-­performance engine. The Sweets purchased this boat in Wisconsin and trailered it home a few years ago to restore it. Mike relays, “We use this and its twin, a green 1969 Barracuda we own, as everyday boats for skiing and cruising, as well as enjoying displaying at shows.”

Canadian Ed Nugent stows a few lines in the bow compartment of his classic 1968 Bertram Sportsman center-console sterndrive runabout. John Tiger

Ed Nugent (Sarasota, Florida, by way of Canada), “like Ted Nugent, but without the ‘T’ and a lot less money,” brought a 1968 ­Bertram Sportsman—a rare ­center-console (fewer than 100 made)—with a straight-six MerCruiser sterndrive. Nugent uses this boat as an everyday boat, as well as displaying it at  shows. Ed restored the boat over a three-year period, building it back from a bare shell. “We were looking for a stable boat that was good in big water, and when I saw the Sportsman, with its layout, I had to have one,” Nugent remarks.

Lou Ronca talks to a fellow Century Boats enthusiast as he waxes his newest ride to get ready for the day. John Tiger

Lou Ronca (Mount Dora, Florida) joined the Sunnyland ­Chapter of the ACBS in 1998 and has been an active participant ever since. Ronca had a major hand in starting the Sunnyland Chapter Apprentice Mentoring Program for Youth, which teaches young folks about boatbuilding. He has restored a total of eight antique runabouts and has a pontoon boat on Lake Dora. At this show, Ronca displayed a very sharp Century ­wooden runabout he had just purchased. “I don’t have to do anything but drive it. I’ve restored so many boats, it’s time to simply enjoy ­riding in one,” he shares.

Joe Fisher, VP of the Florida chapter of the Antique Outboard Club, poses with his 1947 Chris-Craft inboard runabout. John Tiger

Joe Fisher (Cocoa Beach, Florida) displayed a 1947 Chris-Craft Deluxe Runabout that simply glistened in the Florida sun. “We bought the boat in 1984 and spent two years restoring it, and my family has used it as a regular ride, as we live on the water,” Fisher says. He and his family fish offshore in a Grady-White fishing boat and also own 22 antique outboards with a focus on antique racing boats. Fisher is also the current vice president of the Florida chapter of the ­Antique Outboard Motor Club.

Ever the family man, enthusiast George Emmanuel stands aboard his pristine 1956 Chris-Craft Sportsman, which he affectionately named Muffet after his beloved wife. John Tiger

George and Wesley Emmanuel (Gainesville, Florida), a father-son duo, are both very active members of the Florida chapter of the Antique Outboard ­Motor Club. George is the current president, and Wesley is on the board of directors. Both brought picture-perfect inboard wooden runabouts to display at the Sunnyland show. George’s ride is a 1956 Chris-Craft Sportsman that he bought in 2000 and restored over 10 years. He also runs an aluminum Crestliner with his antique outboards. He got his start “growing up with my dad’s 30-foot Chris-Craft Sea Skiff, so these boats have been in my blood since childhood.”

Wesley’s rig is a 1958 Chris-Craft Cavalier 15-footer that he’s owned for just a few years. He purchased it at the encouragement of his girlfriend. “My dad bought this boat in the early ’80s, and as a kid, I helped him restore it,” he notes. “After 17 years, he sold it, and in 2023, I bought it back. We’ve really enjoyed having it back in the family.” Wesley’s redone the decks and transom, and plans are to refinish the hull sides and engine box in the coming months. He uses this boat regularly, cruising and skiing on local lakes in Gainesville.

Read Next: The Value of Classic Wooden Boats

Former Outboard Marine Corporation/Bombardier Recreational Products service representative Casey Lynn enjoys his Glasspar G-3 runabout in his retirement days. John Tiger

Casey Lynn (Quincy, Florida) grew up as a marine technician in the Keys and worked for 22 years at Outboard Marine Corporation (Johnson/Evinrude) as an ­engineer and field-service representative. “It was natural for me to be involved in restoring and enjoying vintage outboard runabouts as I got older,” Lynn says. “Now, in my retirement, I can work on and enjoy these boats full time.” Lynn’s restored 1960 Glasspar G-3 sport boat is powered by a matching 1960 Evinrude 75 hp V-4 outboard; he and his wife, Lesa, finished up the restoration in 2023 with new bottom, transom and floor. Together they own eight vintage rigs and attend most, if not all, AOMCI events throughout Florida. Their G-3 is a reliable and beautiful ride whether it’s a short hop or a long river run.

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