In the 1920’s a type of powerboat known as a runabout came into being. Featuring mahogany construction and automotive inspired styling elements such as steering wheels and windshields they were built mostly for day sailors who seldom lost site of land. Besides styling cues they also borrowed production methods from the auto manufacturers and like that industry many of the companies such as Chris-Craft, Century, Hacker, Gar Wood, and Lyman were located around the Great Lakes. Well known designer/builders included Christopher Columbus Smith, Garfield Arthur Wood and John Ludwig Hacker.
The name Chris-Craft became synonymous with speed, style and luxury. This Continental Utility is representative of the boats they were producing in the 1950's.
The Century Boat Company was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1926. Two years later it moved operations to Manistee, Michigan where they stayed for sixty years. There they built a reputation for producing reasonably priced quality wooden boats such as this Sea Maid. By the late 1960's Century, like most of the other surviving manufacturers, had turned to fiberglass hulls. The company now owned by Yamaha, is located in Florida. RMB
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