Classic American Runabouts: Wood Boats, 1915-1965

Chris-Craft, Gar Wood, Hackercraft, Minnett-Shield, Century, Stanley, all these and more of the most popular runabouts from 1915 through 1965 are expertly chronicled in this eagerly anticipated history of America's nautical icon. While their larger speedboat cousins were powered by aircraft engines and piloted exclusively by the wealthy, early runabouts'with their more modest inboard and outboard engines were more accessible and yet every bit as stylish in all respects. Today, even low-end runabouts from the golden age, with their hallmark chrome accessories and lovingly polished wooden hulls, fetch handsome sums at classic boat shows around the world. Authors Duncan and Ballantyne feature, in exclusive color photography, many of the finest wooden powerboats still breaking the waves today. Historic black-and-white shots capture them in their heyday, along with the legends who led the way: Christopher Columbus Smith, Gar Wood, John Hacker, Nap Lisee, and other giants of industry.