By Mery Swift

The first “runabouts” appeared in the 1920’s. They were beautiful wooden boats created for individuals longing to operate easily handled craft with grace and speed. Most gas-powered boats of those early times were commercial vessels or large crewed private yachts. Chris Craft and Gar Wood were two early and notable boat builders who undertook the challenge of turning out fast, agile yachts easily handled by one or two people. Through racing and publicity stunts the general public came to know and talk about these small affordable boats launching a popularity rage.

The popularity of individual and family fast boats has not slacked since. Usually fiberglass in construction for reasons of economy and ease of upkeep, these runabouts are top sellers. But people nonetheless search for old wooden boats to restore. They call distant relatives, sneak around old barns, do whatever they have to do looking for that rare find. Twenty years ago, finding an old Chris Craft wasn’t so difficult. Finding old wooden runabouts in recoverable shape has become increasingly difficult.

Chris Smith and Gar Wood quickly moved from experimental models to mass-produced boats. My family bought a Chris Craft in Martinez and brought it home to our middle class front yard in 1954. It was part of the family, a source of family bonding and fun for 12 years. Fittingly, for the 50’s, it was named “Happy Hour”, and indeed many a happy hour was spent aboard exploring the delta and bay.

The mission of mass production boats was and remains to keep building costs low, making it affordable for every household to own a boat if they want one. Our new Chris Craft had a chalky finish showing evidence of the two-week construction with a thin two-coat varnish finish. It was a good thing there were 23 kids in the isolated Walnut Creek neighborhood of my baby boom youth. With a fresh coat of varnish required every year, it really did take a village to keep “Happy” happy.

But despite the daunting work required, a few entrepreneurial boat builders on the west coast are recreating hand-crafted runabouts. In the Bay Area, one such is famed Stone Boat Yard, located in Alameda on the banks of the Oakland Estuary. Frank Stone founded the Yard in 1853, and Stone Boat Yard became well known for building defense, commercial and private yachts. Dust settled in the building bays after Lester, Frank’s son, sold the yard. But now the only dust is sawdust flying as three spanking new classic wooden runabout boats are near completion.

Industrialist Dave Olson purchased Stone Boat Yard in January 2000. Olson, who over the years has collected a small fleet of classic yachts, including the 78 foot long 1933 Linmar, simply couldn’t resist taking over the historic business. . He got to know Stone Boat Yard, and its crew leader Richard Maguire, when Linmar was undergoing restoration at Stone’s in 1999. Under Olson’s stewardship, and Richard Maguire’s continuing involvement, a team of professionals has been brought together in service to the art of building wooden boats.
Cutting edge technology and traditional skills merge in the modern production of this ancient craft. For example, at Stone’s today, “cold molding”, wherein solid mahogany planking is laminated over the best marine plywood, is practiced. Mahogany contains natural oils that repel water to fight rot. Modern laminates of epoxy bonds between layers of mahogany and plywood giving the hull rigidity, strength and beauty with lower maintenance. It also helps to quiet the hull from the drum-like sounds often heard in fast boats”, says Jagen Twichell, Stone’s new project coordinator.

The flagship of Stone Boatyard’s new fleet pf wooden classis is the 36: a modern day commuter. Her hull has the beautiful lines of an early runabout; while her stainless steel clad cabin top is a flashback to the Flash Gordon type of racy 50’s. Even Flash would be impressed by the 330 hp MPI engines. This runabout planes along at 55mph without breaking a sweat.
The 26’s are sportier. Modeled after a Ventnor design from the 30’s she is a racy runabout with the power to excite. Her 425hp 8.1L MPI engine comes to life with the single twist of the key. A lower stance offers a ride with just enough spray to give passengers a sense of racing in gold cups of days past. The aft position of the cockpit offers a smoother ride creating comfort in all sorts of conditions.