Member Spotlight

Steve & Mary Beck

I really do not remember much about boating as a youth in Southeastern Wisconsin, but do remember my Aunt Judy working summers for the local sheriff’s patrol. She used her wooden Thompson boat to chase down speeders from her lake home on Long Lake. She would watch the offender fly by and leisurely untie the boat and head off down the lake in pursuit -- small lakes mean you always got your man. 

I do have a fondness for antiques in general, but it was not until college that I became aware of the “bug” inside all of us for wooden boats. While attending college in North Dakota, my friends would bring me to Detroit Lakes during the summer and this is where my symptoms began. I saw a few older outboards and fewer inboards running the lakes, beautiful antique wood on a boat -- a nice combination. I set a goal to purchase a project after graduation.

Five years later I finally found what was to be the first of many: a 1955 Correct Craft Commuter 18’ (utility) originally owned by wrestler Vern Gagne. He supposedly bought the boat new at Cocrans on Lake Minnetonka. It was to be the typical cosmetic restoration, but turned out to be a major undertaking (sound familiar?). A 272 hp Ford Interceptor that “runs great” translated to a cracked block and Dearbomatic transmission that never transmitted. That motor and transmission must have been in and out of the boat five times before I found a replacement. The rebuilt replacement was a 312 hp Ford and Velvet Drive that made the boat really move. 

I have since had a few others: 1961 Thompson, 1952 Chris Craft Kit Boat (10 year restoration which should have taken 3 months!), 1964 Century Coronado, 1966 Century Resorter, 1955 Century Coronado.

As you can see, I have clearly developed a soft spot (pardon the pun) for Century Boats. In fact, so much so that I cannot seem to pass when someone advises where there is one for sale. They are a bit gaudy with an overuse of naugahyde, but are generally affordable and fast! I must thank fellow Century nut Ron Goette for assisting me with my “problem.” He has been a wealth of information on the early Coronado and Arabian. 

My wife Mary is well aware that I have a “problem.” She gets nervous when I mention a boat price of $2,000 or less! She knows this is a direct translation meaning “needs work” and the term “needs work” is vague indeed. I cannot seem to stop uncovering these deals and may need the assistance of a support group to correct the situation. I have even considered different options for storing one’s wooden baubles. A barn purchase, pole barn construction or a warehouse rental would do the trick. Heck, if there were enough of us, we could band together to find a location to hide our purchases from our significant others -- take the group underground, secret passwords, etc. Can you say co-dependent?! 

My current duties are to steer the educational direction of the club and maintain a database of vendors and suppliers to assist our members in the restoration and maintenance of our wooden wonders. Our members offer a wealth of expertise and are always there for support. After all, who else can you turn to when you have the disease?