By Jeff Stebbins, ACBS President

The Antique and Classic Boat Society by its name conjures images of different boats for different people. Many, like Paul Mikkelson, can only imagine a barn full of Larson Falls Flyers; others may visualize a long deck launch, gracefully and effortlessly gliding through the water on some pristine Adirondack lake. People who grew up in the mid-fifties during the beginning of and transition to fiberglass envision a barn full of Lone Star Meteors – even Paul might dream of a barn full of fiberglass Falls Flyers that are identical in design and shape as their cedar stripped predecessor. Perhaps some might envision a sleek Chris-Craft Silver Arrow or, for that matter, the fiberglass fin on the late Cobras. My point here is an antique and classic boat means something different to all of us. Whether it was made from fiberglass, wood, or a combination of both.

Much has been written recently about the inclusion of the racy automobile-like, deco-designed mid-to-late fifties fiberglass or “Fiberglassics” as it were. Many feel that ACBS as an organization has been remiss or even snobbish by not including fiberglass boats in our classifications and judging. Some have also felt that ACBS has never accepted any boat other than wood. I personally have had conversations with fiberglass enthusiasts who have said ACBS should take a stand and include these great fiberglass boats of our celebrated era.

Here I am “at the top”, as some would say, admitting that there is always something new to learn. At the ACBS budget meeting each fall in Clayton, NY, the executives and directors discuss the budget for the coming year, discuss goals and initiatives and set course for the year to come. This year, I proclaimed that we as an organization should embrace all fiberglass boat enthusiasts to participate in our organization and activities through established judging classifications and criteria. John Howard had the immediate response to my proclamation.

ACBS International has never excluded fiberglass or any other material for that matter. If you review the Mission and Vision Statements there is no mention of wood, fiberglass, aluminum or the combination of any material. This Organization celebrates an era within which we define Historic, Antique or Classic boats by year not material. Would we ever exclude a turn of the century Mullins because it’s made from stamped steel? The judging criteria have always included a non-wood boat classification regardless of year or boat type. I have asked the judging committee to be more specific by generating a fiberglass-only judging sheet.

In our strategic and long-term planning session last month we reviewed specific steps to embrace owners of fiberglass boats and all non-wood materials up to the year 1968 and encourage them to become members. This, of course, may upset those who think wood is the only suitable material for ACBS members’ boats. Our Founders didn’t think so when this organization was first established. When the Vision and Mission Statements were created and our Founders chartered our Constitution, they didn’t exclude non-wood boats. All ACBS chapters are encouraged to accept and include fiberglass boats at their ACBS sanctioned shows. In addition, we state in our long-range plan that like-kind boating organizations’ members will be encouraged to participate and join our organization regardless of the make or material of their boats.

One last thought: at the First Annual ACBS boat show in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, an Arena Craft (fiberglass) won the most original best-preserved boat award.