Batten down them hatches, full speed ahead! It is unlikely that this 1962 Cruisers Inc. 202-V Seafarer 16′ wooden runabout would be used to ferry passengers around on a three-hour tour but it is a wonderful example of an all-wood, closed bow boat, a marine construction technique that was rapidly given over to fiberglass by ’62. This boat reminds me of a similar one that I spent many, many wonderful hours on back in the ’70s, cruising, fishing, and water skiing Maryland’s waters such as the Severn and South Rivers as well as Assawoman Bay on the lower eastern shore. Yeah, wood can be a lot of work but what a cool presentation it makes! OK, all of you wanna-be skippers, this Cruisers runabout is located in Front Royal, Virginia and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $161.40 with fourteen bids tendered so far.
Interestingly, Cruisers Inc., which was formed in 1953, is still around today though it is now known as Cruisers Yachts, and like seemingly everything else, they have moved decidedly upscale these days. At the end of the ’50s Cruisers was building 3,000 boats per year, models that ranged from fourteen to twenty-one feet in length. At that time however, fiberglass-constructed boats were taking over in a large way but Cruisers remained committed to wood as they felt wood was a preferable construction material and would outlast fiberglass. Regardless, at the end of 1966, Cruisers saw the writing on the wall and ceased cellulose fiber-based construction and went with all-glass. Cruisers Inc. was acquired in the 1990s by a venture capitalist and the company was rechristened Cruisers Yachts. In spite of the change in ownership, the company still calls Oconto, Wisconsin home, where it has resided since its inception. The closest thing to our subject boat that Cruisers Yachts builds today is a 34-foot bowrider known as the GLS – yeah, things have changed a bit!
OK, so this runabout comes with a whole lot of caveats, such as “Donor states, the boat and trailer have sat unused since 1991…the engine does not run/function…the engine is not functional it may be repairable but may be seized or need complete replacement – AS IS, WHERE IS, NO GUARANTEE“. The engine is a 75 HP Johnson outboard but there’s no indication as to how old it is or how many hours it has experienced. This boat does come with a trailer and the seller adds, “trailer equipped with rollers, hand winch, and trailer jack. Trailer tires need to be replaced. Spare tire damaged“. Also included is a 4.2 HP Champion outboard motor which is probably a trolling unit but there’s no word on its operational capability.
The interior of this Cruiser is about as primitive as one would expect. The early-1960s style seats (uncomfortable!) appear to have been reupholstered at some point and there is a basic indoor/outdoor carpet covering the deck. Additionally, there is what looks like a folding Bimini top of unknown condition.
The listing bears a “here it as, as it is, don’t ask questions” vibe so obviously a close physical check would be in order for any potential skipper. I would probably be more concerned about the integrity of the hull than I would be about the operability of that old Johnson outboard. Wooden boats can be a lot of work, but just like an old car, they bring smiles to all who experience one. Tell me, has anyone had the pleasure (?) of wooden boat ownership?
Looks like Ben Gardner’s boat.
+10
Thanks Scotty. I didn’t know if anyone would get the reference.
“Here’s to swim’n with bow-legged wimmin”
-Sam Quint
What a wonderful find. These boats are always fun and as you can see, an easy way to have fun on a tight budget. As to keeping it going and running it. Also very affordable, and not all the maintenance you are scared of. Depending on where you live there is a very robust community of old boat freaks near you. And they are all like minded about budgets. 99% of the fun is DIY BTW. And when you are done with it, you will be able to get your 175 bucks back, thats for sure. BTW, Cruisers Inc are great little boats.
I wonder if the boat is available for pre-bid inspection. This boat could be a deuce unless she had been put up after a hard grounding resulting in a bunch of cracked frames. Oak and a steam box are do-ablebut the fasteners, rivet or machine screw with washers and nuts, the last time I bought bronze fasteners I got a free streatment with the purchase! In a barn it’s protected from the killer fresh water unless the barn leaks! What about the transom? Is the plywood still good. To the question, “Anyone had the (?) pleasure of wooden boat ownership? Yes, several. I sold many as a broker in the ’70s. I lived aboard my last two boats. A Teak motorsailor of 30 ft. 1” teak plank copper riveted to Ipol frames. Yacal keel and timbers. “Seasailor” design by Wirth Munroe built Hong Kong by Robin Fung. Then I bought a Webbers Cove Downeast 34 fiberglass hull finished as a raised pilothouse, cockpit motoryacht in mahogany and brunzeel ply. I replaced the decks, cockpit, parts of the cabin tops. Mahogany cabinet work below was excellent. By an old ship’s cabinet telling maker doing odd jobs at Lighthouse Point Marine in Florida. This was the last job he did!
I had similar boat in grammar school which I took alone down the East River to play amongst NYC tugs and ferries! A true love affair!
Motor is a 1962 also. This boat has a TON of potential! If only…..:( With a ringing endorsement from Woody Boater this should bring top dollar.
This looks just like the one my father brought home one day back in 66 or so. Had it a couple of years, learned to water ski behind it. Had a newer Mercury outboard on back, think it was a 50 , it was a decent riding boat. Do remember filling it with water in the spring to swell the lumber. A lot more maintenance than a later glass boat.
Many years ago a friend of mine had a Cruisers Inc. boat it was fiberglass and had a cutty cabin. It was powered by a Perkins diesel inboard engine. I had never heard of Cruisers Inc. until then. It was a really nice boat and he loved it. This boat looks like a nice weekender that repowered and made sea worthy again would be fun. GLWTA. I hope who ever buys it restores it and enjoys it for many years.
Please no repower. Keep it original.
I prefer an in board, but seems okay for the price.
No idea Cruisers was that old an outfit. They had some sweet cabin cruisers in the 80s
When I was a teenager, I bought a 1955 17ft Ladd runabout. Stripped it down to the bare hull and completely refitted it. Took me 3 years to complete it, but was quite a seaworthy boat. Used it all over San Francisco Bay. Even took it out 2 miles out past the Golden Gate a few times. Crazy kid! That old Johnson would be really difficult to find parts for.
Taking that out beyond the Gate took some courage! We had a 16 foot Reinell we occasionally used in the bay but mostly in the Delta. Refinished a beautiful carval planked mahogany tender when I was in HS. Love the old wooden boats….similar to affection for the old cars. This boat would be a fun project for the right person.
Courage? Now when I think about it I shudder. More like foolhardy . Reckless youth! My old man got wind of what I was doing and threatened to take an ax to the boat. Was out there and got into the “potato patch” and darn near lost her! Taught me a healthy respect for those treacherous waters.
Man that’s a thrill. Way out there.
Um, correct me if I’m wrong, but it’s like 12 degrees and a dusting of snow, is this appropriate? You bet, takes my, and many others minds off of that. Coming from Wis. who would have thought it would be so cold in the Rockies in the winter? Not me,,anyway, many may have heard( or are tiring) of my cottage stories as a kid. Lake Sinissippi( no relation)in Hustisford, Wis, ( population 708,,SALUTE!) about an hour north of Milwaukee. A good sized lake, but shallow. A dam on the Rock River made the lake, about 5 miles long, then another 5 miles up the river to Horicon. In the 60s, these were exactly the kinds of boats that people had. Not some yacht you could land a helicopter on, just a simple day of boating, maybe pull a skier, but BUSY. Had several close calls I’d rather not talk about( no camera phones back then, luckily).
Again, while it is out of season( unless it just takes that long for submissions to surface), $194 bucks tells me, people just don’t consider this fun. The motors are bulletproof, I had an “anthead” Johnny 75 just like this. Evinrude, similar.This may be the electric shift, like mine was, but in the mid 90s, I got an old 16 ft. fiberglass runabout, trailer AND motor for $100 bucks. A wood boat was a bit more special, and heck, that vintage Champion is probably more collectible as a mailbox stand. A “spare” motor was a must, not so much because of the reliability of the “main” motor, the 75 had more than enough power, they used an incredible amount of gas. Wood boats are heavy, and pulling a skier,, those are 2- 6 gallon cans( I think), and could EASILY go through that in an afternoon. We had a marina on the lake, Big Georges, and was a regular stop any time you took the boat out, for gas and oil. Gas was .35/gallon, oil, $1.29 a quart, and for $10 bucks, it was well worth it. Regardless of how much gas actually spilled into the lake, t’was of no concern then, he made quite a bundle. I think he moved to Vegas.
All these things then, boats, snowmobiles, go-karts, dirt bikes, ’56 Chevys,,what ever happened to all that? Right here, baby( pointing at noggin’), and they can’t take that away. Thanks, Jim, great find,,
(Pointin at the noggin)……..THEY can’t get to that. It’s not for sale at some auction driven price! :)
Back in the day as a long time suscriber to a certain publication with the words Wooden Boat in it, I marveled at the swoop of lapstrake clad sail and motor boats. In fact I have a 20 HP Fifties Johnson sitting on a stand in my workshop. Needs the exterior restored. Can’t remember why I bought it though.. I had an early fiberglas Lightning sailboat but grew up around the wooden versions.
Not a criticism but an observation, these Cruisers struck me as having a too low gunwale and a too wide and shallow prow, design wise. Just personal taste I guess. Bt it you have a relatively calm lake this would be a great little fly about.
Wish it were on the West coast. I grew up with a Dunphy wood boat very similar to this and would love to own/restore/use this.
It is for sure a great Barn Find. I lived in that area for 23 years( Moved 2021 ) or so. I had a 1959 46′ Richardson Motor Cruiser that we used up and down the Anacostia/Potomac rivers for about 10 years. Have a lot of good memories, a lot of bad ones when I had to pull her up out of the water and replace planks and do general repairs. Cost a small ransom to bring her back every 2 years to where she was once again presentable (Couldn’t let the Damn Rich men North of Richmond see her). Cruising the DC waters seemed to be a great idea on a historical, sound boat named the Corsair II. Many people would stop and take pictures, as the cruised by. I often wondered what the hell were they thinking? I then realized they were thinking the same about me. I lost her during a blizzard, 2020, was, and still am heartbroken over her loss. I was never able to go back down the the Eastern Power Boat Club and be comfortable afterwards. Look that Club up, “THE” Oldest Power Boat Club in the USA. I was proud to have been a part and member of that place for so many years. All my friends there are still there (Some Have Passed) having the time of their lives. Living the Dream, LOL, Or nightmare, whichever way you look at it. I miss the Corsair II with all my heart. My heart belonged to her for over 10 years My other half says it’s the only other woman that I truly fell in love with. I’d do it again today if I could. Chip and Bub, Mr. Green (RIP) are the friends I miss most at EPBC. So if ever in DC look the place up and visit.
J.O., I’ve had the very real pleasure of owning three wood boats: 1953 Century Resorter, a Gar Plane year unknown, a 1926 triple-cockpit Chris Craft. All Mahogany, all needing refinishing every year if pride of ownership mattered as it did me, all more beautiful than the fiberglass offerings today IMHO. Just as beauty is in the eyes of the beholder as we’ve read here so many times with so many vehicles, so is the pleasure – without a question mark – of owning a wood boat.
Lucky boat owner. He’ll get money and someone will haul his junk away.
Perfect for a three hour tour.
I had 64 Cruisers 16 footer like this when I lived near Green Bay. Really fun. Not a ton of work keeping it up. There are MUCH bigger wooden boats to sand. If it were closer to me, I’d snap it up in a heartbeat!
look at that big Johnson hangin’ off the back !! WOW !!
Nothing but wooden boats for me for the most part , Mason , Chris craft , Lyman , Peterborough, Lakefield. Nothing rides the water like a wooden boat.
Those 90’ V Johnson/Evinrudes were monsters. Nice running and smooth , but if you floored them they’d drain a five gallon tank awfully fast. Weighed as much as an elephant too.
Merc had them beat for a while, with their triple carb inline six Mercs, 700 then 1000 , then the 60’ V’s.
Those were the days, I can remember when the 35hp Johnson or Evinrude was the king of the lake.
Long gone, especially now when Bombardier shut down the Evinrude line .
Ole would not be pleased.
Jim, I was intrigued to find out that growing up you boated here on the Severn River. As you will certainly remember; there are quite a few creeks to putt around in and this little boat would be fun to use this way. However, as I’m sure you also will recall; the waters where the Severn flows into the Chesapeake Bay can be fairly rough with 2-3 foot rollers and plenty of bigger craft sending out some serious wake. Not pleasant in a boat like this. But I’m betting you would get some attention cruising Ego Alley in Annapolis in this neat little boat. Front Royal Virginia is not far from me. I’m tempted to toss out a bid. I don’t need another boat but….
” 75 Johnson , electric choke” , AJ’s first boat, the latest is a little bigger. HULLBILLY
followin the comments a lill closer to home (back then). There wasa fleet of these (w/o doghouse) racin in early ’60s 1/2 way up the Chessy (Cambridge, MD) w/the inboard 3.3L ford Thriftpower. Chromed headers, beautiful mahogany’n brass, etc. Lota fun!
For the out-ta-sea guys, most know the 17 ft rule’n ocean wave length…
Where’s my comment?
In the spam filter due to its length.
JO
SOLD for $1,225.
Stole it.