Is December 7th The Dividing Line Of Pre War And Post War Boats?

US Air Force Pre War U22 – Used in the 1950’s. Photo Alen Mckean

Today is a day we all remember, even if we were lucky enough to not be there. A day that lives in infamy. Strange how things evolve in the most obscure ways. Like our little niche of Antique and Classic boats. Buy the way, this is merely a classification from the ACBS, one could argue, that its just pre war and post war, or hand built to mass produced. Or pre Philips head. It’s also possible to divide the boats by style and influence from a design perspective, which actually may be a more correct dividing line. Style change dramatically after the war, and our boomer parents wanted to just go boating after a crap fest of 5 years or so. Yes I know it ended in 1945. And its hard to find 1942-1946 boats that were not all used for the war effort.

1942 Brochure

But for tor today’s discussion is Dec 7th also an official line in the sandpaper? Seems like most stuff built in the soft area of 41 and 42 is left over stuff , and 46 is kinda left over stuff. So, and you can see it in the designs. 1947 is when stuff really got a different look.

Smoother, rounded design, Chris-Craft 17′ Deluxe – Image Courtesy Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club

Regardless of this niche thing, we do remember, we thank, and we treasure all our service men and women who fought and fight for our ability to be ourselves. Misspellings and all!

landing Craft

My Mom and Dad on the left during WW2  and  Aunts on the far right.

Higgins Landing craft

The Chris Craft military line up. Would LOVE that one at the top! What the heck is that?

Mecum Auction Archive -Custom 38′ Rumrunner Liberty V12 – OK this boat is tome… the coolest boat there.. Its simple and complex, its greay and new.. It’s new and old.. Put on a WWII navy uniform and get used in every WWII movie made.. LOVE IT

Of course now a days everyone is on their dam phones. Which does bring up the APP. Sign up today. banner on the right. One of my favorite shots. WW2.0 in one shot!

 

 

17 replies
  1. Greg Lewandowski
    Greg Lewandowski says:

    We must never forget Pearl Harbor and the brave veterans of WWll that gave us the great gift of freedom and allowing us to enjoy WoodyBoating. It is sad that we are loosing so many of those great men and women.

  2. m-fine
    m-fine says:

    It seems like the pre and post war designation is a useful separator because you had an extended period with nothing in between. With pretty much no civilian production in 1943-1944, there is no need to argue about calendar year vs model year and how they were different for different builders. We don’t need specific dates where a boat built one day is in a different class than a near identical one built the next day. The dividing “line” is more like a huge gulf.

    Anything civilian built through 1942 give or take is pre-war. Anything built in 1945 or later is post war. Post war boats made from pre-war parts are still post war. If anyone has a civilian boat built mid war, well, that is truly special.

  3. Jim Staib
    Jim Staib says:

    YUP! Neat header boat. Looks like a large triple hatched over and painted. Gives me an idea for the 28′ I have. So many ideas, so little time.

  4. Sean
    Sean says:

    World War II started September 1, 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. It ended September 2 1945 on the decks of the USS Missouri. Because the USA was a non combatant until December 7 1841, (and Canada entered on September 10, 1938) the actual dates of the war do not change.

  5. Sean
    Sean says:

    The boat pictured above is a Canadian built Fairmile (British design). At 115′ LOA these “little ships” just fit through the Trent-Severn locks. Familiar companies like Greavette, Minett-Shields, Hunter Boats, Grew and Mac-Craft amongst others, built 80 of these wooden sub chasers, some of which even found their way to the US Navy.

    • Cameron
      Cameron says:

      Sean,
      The Thesens Boatyard in Knysna, South Africa, built several Fairmile sub chasers entirely from wood for the war effort. Their number is well documented and historical photos exist. I’m away from home now, but can send you more information should you wish it.

  6. Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U.P.)
    Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U.P.) says:

    December 7 1941 a day that will live in infamy. FDR. We must never forget. If you ignore history you are destine to repeat it. Yes it is sad we are losing the “Greatest Generation”. If you run into one of these people next summer, take them a boat ride.

  7. Arnie
    Arnie says:

    I heard on the news this morning that no Pearl Harbor survivors will be attending ceremonies at Pearl Harbor today. Sad indeed!

  8. Wilson
    Wilson says:

    Well, I don’t think I qualify as a mamber of the “Greatest Generation” but I do remember Dec. 7th, 1941. When my parents heard the news on the radio, I was dispatched on my bicycle to tell the neighbors.
    As a Boy Scout we picked up a lot of scrap metal and in a year or so we befriended the lady in the bicycle shop who saved the prewar red rubber tubes for the paper boys because the war time tubes were almost impossible to patch.
    I recall too going to Miami Beach and you could see cargo ships ablaze and later pick up all kinds of floasam and jetusom that floated ashore after thy sunk. So many stories…So little time

  9. Ollon
    Ollon says:

    The VA says there are fewer than 500,000 left of the 16 million that served in WWII. My Dad being one of them. He graduated High School on D-Day and saw his first action as a “replacement” soldier in the Battle of the Bulge. After victory in Europe, he didn’t have enough “points” to go home and was on a ship on his way to the invasion of Japan when they dropped the bomb. He never talks about it and he’s just happy he got to live the rest of his life. 92 and still boating.

  10. Wudzgud
    Wudzgud says:

    My Grandfather was in the Coast Guard during the war. He painted his Elco battleship gray with the numbers painted on the side in white. They would patrol New York Harbor looking for German U Boats.

  11. Jerry Campbee
    Jerry Campbee says:

    You mention the screws. I have a 1941 barrelback. When removing the planks for replacement I found that there was about 1/4 of them were slotted. They were mixed as if they just filled a container with both and just grabbed at random. This was the same for all areas and for different size screws.

  12. George Burgess
    George Burgess says:

    My dad was in WWII as an infantry man in France, He passed away in 2016 at 100 years old. We should never forget what these men sacrificed so the rest of us can enjoy the benefits of freedom! God Bless everyone who in WWII. We will never forget your what you did for our freedom!

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