The Storm Boats From Correct Craft, A Story About What Makes Life Better
Under cover Correct Craft at Lake Dora
One of the most powerful displays at Lake Dora this year was the Correct Craft Storm Boat and Jeep. Okay, the Jeep just gave me PTWD—Post-Traumatic Willys Disorder—but the Storm Boat, which appeared simple, like a large Jon boat, turned out to be the one with the most heart, passion, and true American moxie.
Looked simple, but man oh man.
I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, but that boat gave me a newfound appreciation for one of America’s great boat brands. Sure, I’ve sat through presentations, visited the website, and understood Correct Craft as a brand. But I never really felt it—the passion, the history, the spirit—until I saw this boat and learned its story. Passion, perseverance, innovation, engineering, drive, a can-do attitude, and reliability. After all, it is a “Correct” Craft. And now, I get it.
Testing the waters
The outboard on display at the show
This little WWII wooden boat represents everything the brand stands for. In fact, one could argue—and I will—that every Correct Craft brand carries a piece of that same DNA, a grain of that very wood at its core.
The team at the sea trial
Now, bear with me as I say something cliché in marketing: Is Correct Craft about boats, engines, and technology? Yes, of course. But at its heart, it’s really about the people—the passion they bring, the innovation they drive, and the legacy they build. Every Correct Craft brand shares that spirit, and the Storm Boat embodies all of it in one small plywood vessel.
My father near the Rhine River during WW2
On a personal note, my father was in that very fight, crossing the Rhine River during World War II. That little Storm Boat may have even been there for him. So, there you have it. My life is better because of Correct Craft—and because I went to Lake Dora.
Here is the story in a short video, that explains the build of this specific Storm Boat and the collaboration of our little community with the team at Correct-Craft. And of course if you want to know more about Correct – Craft. CLICK HERE
What a great story!
I know they design and build great ski boats and my 1985 Ski Nautique was a wonderful example. I never knew they were part of the WWll manufacturing effort. They just moved up a notch in my respect for the company.
I knew Walter Meloon sr as a kid living on a lake in Milton N.H. , Walter came north summers and had a Correct Craft dealership on the lake, as kids my brothers and i would stop there often to see the new boats mostly Atom and Compact skiers then later on the Mustangs. Mostly and outboard lake until Walter showed up. Our family boat was bought there in 1961 a Classic which my brothers an i still own and operate.
What a great story! It is things like this that won WWII. It is a good thing to recreate something like this so Americans do not forget.
Great stuff!
I will be taking a Viking cruise on the Rhine later this year. I wonder where they were crossing?
Troy, my dad Leonard crossed the Rhine just north of Düsseldorf. Of course he used a Century assault boat, one of the more than 7000 made by Century.
Century’s contribution to the war effort. I’ve met the younger members of the Meloon family at various boat shows. Fine people with a real interest, no, make that passion, in doing good work.
Great story! Thank you for preserving it and telling it. They always say, if we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. What a great way to be reminded! And to think, it was brought to us by a boat!
Thanks for sharing such a great story.
Ralph and Wilson at Sunnyland 2014. Two greats both gone.
My first woody was a 1956 Atom Skier Correct Craft I bought right out of high school. There is a book written about the effort of the Meloon family during the war, working from sun up to midnight every day except Sunday when the rested and thanked the Lord. The book is very heart warming and moving and starts with the making of 569 17′ landing boats especially for crossing the Rhine. Eisenhower gave them a month to build all those boats and they finished before the deadline of March 5th, they got the order of February 10th. The book covers the Correct Craft company from 1945 to 1975 and is a great read. The book title is: “SAVED FROM BANKRUPTCY” the story of the boat building Meloons written by David and Dorothy Enlow.
It’s my understanding that the US Plywood Co. had a plant in Algoma Wisconsin starting in the early 1900’S and they made wooden boats around the second world war. I would not be surprised to learn that they were involved in making some of the boats in the article. Does anyone have any knowledge of this possibility?
Algoma Boat Works was owned by US Plywood. They made strip veneer cold molded boats mostly, not the large plywood sheet assault/storm boats. Noteworthy, nearly all workers were women. After the war, boat works was sold to Wagemaker in Michigan.
Another good read on the Meloon family & Correct Craft, that expands further on the one Mike P noted, is “On the Water’s of the World” by Robert G. Flood. It begins with the company’s founding, recounts the story of the storm boats, covers their return from a bankruptcy resulting from their refusal to pay off government inspectors in the 1950s, the move to fiberglass & the success spurred by the Ski Nautique. Dad had this ’67 Mustang, thru the mid & late 1980s. As young adults, my husband, brothers & I had a great time with it.
When I looked at the Storm Boat I was wondering if this was an actual storm boat or a Boston whaler stripped down and painted olive drab. I was amazed at its advanced design. And you could do a story on Boat model names and why they use them for boats and not incorporate more water related names rather than a horse or a snake or ????? I guess Sturgeon, trout, or walleye would not be that catchy.
Sturgeon, trout, or walleye all live UNDER the water which is exactly where you definitely don’t want your brand new boat to end up!
🤣. Leave it to M Fine to use logic. Seems like I recall a Barracuda used by someone.
Floyd,
Correct Craft used the Barracuda name, although I believe it was inspired by the car, rather than the fish. During the 1960s, the brand seems to have had a thing for Buick & Ford model names, offering Skylark, Riviera, Wildcat & Torino, in addition to Mustang & Barracuda.
What a heartwarming story! I used to water ski behind a 1965 Correct Craft Aqua Skier. It was a Plywood hulled ski boat with a small block v8. I believe it was the last year they made a wooden ski boat. My good friend, who I just visited yesterday was a classmate of mine in elementery school and we both went to University of Puget Sound. We were fraternity brothers in Phi Delta Theta. His parents owned a summer home on Hoods Canal in Puget Sound. It saw a lot of time on the salt water. He still owns it but the salt water has taken it’s toll on the engine and transmission.
What a great tribute to a great company with outstanding people!!!—–So very proud to have it on display at our Sunnyland Antique Boat Festival!!!!
Once again in our caption on our poster—-” ITS MORE THAN A BOAT SHOW ITS AN EVENT”—
Congratulations to everyone who was involved to meet the deadline and have it on display——it attracted a huge crowd—-Special thanks to AOMCI—-hope to see everyone back next year—-safe travels—Terry Fiest
I didn’t even know Correct Craft was around for that long. Great video, story. I don’t see any mention of who provided the original motors for them. Johnson, Evinrude? Anybody?
Great story
There was talk for years in the Florida Chapter of AOMCI about building one. Awesome to see it done and to see the collaboration between Correct Craft and FL-AOMCI! Mike Hodes, with FL-AOMCI, said the boat was designed to hold 8 guys and gear and that when they were test running it that it ran better with more people in it.
Thanks Wes, this was a fun project and 6 AOMCI men and many CC folks worked hard. The SB is a dream to drive and runs 24 mph when loaded!
1949 Correct Craft 18′ Runabout Gray Fireball 6