Recent Posts

  There is a 1959, 15 1/2 foot North American Marine plywood runabout on e-bay today.  The auction is up in 2 days.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/WOOD-RUNABOUT-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ220657634963QQptZPowerQ5fMotorboats

or just go to e-bay and type in  North American Marine.

Ron

If you are interested in joining this forum please:
1. Register in the upper left-hand corner;
2. Send an email to Ron asking to join: ronghere@msn.com

Ron is quick to respond, and this will insure your membership request is promptly approved.
We look forward to new members and to sharing any information about, or pictures of these great little boats.

Thanks,
"The Web Girl"

Please keep us informed of any news you may have on North Amarican Marine boats. If you are in the process of restoring or repairing your boat keep us updated on your progress.  Pictures are appreciated as we add to the website.  Pictures don't have to be of restorations; would love more action shots of your boats on the water.  Please feel free to comment, share ideas, or ask for advice.

Any news on North American Marine Boats is greatly appreciated.

Eight years ago we purchased our 1958 N.A. from a gentleman in Neoga, IL.  He had told us that another man in Neoga had a twin to our boat.  Yesterday he called and said the "twin" was being sold at auction.  So, yesterday I bought the "twin" and so now we have two 1958's.  It's in pretty good shape.  This evening we will take it to the lake and see if we can get the motor started.  I took pictures of the boat at the auction and they should be posted this weekend.

Ron

Hi,
Sorry for the inaccuracy, but the point is still clear. Gatherings of more than one North American at a time are exceedingly rare!
Also, the Uncle Buddy is in for some major structural repairs. The transom rotted out and took part of the keel and stringers with it. I am about half way through the repairs and will send some photos later. I expect the boat to look better than ever and be stronger after completion.

Bob Schlink

Hi,
My name is Bob Schlink and I have a 1964 North American 14' boat named "Uncle Buddy"which my brother and I restored. We just returned from the ACBS International Boat Show. Ron Hooker is a great guy with a great boat and he said that he has been in 40 shows and this is the only one that had 2 North Americans! We have a modern outboard and therefore were not competitive but we had an excellent time. Good luck with your restoration and maybe there will soon be a show with 3 North Americans!

Ron forgets....  The 2005 International ACBS at Lake of the Ozarks was the first time for there to be two North Americans at the same show.  I was there, as a member of the host chapter with my 1957 14-footer, "Little Fox"

We put the 1958, 35 hp Johnson outboard on the boat and the electric starter wouldn't turn it over.  We have since bought a new battery and will try it this weekend.  Ryan pulled the rope starter and the little Johnson fired right up.  We cruised the lake and had a great ride.  The boys, 8 and 6 took turns skiing behind her.  The North American popped them right up out of the water and they skied around the lake.  We need to find a seal to go around the hood of the motor.  The old one is very worn and cracked and makes for a noisy ride.  Also the gas hose fitting that attaches to the motor (3 holes) has a weak spring in the one port and leaks gas.

Anyone who knows a good supplier of old Johnson parts please let us know.  Probably the highlight of last weekend was my Dad (age 87) went for a ride in the North American. We also stopped by and showed the boat to the old owner.  He was very pleased with our rehabbing of the boat.  Look for new pictures to be posted soon.

Ron

It’s been almost six years since we purchased our North  American.  The last month has been very productive as we now are ready to do our wiring and put the motor on.  It’s a 1958 35 HP Johnson outboard.  My grandkids (Ryan’s kids) ages 7, 6 and 3 are all skiing and can’t wait to ski behind the North American.
What we’ve learned:  take plenty of pictures before you take the hardware off of the boat.   Take pictures of all of the wiring.  Label all parts as you remove them from the boat.  Be careful sanding, the layers of cold molded plywood are very thin.  The book How to Restore Your Wooden Runabout by Don Danenbuerg (both volumes) are a necessity for first timers.   

Would we do another one?  You bet!  We have found and are going to try to buy the twin to our boat this weekend.  So look here for updates.

Please sign in and share information with us.  Or feel free to ask questions.  We may not know all the answers, but will try to find out all we can to help.   KEEP US UPDATED AND SEND PICTURES OF YOUR NORTH AMERICAN.

Ron

Ron, I posted your pictures and they look great!  Please encourage others to send pictures, join your forum, and share information about these great little wooden boats!

nbrach@Mayberry Web Design

It's been a good last couple of weeks at NAWB.  We sprayed the last coat of varnish on our boat and should begin putting the hardware back on and installing the seats and motor.  Hope to get her on the lake within two weeks.

Also, we have received two e-mails concerning other North American Marine Boats.  One is in Alabama and the other is in Canada.  We hope to be able to share photos of these boats when we receive them.

Information on our boats is hard to find.  Anything you have to add will be helpful.

Thanks,

Ron and Ryan