Classic boats presented: Models & History | BOOTE (2024)

They don't just exist in the car sector - classic cars and their enthusiasts. Also among the Motorboats you will find classics that are reminiscent of earlier times - through their appearance, their material or their drive. Some of them are really old and have been restored, others are new builds in retro style. The variety of oldies is huge: From racing boats to trawlers to motor yachts - there is almost nothing that does not exist among the classics.

BOOTE presents particularly interesting and impressive classics, provides practical knowledge on care and restoration and reports on events where you can see these beautiful old boats.

Definition: What is a classic?

Before discussing the details, BOOTE first clarifies this fundamental question. When do you start talking about a classic? Does it have anything to do with the age of the boat? Or with the appearance? Many classics are genuine old-timers that are over 30 years old. Of course, they need to be maintained and restored in order to remain functional and attractive. With classic boats, the restoration process centres on preserving the original appearance.

However, there are also shipyards that specialise in building retro boats and construct new boats to resemble those from earlier times. These boats then exude the flair of times gone by, but are also equipped with the latest technology and, despite their wooden look, are not susceptible to environmental influences (as the wood is coated with epoxy resin). Tradition and modernity often come together in classic designs.

Why a retro boat?

So what is the attraction of these oldies and retro boats? Why do enthusiasts buy such labour-intensive, high-maintenance boat projects, which are also expensive due to their collector's value and rarity? The answer is already in the question: because they are real enthusiasts. Technology and design from earlier times can exert a great fascination. Back when seafaring was still a real adventure and boatbuilding was still a pure craft - fans of classic boats love to reminisce about these times. In the twenties and thirties, in the post-war period or in the seventies, eighties and nineties.

Most owners do not see the restoration, conversion and maintenance of classic boats as work, but rather as a hobby. There are also boat workshops that specialise in floating classic cars and take on conversion, renovation, care and maintenance work. If you can and want to do it yourself, you can find a bargain or two on the second-hand boat market - because boats in need of renovation can often be bought quite cheaply.

Boat types: How do the classics differ?

Then as now, the majority of leisure boats on the water were various types of pleasure craft. These include open runabouts, car boats and day cruisers as well as cruising and cabin cruisers. The popular planing mode is not an achievement that has only become possible in recent years, and so many oldies are already available asGlider constructed.

The cradle of racing boat sport lies in the USA and so really old models of racing boats are real rarities in this country. In the post-war period, only a very wealthy clientele could afford aRacing boatand take part in the relevant competitions.

The so-calledCar boats are similar to a car in terms of their equipment. They have a windscreen, a dashboard, a steering wheel and upholstered seats. They were built back in the 1920s and 1930s and are still very popular with fans of classic boats today.

Of course, there are also classics in the larger motorboat segment. In the past, as today, a larger saloon is often one of the features of a yacht.

Due to their size and weight, historic yachts are practically alwaysDisplacer. While it is now possible to construct and motorise smaller yachts in such a way that they can glide, this was not possible in the past. In the past, larger motorboats were always equipped with inboard engines.

A special form among the motor yachts areTrawler. While the term is used in commercial shipping for an ocean-going vessel that fishes with trawls, in the leisure sector it refers to a seaworthy, larger motorboat that is suitable for longer trips. Trawlers are characterised by excellent stability and manoeuvrability, robust materials and high bunker capacities. This type of boat has also been built for the leisure sector since the 1960s and some of the earlier models are still in use today as valuable and indestructible ocean-going yachts - with countless nautical miles under their belts.

The advantages ofCatamarans and trimarans are not just a recent phenomenon. Whether under sail or motorised - twin or multihull boats are unbeatably fast and efficient. Catamarans or trimarans are therefore the perfect companions for racing athletes or world travellers.

Terms that you will also often come across in connection with classic boats are those of the forecastle deck and the shaft truss. In the case of back deckers, the entire foredeck is covered with a cabin and therefore raised. This maximises the living space. Baking deck existed over a hundred years ago and were produced in large numbers for a long time. With their elegant shape, they epitomise the golden age of motorboats and are popular collector's items.

The so-calledWave binder are no less old and stand for a certain hull shape. They are also known as round chocks. Shaft trusses are constructed in such a way that no braking keel wave is created. They were often built in-house. This construction method was mainly used for smaller, fast boats.

Holiday onHouseboats is currently back in fashion. A hundred years ago, barges were converted into habitable boats in Paris. After the Second World War, the first houseboats were produced in series. Since the 1980s, the renowned Jeanneau shipyard, among others, has dedicated itself to the construction of houseboats. Many of these floating holiday residences are still lovingly renovated, maintained and, of course, still lived in or rented out.

Wooden boatsare very special pieces of jewellery. In the past, there were few alternatives to wood as a material in boatbuilding. Things are very different today: Glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) is much cheaper, more robust and requires less maintenance. Nevertheless, new boats are still being built from wood. Because the look of wood is simply unsurpassable. Nowadays, wood can also be permanently sealed with synthetic resins, which eliminates a lot of maintenance work on the material. More often than the hull, the floors on deck and other furnishings are still made of wood. For environmental reasons, however, there is a trend away from expensive tropical woods such as teak and mahogany, which are often used on high-quality boats.

Genuine wooden classics are definitely something for connoisseurs. This is because wooden boats that have not been preserved with resins require a great deal of care. The material needs to be sanded and repainted regularly and damaged parts need to be replaced. So if you don't want to spend every winter doing this kind of work, an oldie made of wood is not for you!

A hobby that is often associated with the use of boats is theFishing. Whether salt or freshwater fishing - you have more success and fun from trolling boats that are designed for hunting lake trout, char, pike or other creatures.

Drive types for classic cars: high tech or old school?

Like all other boats, classic boats differ in terms of their propulsion systems. There is no less choice for oldies than for new builds. Even an old boat can be equipped with a Electric motor can be equipped. Maintaining the original drive type is not always the top priority. Often, the main focus is on the appearance of the classics - so it doesn't matter whether they have a diesel or electric motor inside. Sometimes, however, it is precisely the drive system that is important for vintage boats. Take steamboats, for example, of which there are only a few left.

Even if there are definitely classics that can be combined with Outboards Although some boats are equipped with outboards, the type of propulsion so popular with newer boats is in the minority. Often, the outboard motor simply doesn't fit in with the retro style for aesthetic reasons, but sometimes the design of the old boats only allows the installation of an outboard motor. Inborders as propulsion. The fact that larger boats can also be operated with outboard motors is still a relatively new development - boats from earlier times were always equipped with inboard motors above a certain size. These were often diesel engines with a solid construction that did not have any electronics and were considered "indestructible". At some point, however, even these durable engines reach their limits and have to be replaced. For some boat owners, the investment that then has to be made is a reason to dispose of the boat straight away - not so for lovers of oldies. By purchasing and installing a new engine, they can look forward to enjoying their collector's item for decades to come.

If a boat is officially classed as a classic car (it must be at least 30 years old, have a certain design and fulfil other requirements depending on the region), it may not have to comply with the applicable exhaust emission limits. However, this special right only exists as long as the original engine is installed.

Restoration and maintenance of classic motorboats

Care, maintenance and restoration play a major role when it comes to classic motorboats. Similar to the property sector, you can get real bargains if you are prepared to invest time and money in the development and restoration. However, if you want to buy a fully restored classic that you can drive off in straight away, you will have to dig a lot deeper into your pockets. Logically, the better the condition, the rarer and the older the boat, the more expensive it is. As with old houses, boats in need of renovation usually have a few surprises in store and the work on them takes longer than expected. As boats have to deal with materials, systems and components that are sometimes unfamiliar from land, a lot of improvisation and learning by doing is required. But perseverance and patience are also qualities that are in demand for refit projects.

However, classic boats are not just a challenge for owners when they are first built. They also require more care, maintenance and repair during operation. They have to be constantly sanded, derusted, painted and repaired. This not only costs time, but also money.

Many owners of classic motorboats enjoy being able to let off steam on their watercraft. Maintenance work is just as much a part of their hobby as spending time on the water. However, to ensure that conversion, repairs and maintenance are a success, you shouldn't just get on with it, but find out beforehand how to do it as cheaply, quickly and practically as possible. BOOTE provides tips and suggestions for restoring and maintaining classic boats. Reports on refit projects by hobbyists, mechanics and professional boat builders serve as inspiration, motivation or simply as entertainment.

Classic motorboat models from the really big boat builders

There are some brand names that appear particularly often in connection with classic boats. BOOTE represents Traditional shipyards which, then as now, stood for boatbuilding of the highest perfection.

Riva Yachts: Dolce Vita in turquoise and mahogany

The history of Riva Yachts goes back a long way - to 1842, to be precise. Since then, the shipyard on Lake Iseo has been building beautiful yachts that are unrivalled. Riva stands for joie de vivre, luxury and dolce vita as well as for high-end quality. No wonder so many stars and starlets are customers of the Italian manufacturer. It is also no surprise that Riva's celebrated motorboats, of all things, are cherished as classic cars. The "Aquarama" model is a particular favourite among collectors. Typical design features such as the white steering wheel, seamless mahogany panelling, fine leather upholstery and turquoise elements make the hearts of enthusiasts beat faster. The "Aquarama" not only has cult status, but also a high collector's value. But some new models from Riva also reflect times gone by - for example the "Riva Iseo" runabout and the "Aquariva Super" cruiser. And even the legendary "Aquarama" is available as a new limited edition to mark its 180th anniversary.

Riva is now part of the powerful Ferretti Group, which does not detract from the fascination and success of the company.

Boesch: Where the golden times never end

The boats from the Swiss company Boesch are similarly popular among vintage fans. All models from the traditional shipyard are runabouts, and even today they still come in an unrivalled retro style that attracts attention and exudes the flair of the golden Cote d'Azur era.

Boesch boats are not only available in a new vintage look, but also as genuine classic cars. Similar to the Riva boats, they are among the favourites and most valuable of the classics. That's why Boesch also offers a comprehensive service for collectors - you can not only buy new boats from Boesch, but also have old ones restored or painted, upholstery renewed and engines overhauled.

Liuzzi: Legendary racing driver and boat builder

Even rarer than the classic cars from Riva and Boesch are undoubtedly those from Parisian boat builder Frantz Liuzzi. From 1950 onwards, his boats recorded numerous race victories and speed records, some of them with himself as the driver. However, his boats were not only fast, but also in line with the design trend of the time - which is probably one of the reasons why they were so popular with the elite. Today, there are only around twenty examples of Liuzzi racing boats left and they are correspondingly valuable.

Buying and selling classic cars: What should I bear in mind?

Buying a motorboat is always an investment that should be made carefully. For used boats, the checklist of things to consider is even longer. If you want to buy a used classic from a private seller, you should always bring a knowledgeable person with you to inspect the boat. Not all defects in materials and machinery can be recognised from the outside at first glance. On the other hand, you have a little more security if you buy your oldie from a boat dealer. In addition, the seller may also be available to you in the future as a contact person for questions and repairs. Some boat dealers also offer financing and insurance models.

For some it's just a hobby, for others it's a profession (and the transition from one to the next is often fluid): If you enjoy restoring boats and have the necessary craftsmanship, you can turn junkyard finds into real eye-catchers. Some people only manage a refit project like this once in a lifetime - and then sail happily across the water with their one-of-a-kind boat.

Events around classic boats

Not every classic boat enthusiast has the opportunity to buy their own retro boat. However, there are numerous events every year where you can marvel at beautiful classic boat models live. For example, the Hanse Sail, where impressive traditional sailing boats attract many visitors to Rostock every year. At the Hanseboot in Hamburg, you can admire both current and classic motorboat models. Other events such as boat shows or meetings of the classic boat community or the steamboat association are good opportunities to see classic boats or, as an owner, to exchange ideas with other enthusiasts of the scene.

Boating legends and love stories: Travelling through time with BOOTE

Whether status symbol, life mission, love at first sight or everyday escape - classic boats are more than just wood, steel and mechanics. They are history. They are a feeling. They are a journey. And so much more. If you are simply looking for a functional watercraft, you will not be happy with the boats of days gone by. There has to be love involved - anything else would not outweigh the hours of work and costs that a classic brings with it.

BOOTE reports on love stories and boating legends, on collectors and their collector's items, on masters of boatbuilding and their creations - come with us on a journey into the past.