Dan Arena boats

[David55cobra]

Wow ! I wonder if any of these boats made it into limited production and survived? I have visions of these early polymer hulls that must have looked like the most amazing invention since sliced bread slowly melting away in the heat of some warehouse somewhere,,,,,, but maybe I'm just being pessimistic?

I recently gave away a Campbell hull that I had no room for - I read somewhere that it's predessor was one of the very early all fiberglass hulls built by Campbell behind a restaurant somewhere in Los Angeles in the late 1950's or early 60's,,, but a plastic hull from the 40's,,, now that's starting to actually look old to me !

[Tahoerover]

I have a 1949 Gar Form and there are three more in the ACBS membership book. I tried to enter the Tahoe concours d'elegance last year for its marque class of early fiberglass and they turned me down. The head judge didn't know anything about Gar Forms and they had printed all the show posters as Early Fiberglass 1953 to 63! The show program did state that Gar Form was the first and the head judge had stepped down for some unknown reason.


During WWII Gar Wood Industries was building fiberglass radar dishes for the Navy. Late in 1946 the Navy canceled the contract and let GWI keep the equipment.

Gar Wood Sr could see that fiberglass had possibilities. GWI Board of Directors didn't want to cheapen the image of their wood boats and the project was killed.

Gar Wood loaded up the GWI 's design department for a weekend in Florida and the Gar Form was born. Gar Wood Jr was put in charge and built boats in the back of the Gar Wood plant until he moved to Tulsa in 1948.

[David55cobra]

Well,,, wouldn't ya know it,,,,,, just when I thought I knew everything, a Gar Form jumps out and surprises me ! It sounds as if it was something of a surprise to the Tahoe boat show judges as well. I'm guessing that the group of people that knows ANYTHING about your boat is a small one indeed, as I've never even heard a hint or whisper about that boat.
I'm also wondering if a lot of people that go to the show up there are going to turn their noses up because it isnt wood? I might have been one of them a few years ago simply because I'd never had anything but a wood boat, but now that fiberglass outnumbers wood in our stable two to one, I've changed my way of thinking a little. One of 'em - the Lancer even has an outdrive hanging off the back,,, a first for me all by itself.
Seriously, its great to know that your Gar Form hasnt melted away forever because of decomposition of the fiberglass. I recall a friends early 60's sailboat down in Miami that had a fiberglass hull over 1/2 inch thick. He explained that in the early days, manufacturers didnt know how thin they could make the glass, so they simply copied the thickness of the wood boats. What they ended up with was probably extremely heavy, and just about bulletproof. Did Gar Wood follow the same formula with yours?

[Tahoerover]

The hull is thick at ~1/4 inch,and there is there is no wood! The stringers are aluminum I-beams and the hull has aluminum top frames molded in. All the seat frames are welded aluminum and the windshield frame is cast aluminum.

My engine is VERY rare and I can't find any parts, so it looks like it will hit the waves with a Graymarine model 70 instead of it's original 4 cly Universal Blue Jacket Racer.
Most of the blue jacket engines were 6 cly and Ventor bought them for their race boats.

She is a very cool little engine. An all aluminum block/trans case, head and connecting rods. Every bolt is safety wire tied. The main/rod bearings and cam bearings are screwed in to the block. It has a 1bbl Carter down draft carb and a 5k redline. Very trick for 1949.

There is a late one for sale:
http://www.antiqueboat.com/boatdetails/10010-C17.aspx

[csmwood]

and not sure if right forum for this - but I have a 1976 Dan Arena Craft 18ft runabout that I need to part with. Long story short for this is that I am moving and frankly don't have the time to devote to this boat that I had hoped for. I bought this boat in 2008 with a cracked block - but had it replaced (have the paperwork). It ran after that - but I have not run it much since and it has been exposed to the weather. Hull is in great shape - the boat just needs a little TLC. As far as price goes - whoever can pick it up and take it away (trailer, boat and all) can have it (I have title for both trailer and boat). Sooner the better on my side. I live in Washington - pictures are below. If interested - please email me at dougw@live.com.

Thxs...

Doug

[Larry Gaddy]

Hello, My name is Larry Gaddy and I have a 1955 Arena Craft Baracuda that I am about to sell. The boat is at White Lake nc. I don't have a price yet but I would like to talk to any one about it that wants to. (910-850-5177) Thank you

[captinguido]

I have a 1969 Arena Craft Competition Ski Boat w/ 302 Interceptor Motor, does anybody know the value of Dan Arena boats? Or any info. on them.