When I bought a cottage some years back, I wanted an antique fishing boat to go with it. Not just to look at, but for everyday use. I had given up on an antique when I saw a boat for sale in a front yard in Minoqua WI. As I was making the deal with the owner I mentioned that I really wanted a cheaper boat, but was going to stretch my budget for his. The owner then told me he had a little aluminum boat behind his garage, but I wouldn't be interested because it was only 12' and very old. I fell in love with it and bought it. It is a 1955 Wagemaker Wolverine 12'. Wagemaker was well known for their molded plywood boats, which are VERY pretty, but this one, being aluminum, is a little unusual. It is especially fun to go for a ride with a period engine on it. The rotten motor pad, and the add on stuff has been removed, and I have polished it since the photo was taken. The most common remark I hear is when I use it is"why don't you get a new boat". I still like it though. Price has no relationship to enjoyment! In the photo of it on the beach, it is set up for racing with an Evinrude 15 on it.

The boat is pictured in an art book, Big Ten Co-Eds, Preppy Girls, and Lost Cheerleaders. I have the photo from the artist on my wall!

http://www.photoeye.com/templates/mShowDet...m?Catalog=TR187

Click to view attachmentI love them..it looks a little like my 1954 feathercraft topper.

it looks a little like my 1954 feathercraft topper.

It may look a little like the Feathercraft, but mine is only an old boat. As far as I know, there are not many aluminum Wagemakers out there, so at best, it is unusual.

Feathercrafts are beautiful classic boats. I believe they are possibly the nicest aluminum boats ever made. I would love to have one someday. I would be willing to bet that a Feathercraft owner never hears the phrase I hear from people "why don't you get a new boat" I think I would choose a deluxe runabout if I had the money and one became available, but any of them would be a prize. There are some beautiful ones in the gallery on this site, but I am sure you know that already. I hope to make a boating trip to the fingerlakes this summer. I notice the NY registration, that isn't where you boat, is it?

Thanks for sharing your boat with me!

HERES MY AEROCRAFT. DAD BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IN 1960. OUR WHOLE FAMILY LEARNED TO WATER SKI OFF OF IT. DID PLENTY OF FISHIN TOO. STILL SOLID.

Click to view attachment
I'll try to find a better shot where you can see it better...but this is certainly a thread where my Dad's old boat belongs. It's an old 14' Sea King, I'm sure it's from the 50's. He used to also have the ancient Sea King 6 hp on it...but it did not get us to the fishing hole quite fast enough when I was young, so he got another later model Sea King 15 hp for it...it moves quite nicely! The aluminum is amazingly heavy duty, this boat never leaked a drop and it has spent many a full camping vacation in the water of the northern Michigan lakes. I'm 45 now, and from the time I was a baby on up, Dad would load this poor old boat down with camping gear and fire wood and take us up north for a week or more at a time. We had fun camping and fishing, Dad got to do the thing he loved, and mom had peace and quiet...finally. This pic is rather sad for me too. It represents possibly the last time that we'll camp at Otsego Lake State Park in MI, back in 2006. That was the last time we went, and my family and I have since moved down to SC. Could we still go back to MI, get a camping spot 6 months ahead of time (which you must do there since it's such a great park), take Dad (who turns 87 later this year) and go? It's possible, but not likely. He talked recently about offing the old Sea King...but I've hopefully got him talked out of it because when I DO visit...we'll need a boat to go fishing in! One nice thing...for those of you who are mushy and have similar stories...is that my Dad is braving an airplane 6 weeks from now to come down and see us for the first time. Guess what we'll be doing? That's right...we'll be getting him a temporary fishing license and hitting the lake down here several times! I will do my best to get some nice shots of us fishing in the Duratech and upload a few.

Okay...if you haven't yet, you know you need to click my pic and see the ol' girl...in this eerie dusk shot on Lake Otsego.

Doin' a little catching up - got that Wagemaker Wolverine posted on the home page/Members' New Boats/Aluminum Gallery. Thanks 1972vsonic.

More to come ...

I recently acquired the 14 foot version of the same boat. I plan to refurbish it. The bow mooring on mine is the same as yours but is broken. I plan to have it repaired but would prefer to replace it. I want to add a 2nd set of oar lock sockets as well.

Have you any idea where I might find these things?

Jerry

In 1955 Wagemaker Company owned US Molded Shapes at Grand Rapids, MI which made molded veneer hulls. They also owned Cadillac Marine & Boat Co. at Cadillac, MI which made aluminum and wooden boats. The wooden hulls came from US Molded Shapes. Your aluminum Wagemaker Wolverine was probably made by Cadillac and badged as a Wolverine. Wagemaker also started Empire Boats, Inc. in New York state in 1955 which was making and selling wooden and aluminum boats . All three firms were selling wooden and aluminum (and eventually fiberglass) boats and I think all the aluminum boats came out of Cadillac.

Andreas

jerry,try ebay,you can probably find at least the oar locks there,1st type ...vintage oar locks,then if none are found just type oar locks.
you might get lucky on the bow morring also,john

jerry you can probably find your oar locks at this site,at least its worth a try http://www.duckworksbbs.com/hardware/oarlocks/index.htm