Boat building was important industry During WWII, Boatworks built watercraft for the military
by Jason King, Editor, Lakeshore Weekly News
For the first half of the 20th century, Wayzatas top industry was boat building, and it all occurred at the Boatworks building between the railroad tracks and the lake near the Wayzata Depot.
Al Stender of Wayzata experienced much of Wayzatas boating history first-hand. He began working
for the Minnetonka Boatworks in 1946, spent 39 years with the company and rose to become vice president.
In the early 20th century, mahogany-hulled speedboats plied the waters of Lake Minnetonka, and many were built at one of three boatworks in Wayzata: the Ramaley Boatworks, the Wise Boat Works, the the Moore Boat Company.
Jeff Stebbins, a member of the Bob Speltz Land-O-Lakes Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, said Ramaley started building boats in 1909 or 1910.
He added that the Wise Works operated before Ramaley at a facility near where the Wayzata Yacht Club is located today. (Ramaley) built some of the finest power boats around, Stebbins said. But the boats didnt fit everyones budget. A 1931 Chris Craft price list shows that a 24-foot, 10-passenger runabout cost $3,155. A 26-foot, 11-passenger convertible sedan went for $5,400.
Stebbins said, Thats why at the Excelsior Amusement Park, the ride concession for boats was so popular. People couldnt afford a mahogany boat. According to an April 15, 1954 article in the Minnetonka Herald, the Minnetonka Boatworks began in 1929. It incorporated facilities used by Ramaley and Wise, the article states. Stender said in the 1930s Walfred and August Swenson began working at the boatworks. The brothers, who had learned boat building in their native Sweden, ended up moving into boat sales at the company.
During the Depression, when demand for boats diminished, the boatworks build bus bodies for the Will Motor Co. of Minneapolis. Then, during World War II, the U.S. government commissioned the boatworks to build small storm boats for the Army.
Stender said when he served in the Army during World War II, he used the boats to carry troops across the Rhine River in March of 1945. At the time, he didnt realize the boats had been built in Wayzata. Stender said after his military service ended, he went back to Wayzata to seek employment. His brother helped him get a job at the Minnetonka boatworks.
They put me downstairs to learn all the parts that went into a Tonkacraft boat, Stender said. Soon he was doing bookkeeping work for the company, and he eventually moved into boat sales and management of the operation. The company still manufactured wood boats at the Wayzata factory until 1958.
Fiberglass was coming into the picture rapidly, Stender said. In order to compete, wed have had to
get a bigger factory. Instead, the boatworks representatives decided to focus the companys efforts on boat sales and service. The boatworks sold Chris Craft boats.
Stender said fiberglass boats became more popular in the 1960s. People were looking for something they could afford, he said. Stebbins explained that fiberglass boats didnt require as much maintenance unlike a wood boat. Additionally, fiberglass boats could be easily transported on a trailer, which solved the problem of storage for people who didnt live on a lake.
Stebbins said the original fiberglass boats soaked up water, causing them to become heavier with use. But in the 1960s the quality of fiberglass boats improved. A lot of wood boats were just destroyed, Stebbins said. He added that wooden boats didnt become popular again until the 1970s.
In 1985, Stender and his fellow Minnetonka Boatworks owners sold their interest in the company
to Irwin Jacobs. Jacobs eventually resold the facility.
Im glad to see they kept the name — its still Minnetonka Boatworks, Stender said. Wayzata has always been one of the great boating cities, Stebbins said. He added, Wayzata also has a heritage of boat racing. Stebbins explained that races were held on Wayzata Bay on Sundays.
Stebbins said the Bob Speltz Land-O-Lakes Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society will display class boats during Wayzatas 150th celebration on Saturday, July 31. The display will be located near Sunsets. Stebbins said 15-20 boats will be included. For more information, call 952-934-9522 or visit www.lolcbc.org .
One of the principal goals of BSLOL is to provide educational outreach to the public. Letting folks know about antique and classic boats and boating along with how to restore and maintain them is part of our mission. We recently had communications with someone that was recipient of our information clearinghouse.
Sherwood Heggen has long contributed his Gadgets and Kinks how to articles to our BoatHouse magazine. The articles ultimately get posted on our website (www.lolcbc.org). Some of his articles were recently utilized by a gentleman in Norway as a resource.
Mr. Paal Holst-Roness of Moss, Norway contacted BSLOL letting us know that Sherwoods articles had helped him to work on his old boat. Paal has a Swedish built Vaato dubbeltkabin (twin cabin) wooden boat that he is restoring. She is powered by a Gray Marine 4-52 engine. He has worked on the boat for two years.
Thanks Paal for letting us know that our magazine and web page helped you through the rework of your boat. And THANKS to Sherwood Heggen for selflessly sharing his knowledge with all of us!
Following is the email exchange concerning Pål Holst-Ronesss boat.
From Sherwood Heggen, author of Gadgets & Kinks.
I thought it would be interesting and encouraging for you folks to receive evidence that what we are putting out through the Boathouse/ BSLOL website is read and appreciated by more than the BSLOL membership. The attached e-mail is one of many I receive from all over the country and out of the country. The two out of the country e-mails I recall are from Norway (the attached) and Australia. We are definitely fulfilling our educational requirements in part for our 501(c)3 through this medium. We actually gained a member from Tennessee as a result of the information put out through Gadgets and Kinks. I am still in periodic contact with this person, and with others, who is nearing completion of his boat. What fun, huh?
When you think the effort to get the Boathouse out is a chore, just remember there are thousands out there waiting to see what we can come up with next for their reading and learning experience. They are depending on us!! Keep up the good work!!
Sherwood
Thanks for the kind words, Sherwood. Your Gadgets and Kinks is one of the more sought-after features, and mentioned regularly. You are definitely part of our credibility and success. – — Editor
From Pål Holst-Roness. Moss, Norway
Sent: Friday, June 04, 2004 1:14 PM
Subject: Impressing information & knowledge in gadget & kinks
Dear Mr. Heggen,
Just want to say that I find your article relate to restoring of wooden boats in BSLOLs homepage very interesting and helpful. From the name and the area of USA that you are living in I assume that you may have Scandinavian heritage. I am myself living in Norway and in the process of restoring a Swedish mahogany boat called Vätö dubbeltkabin( that is twin cabin) It is a very nice boat with an old Gray 4-52 engine. Keep up the good work as I will be looking in on BSLOL homepage to read your good articles in the future also. Say hello to all Norwegians over there as I can see from the names there may be a few.
Here is a picture of my boat before the restoration process. I am just in the process of getting her back on water after two years work, but are struggling to get parts for the engine. I was to have the valves re-grinded, but discovered that some of the valves, (in fact all intake valves had bad pitting and need to be re-newed, so now I am searching for a supplier of these on the internet, seems like there are some companies providing parts, but I am waiting for a quote from them. Have a Nice summer on Lake Minnetonka
Best regards
Pål Holst-Roness
Moss, Norway