Description:
The Century Resorter is a classic American wooden inboard runabout designed for spirited lake cruising, watersports, and refined recreational boating. With its sleek profile, elegant tumblehome stern, and powerful deep-vee style hull, the Resorter blends mid-century performance with timeless wooden boat aesthetics. Typically measuring around 16-18 feet in length, the boat provides a comfortable cockpit layout while maintaining the agility and speed expected from a traditional sport runabout.
Our workshop faithfully recreates this iconic wooden runabout using premium marine materials-including Western Red Cedar, Mahogany, Teak, and marine-grade plywood, reinforced with U.S.-made Hexcel fiberglass cloth, sealed with marine epoxy, and finished with System Three marine spar varnish to achieve exceptional durability and a deep, mirror-like gloss. Each hull is handcrafted using traditional plank-on-frame wooden boat construction, carefully shaping each mahogany plank over a strong internal frame structure to preserve the authentic character of classic American runabouts.
Typical build time ranges from 4-6 months, depending on propulsion configuration, interior detailing, and finish selections.
Clients may customize seating configuration, dashboard instruments, steering wheel design, chrome hardware, upholstery colors, wood combinations, and protective finishes, allowing each Century Resorter to reflect individual style while preserving its historic identity.
General Dimensions:
- Length Overall (LOA): Approximately 16ft
- Beam: Approximately 6'-7'
- Draft: Approximately 20?
- Construction: Traditional plank-on-frame wooden hull
- Propulsion: Inboard gasoline engine with shaft drive
Performance & Use:
Designed for inland lakes and protected coastal waters, the Century Resorter offers lively acceleration, smooth planing performance, and responsive handling. The deep-set cockpit provides a secure and comfortable environment for passengers, while the powerful inboard configuration delivers the classic sound and feel of vintage American boating. Whether used for relaxed cruising, waterskiing, or as a centerpiece at classic boat gatherings, the Resorter remains a symbol of mid-century craftsmanship and performance.
Disclaimer: Century Resorter 16ft is a design by Century Boats. Wooden Boat USA is not affiliated with or endorsed by Century Boats.
Contact us to explore specifications, finish options, and build schedules for your custom Century Resorter.
History:
The Resorter became one of Century's most practical and accessible models during the mid-20th century. Designed for families and resort communities, it emphasized versatility over outright speed while retaining the premium finish associated with the brand.
As recreational boating expanded in postwar America, the Resorter filled the need for a dependable, stylish wooden utility boat. Even as fiberglass production rose in the 1960s, the model remained appreciated for its durability and timeless lines, and today it stands as a classic representation of everyday luxury boating from the golden era