Ventnor Boat Works- Our Story & Boat Building History
Since 1902, in a small boat yard in Ventnor, New Jersey, Ventnor Boat Works, founded by Mr. Adolph Apel, gained fame as builders of the world's fastest custom speed boats.
Through the years, the tradition of expert craftsmanship incorporated with fine boat building was carried on by Adolph's son, Arno Apel.
During much of the formidable years prior to World War II, Ventnor, with its advanced designs plus a group of highly skilled employees, concentrated on producing custom-built racing hulls for many famous individuals interested in winning races and establishing new world speed records.
Ventnor dominated racing and high speed boat designs, winning a multitude of domestic and international speed trials, races and regattas in most classes, including the Gold Cup as well as Sir Malcolm Campbell's "BLUEBIRD", the fastest boat in the world at that time.
Also, in the 1930's along with numerous other design firsts and patents, Ventnor designed and patented the "3-Point Suspension" hull design, still raced today!
With World War II beginning, Ventnor relocated and enlarged its facilities in Atlantic City, New Jersey and switched from building racing and pleasure craft to producing war ships. Ventnor was contracted to build 83' and 104' air-sea rescue boats for the Army as well as 110' sub-chasers for the Navy. Because of their outstanding work throughout the war years, Ventnor received the coveted Army-Navy "E" award in 1946.
The war taught Ventnor a great deal about light weight,
strong, quality building techniques and time-saving methods
using plywood construction. From that time on, Ventnor built
many types and sizes of watercraft including rowboats, skiffs,
tenders, race boats, runabouts, cruisers and even sailboats!
Various materials were used throughout the years, such a
mahogany plank, plywood and lapstrake construction. Propulsion
varied from electric, steam, diesel, gasoline and wind power
-all were used at one time or another through Ventnor's
pioneering history in the marine industry. Construction
techniques and materials have changed through the years and
Ventnor has always proven itself with the ability to change with
the times, while maintaining its engineering, styling and
construction leadership.
Since 1994, when Dick Thede acquired Ventnor and decided to build again several of the most popular 1940's-era runabouts, things began to happen! Only Ventnor has been able to retain and replicate the beautiful 'Art-Deco" look of the 1940's, but have changed bottoms that offer 21st Century soft, dry ride- while using today's minimum maintenance materials and mechanical components.
Hence, the Ventnor Philosophy...as it always has been
Custom build ONLY a personal type of water craft for the very discriminating few who will not settle for today's ''Me-To'', jellybean-looking, mass-produced products. Instead, grant the wish of the boater who desires an ego-satisfying, distinctive craft to stand apart from -and heads above- the competition.
