Van Dam Custom Boats

Van Dam Custom Boats Building only one in the world of each custom designed watercraft. The World’s Finest Wooden Boats. What does your perfect boat look like?

For us, the pursuit of boating perfection means blending innovation with classic materials and cutting-edge design, all tailored to each customer’s unique vision. Do you envision evenings spent wining and dining, or the thrill of blasting across the water? Do you prefer sail or power? Will your boat be a weekend retreat or a full-time home on the water? Our process starts with an in-depth discovery, answering the questions that will shape your future boat. Our goal is to create a vessel that not only fits your lifestyle but also awakens a part of you that can only be set free on the water—whether gliding across a lake or cutting through ocean waves, at full speed or a leisurely pace. Whatever your vision, we’re here to bring it to life—with craftsmanship, passion, and precision.

09/18/2026

CATNIP is on display this weekend at the 2026 ACBS International Boat Show in Port Huron, Michigan.

Ben Van Dam and Jeremy Pearson are there representing Van Dam and sharing a closer look at this 30-foot Art Deco-inspired runabout.

If you’re headed to the show, be sure to stop by and see CATNIP in person.

From the Van Dam Vault: Countdown to 50.As we count down to Van Dam’s 50th anniversary in 2027, we’re looking back at th...
09/17/2026

From the Van Dam Vault: Countdown to 50.

As we count down to Van Dam’s 50th anniversary in 2027, we’re looking back at the boats that have shaped our history.

For the next chapter, we’re jumping back to 1985 and 1986—a period that looked a little different for Van Dam.

Hulls #9–15 included six pulling boats, along with TWINKLE, a wooden dinghy built for STAR in 1985.

The pulling boats were a unique chapter in our early years, and one of them can still be seen today hanging inside Stafford’s The Pier Restaurant in Harbor Springs.

TWINKLE has continued to be refinished over the years and is still “sailing” with STAR today.

Seven hulls. Two years. And another piece of the story that helped shape nearly 50 years of Van Dam Custom Boats.

09/16/2026

CATNIP opening her up on Lake Charlevoix.

This week, we’re bringing her to Port Huron for the 2026 ACBS International Boat Show at the James C. Acheson Marina. The show runs Friday, September 18, and Saturday, September 19. Don’t miss the opportunity to see CATNIP in person.

From the Van Dam Vault: Countdown to 50.Continuing our look back through nearly five decades of Van Dam boats, we’re mov...
09/10/2026

From the Van Dam Vault: Countdown to 50.

Continuing our look back through nearly five decades of Van Dam boats, we’re moving on to Hulls #5–8:

Hull #5 — ZOO | 1982
A fast family sailboat built using modern wood-composite construction.

Hull #6 — MOODY BLUE | 1984
A 36-foot racing sailboat designed by Nelson/Marek Yacht Design and built for performance.

Hull #7 — MORGANA | 1984
A 40-foot gaff-rigged ketch inspired by the sailing coasters of the 18th and early 20th centuries.

Hull #8 — BEST YET | 1985
Originally named SHEARWATER, this 24-foot wooden keel sloop was designed by Henry A. Scheel.

Each one represents another early chapter in the Van Dam story, as the boats, the shop, and the craftsmanship continued to evolve.

With our 50th anniversary approaching in 2027, we’ll keep working our way through the boats that have shaped Van Dam Custom Boats.

VanDamCustomBoats FromTheVanDamVault VanDam50

09/09/2026

When the owner of 5-STAR came to us, his request was simple:

“I want the best Van Dam(n) boat you have ever built.”

That was all the permission our design team and crew needed to obsess over the details.

Over the next 35,000 hours, nearly every inch of this 30-foot boat became an opportunity to take something a little further. Extensive custom metalwork. Fiber-optic lighting. Hidden tables. An aviation-inspired cockpit chair. Wake-adaptive running gear. Intricate bottom paint. Details within details that may never be noticed unless you know exactly where to look.

5-STAR was never about adding detail for the sake of it. It was about seeing just how far craftsmanship, engineering and creativity could be pushed when an owner gave our team the freedom to explore.

The closer you look, the more there is to see ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Video by Alex Childress Media

Naval Architecture by Michael Peters Yacht Design

Not every custom boat has to start with a blank sheet of paper.Van Dam currently has three developed concepts available ...
09/08/2026

Not every custom boat has to start with a blank sheet of paper.

Van Dam currently has three developed concepts available for commission, each offering a more direct path to the water while still leaving plenty of room to make the boat entirely your own.

The VAN DAM 50 is already approximately 60% complete, with the hull, pilothouse structure, and mechanical systems in place. The remaining finish work, interior, systems configuration, and details can be tailored to its future owner.

The VAN DAM 33 is a twin-engine runabout designed with timeless lines, hidden bow and stern thrusters, space for a Seakeeper, and a small cabin for additional seating or storage.

The VAN DAM 26 is a versatile day boat designed for everything from an evening cocktail cruise to a run across open water, with options including refrigeration, Seakeeper, foldout boarding steps, and more.

Starting with an existing concept can significantly shorten the path from commission to launch without limiting the materials, technology, layout, and personal details that make a Van Dam truly custom.

Explore the concepts at www.vandamboats.com/future.

From the Van Dam Vault:Our first four hulls- FEATHER, DINGHY, SILVAN, and STAR.In nearly 50 years, Van Dam has built jus...
09/03/2026

From the Van Dam Vault:
Our first four hulls- FEATHER, DINGHY, SILVAN, and STAR.

In nearly 50 years, Van Dam has built just 66 boats. Each one has its own story, purpose, and place in our history—and these four are where that history began.

Over the coming months, we’ll continue opening the Van Dam Vault and sharing more of the boats that have shaped our first five decades.

https://www.vandamboats.com/our-history

Our craftsmanship isn’t limited to boats. When a project demands exceptional woodworking, thoughtful design, and an unco...
09/02/2026

Our craftsmanship isn’t limited to boats. When a project demands exceptional woodworking, thoughtful design, and an uncompromising level of finish, our team can bring that same approach to custom projects beyond the water.

Past projects have included custom tables and desks, canoes, teak refinishing, flagpoles, and unique integrated pieces designed for a specific space or purpose.

We have limited availability remaining for late 2026 and the 2027 season. If you have a unique project in mind, we’d love to hear about it.

[email protected]



09/01/2026

JACQUELINE — 575 horsepower sounds darn good on Lake Charlevoix. 😎

🎥: Alex Childress Media

Fundamental Friday #31: Celebrate SuccessAfter 19 years on the Van Dam campus, Dave Van Dam officially retired.Helping ...
08/28/2026

Fundamental Friday #31: Celebrate Success

After 19 years on the Van Dam campus, Dave Van Dam officially retired.

Helping at Van Dam and Boyne Boat Yard was actually Dave’s “after retirement” job. Beginning in 2007, he came in once a week to sweep floors, tackle odd jobs, lend a hand wherever he was needed, and eventually earn the well-deserved title of Grill Master.

To celebrate, we gathered the entire 16-Acre campus along with many of Dave’s friends and family for a retirement party in his honor.

With the help of Justin at Stilson Sign and Custom, we also presented Dave with a special plaque featuring two boats that bookend his years with us: AFTER 5, the boat we were building when Dave started in 2007, and ARLINE, completed this year.

Celebrating success isn’t only about the boats we build or the milestones we reach. It’s also about recognizing the people who have been part of the journey.

Congratulations on your retirement, Dave, and thank you for 19 years of swept floors, odd jobs, helping hands, and plenty of time behind the grill.

Address

970 E Division Street
Boyne City, MI
49712

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+12315822323

Website

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