Custom Wooden Boat Concepts Available Now: Skip the Wait, Keep the Craft

The most important part of commissioning a truly custom wooden boat isn’t the price or the build timeline.

It’s the starting point.

That’s why Van Dam develops forward-thinking concepts — design work that’s been done, but not yet committed to a specific owner. You get a more direct path to the water, with the key structural and design decisions already resolved, and a full creative canvas for the details that make the boat yours.

Three concepts are currently available.

van dam 50 — A 60%-Complete 50-Foot Wooden Dayboat

Van Dam 50 is the most unusual opportunity on this list.

Inspired by the Chris-Craft Constellation and Trumpy motor yachts of the 1960s, the Van Dam 50 is a 50-foot dayboat concept that has already moved into the build phase. The completed hull and pilothouse structure are in place, along with mechanical systems — meaning a significant portion of construction work is already done.

What remains: the finish work, interior, systems configuration, and every personal detail that makes a boat unmistakably yours. The bones are extraordinary. The rest is a collaboration.

Van Dam 33 — A Twin-Engine Wooden Runabout

The Van Dam 33 is a 33-foot runabout concept with timeless lines, classic bright hullsides, custom metalwork, and innovative technology throughout.

Twin engines. Bow and stern thrusters hidden below the waterline to keep the exterior lines pure. Space for a Seakeeper. A small cabin that functions as additional storage or extra seating for a day on the water.

Designed for effortless entertaining on any body of water.

Van Dam 26 — A Versatile Custom Wooden Boat for Any Day

The Van Dam 26 is built around the idea of a boat that can do everything without compromise. Cocktail cruise. Run to the club. Power through a chop with confidence.

Bow and stern thrusters for tight quarters. An inboard powerplant for reliability and ride quality. Optional refrigeration or Seakeeper for added comfort. Foldout steps for easy boarding. A design that adapts effortlessly to your lifestyle.

How to Commission a Concept

Starting from an existing concept compresses the timeline meaningfully — in some cases dramatically. The collaboration shifts immediately toward expression: materials, layout, technology, and the personal touches that make it yours.

Imagination and ingenuity remain limitless. The starting point is just further along.

Contact us to talk about any of these concepts, or to learn more about starting from scratch with our Concept Phase.