The Van Dam Story: Five Decades of Custom Wooden Boats

1970’S

Jean and Steve Van Dam set out for the East Coast on their honeymoon — but a three-year stop in Port McNicoll, Canada changed everything. There, Steve learned wood composite boat building under Master Craftsman Vic Carpenter. By 1975, they were back home in Harbor Springs, Michigan, building their first boat, Feather. In 1977, they constructed their first workshop, which led to the establishment of what is now known as Van Dam Custom Boats. The construction of Silvan, their first contract for a large build, began in 1979, and the boat is still sailing today.

Steve broken down on the side of the road.

The team working on a boat in the original shop.

1980’s

The ’80’s were a decade that brought significant change and growth, both personally and professionally. Van Dam Custom Boats expanded its portfolio with the construction and launch of five additional sailboats, including Star and Star’s Echo, designed by naval architect Fred Ford, who commissioned them for himself and his family. The company also relocated from their home-based shop to a site in the Commercial Park in Harbor Springs, Michigan. The skill and open-minded tenacity of Steve and his crew were put to the test with the commission of six pulling boats—beautiful works of art that are still in use today.

Flicker, the first powerboat commissioned from Van Dam, set the company and its crew on a path to design and build a wider variety of the world’s finest wooden boats.

With a family-first mantra as part of the organization’s Cultural Fundamentals, Jean and Steve welcomed the addition of their children, Ben and Brie, to the family—all while juggling college, crafting legends, and staking their place in the world of wooden boat building. The ’80s also marked the official addition of Jean Van Dam to the business in the role of managing all things “front of house,” a crucial part of the company’s success. Her first computer purchase? The newly released Apple Macintosh—with 1 MB of storage. My, how things have changed!

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Deliver results.

While effort is appreciated, we reward and celebrate results.

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cultural fundamentals

1990’s

When water is the cradle of your livelihood, Van Dam jumped at the opportunity to acquire property in Boyne City, Michigan. This new location included a Lake Charlevoix waterfront launch, a 35-ton travel lift, storage barns, a large workshop, a showroom, and a marine service yard. Thus, Van Dam Marine Company was born, with no looking back.

Jean was excited to move from a makeshift office lofted above the construction floor to a modular office building attached to the front of the woodshop. This would serve as home for her and future office staff for the next two decades. The company’s first website, designed by a 16-year-old high school student, was launched, giving fans worldwide a glimpse into how the Van Dam crew builds its world-class boats.

The introduction of the first exotic wooden speedboat to the Van Dam crew catapulted the company’s exposure in the wooden boat building arena. It became clear that no style of boat and no engineering challenge could outmatch our elite crew of craftsmen. Alpha Z, designed by Michael Peters, was crafted from mahogany and showcased unrivaled build quality at the hands of Van Dam.

Some other notable Van Dams to come out of the 1990’s include Adieu, The Ghost, and Big Mouth Charle.

2000’s

It was a decade of focus—honing our craft and welcoming commissions that explored the full spectrum of design and functionality in wooden boat construction. With launches such as Geronimo, Nokomis, Jacqueline, and Susan C, to name a few, Van Dam continued to make waves (pun intended) in the world of custom wooden boats. No vision was out of reach, and several clients experienced the Van Dam journey of bringing their boating dreams to life.

These unique commissions led to a pivotal decision: Van Dam Marine Company sold the marine service and storage division of the business. It was time to concentrate on what they do best—designing and building the world’s finest wooden boats.

2010’s

Never shying away from challenges, Van Dam Custom Boats once again took ownership of the marine service and storage yard located on their property. This new venture, Boyne Boat Yard, was soon followed by the establishment of Boyne Yacht Sales. Together, these companies rounded out the Van Dam consortium of businesses in Boyne City, Michigan. With a dedicated president at the helm of both new entities, Van Dam expanded its offerings to include launching, servicing, refinishing, storing, and commissioning watercraft of all types.

Ben Van Dam, after earning his Naval Architecture degree from the University of Michigan, stepped into the role of president of Van Dam Custom Boats. To support the company’s growth, the woodshop underwent a much-needed expansion, office facilities were upgraded, a dedicated sales team was added, and marketing efforts were ramped up to solidify the company’s presence and future.

Legacy builds such as Madeleine, Catnip, and Italmas — each hand-built in the Boyne City workshop — ensure that Van Dam’s craftsmanship will live on for generations to come.

PRESENT

The company continues to grow, adding critical positions to our team as we strive to design and build the finest wooden boats in the world. Our apprentices progress through their training, advancing on their journey to becoming skilled craftspeople.

In 2020, Erika Van Dam officially joined the company as Vice President. Van Dam Custom Boats is steadily forging its path as a second-stage business, focusing on strategic planning, streamlined processes, and organizational structure. On January 1, 2021, after 44 years of dedication, Jean and Steve Van Dam officially retired, passing the torch to Ben and Erika Van Dam.

In the fall of 2025, Van Dam launched Victoria Z, an exotic 35-foot speedboat that paired advanced performance engineering with hand-built craftsmanship, marking a bold evolution of the company’s design and technical capabilities.

Other iconic builds of the 2020’s include our most intricate build to date – 5-STAR, a classic gentleman’s racer – Lickety-Split, and a 39-foot boat designed for Great Lakes cruising – Dreamboat.

View our current builds here.

The next chapter is already underway. New apprentices are progressing through the workshop. New commissions are taking shape on the floor. And the same obsessive standard that built Feather in 1975 is the same one that hand-built Victoria Z in 2025. Some things don’t change.