From Vision to Water:
The Van Dam Commissioning Process
Every Van Dam Boat Begins the Same Way —
With a Conversation
Commissioning a custom wooden boat is not a transaction. It’s a collaboration that begins months before a single plank is cut and continues long after your boat takes its first run on Lake Charlevoix.
The Van Dam process is designed to be as extraordinary as the boats it produces. You bring the vision — where you’ll use it, how it should feel, what it means to you.
We bring nearly five decades of custom boat building experience, a team of master craftspeople in Boyne City, Michigan, and an obsessive commitment to getting every detail right.
What follows is what that process looks like, from first conversation to forever. Estimated timelines vary depending on the size and scope of the project.
01 — Concept Phase
Estimated timeline: 1 to 4 months
There are no templates here. No catalog to browse. During the concept phase, we work together to capture your vision on paper — dream big, because nothing is off the table at this stage.
We explore overall direction, key design components, plan and profile, layout, and specifications. Our goal is to give you the freedom to discover what your boat could be before you commit to building it. The drawings we produce during this phase are used to provide an approximate cost and timeline for the design phase and build ahead.
The concept phase lasts anywhere from one to four months depending on the complexity of your vision and how closely you want to be involved in the early creative process. There is no wrong answer — some clients arrive with a fully formed idea, others with a feeling and a handful of reference images. Both make great starting points.
02 — Design Phase
Estimated timeline: 6 to 12 months
Once you’re ready to move forward, your project transitions from concept into full design, engineering, and naval architecture. This is where your boat stops being a drawing and starts becoming a real vessel.
We partner with a naval architecture firm to handle the performance, safety, and structural engineering of your build. While the N.A. firm works through the technical studies, our design team continues developing the interior and exterior details — every surface, fitting, and system considered in parallel.
Our team uses state-of-the-art 3D CAD software to model every inch of your boat in detail. Propulsion, systems, and construction specifications are married with style and concept. There’s still meaningful creative work happening here as spaces evolve and design opportunities reveal themselves.
The design phase concludes with a fully detailed CAD model, all necessary shop drawings to begin fabrication, and a confirmed budget and build timeline. The process typically runs six to twelve months depending on the complexity of your build.
03 — The Build
Estimated timeline: 6 to 12 months
Building your Van Dam begins with a commitment. Once design is complete, you sign the Build Agreement and secure your place in the schedule with a deposit. Van Dam builds one to two custom wooden boats per year — build slots fill in advance, and the earlier you start the conversation, the better.
From there, we start cutting wood and making sawdust.
The preparation that goes into the concept and design phases sets up a smooth, efficient build. Our craftspeople are ABYC Master Certified, trained in wood composite construction, and experienced in every discipline a custom wooden boat requires — joinery, metalwork, mechanical systems, paint, and varnish.
Learn more about our craft and construction process →
There’s nothing quite like the moment you walk into the Van Dam woodshop and see mahogany curls on the floor under the skeleton of your boat. As the build progresses, you’ll stand in the spaces where imagination becomes reality — at the helm, in the galley, on deck. We encourage clients to visit as often as possible throughout the build.
For those who can’t always be here in person, our process is fully transparent: weekly updates from your project manager, and a private client gallery on our website with updated photography at every stage of construction. Your build is never out of sight.
04 — Sea Trial & Delivery
Every Van Dam boat goes through an extensive sea trial process right here in Boyne City, on Lake Charlevoix, before delivery. We don’t consider a boat finished until it performs to perfection on the water — every system tested, every surface reviewed, every detail confirmed.
Delivery is in person. After final sign-off on all aspects of performance and construction, we walk you through your boat completely — manning the wheel, rigging the sails, reviewing every unique detail of your original design. We don’t say goodbye until you’re operating your boat with complete confidence.
05 — FOREVER FAMILY
The champagne has been broken over the bow. The boat is yours. And your relationship with Van Dam is just getting started.
When you commission a Van Dam, the team is available to you every day for the lifetime of your ownership. Call with a maintenance question. Drop your boat off for seasonal care. Come back to freshen up the finish or update the systems a decade later. We value every reason to reconnect — and to hear about wherever your boat has taken you.
At Van Dam, building boats means building relationships that last as long as the boats themselves.
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Pay attention to the details.
Do the little things right so the big things work out.
cultural fundamentals
Ready to Start the Conversation?
The first step is simply reaching out. Tell us what you’re thinking — the type of boat, how you’d use it, what matters most. We’ll take it from there.