When Forbes wants to understand what genuine mastery looks like in American manufacturing, they go to the source. In May 2020, contributor Jim Vinoski visited Van Dam Custom Boats in Boyne City, Michigan, and published one of the most detailed and insightful portraits of the company ever written.
The piece zeroed in on the structural and philosophical innovations that set Van Dam apart. The hull construction — quarter-inch layers built up with grain perpendicular to each adjoining layer, mirroring the logic of carbon fiber — produces a final structure of remarkable strength and lightness. The exterior hull surface is offset from structural members on continuous horizontal supports, eliminating the rippling that plagues older wooden boats. Nearly everything on a Van Dam boat — hinges, railings, window frames, electrical components — is fabricated on-site by their own craftsmen.
Vinoski also explored Van Dam’s approach to talent development, culture, and the client relationship. The company’s four-year apprenticeship program feeds directly from local technical school partnerships. Their 37 Cultural Fundamentals guide daily life in the shop, from “Act with integrity” to “Keep things fun” to “Place your family first in your life.” And their relationship with clients extends far beyond delivery — annual inspections maintain the lifetime warranty, boats pass through generations, and the Van Dam team supports families through restoration, sale, and everything in between.
Typical builds run from $1 million to $3 million with no upper limit — and no two are ever the same. “We don’t have to come up with marketing jingles,” Ben Van Dam told Forbes. “We simply show people what we can do.”