Michigan Blue Magazine took an in-depth look at Van Dam Custom Boats for its Fall 2022 issue, exploring what it truly means to commission a vessel from one of the world’s most exclusive boatbuilders — and why the experience is unlike anything else in the industry.
The feature, titled “Design Exclusivity,” highlighted Van Dam’s cold-molding process, its in-house metalworking capabilities, and its deeply personal approach to working with each client. Using a combination of time-honored craftsmanship and modern tools including CAD technology, the Van Dam team builds boats from yellow cedar, African mahogany, oak, cherry, maple, teak, and spruce — always selected for grain, color, and character. Every wood surface, inside and out — even surfaces no one will ever see — is finished and clear-coated.
For Van Dam, exclusivity isn’t a marketing position. It’s a byproduct of the way they work. Every design is commissioned privately. The company will not replicate a boat without the original owner’s explicit permission. “When you own a Van Dam, you own the only one in the world,” Jeremy Pearson told the magazine. Van Dam boats are even finished with the same stain and clear-coat products used by Rolls-Royce and Bentley — because when you’re building the world’s finest wooden boats, the details are never just details.