Only From Owens

to buy Just $250 a month. That’s what it took Yacht the 35-foot Flagship Cruiser from Owens “crowning Co., a boat the company called the in boat-achievement of Owens’ revolution “big-yacht building.” For that price, you got control luxury”: a flybridge with a centerline teak station covered by a fiberglass hardtop, of Owens deck planking and rails, and a pair 220-hp Flagship Marine V-8 engines. people. Below, the boat could sleep seven in what the There was a galley up and a dinette with builder called the “family room,” along The interior a “dressing room” with a shower. was trimmed in solid mahogany. builder Annapolis, Maryland, custom on Spa Charles Owens, who worked at a yard 1925. When Creek, founded Owens Yacht Co. in Jr., Norman he died in 1933, his sons — Charles The trio and John — took over the business. built tended it through the Great Depression, World rescue craft and landing barges during of the pre-War II, then turned Owens into one 60s. mier boatbuilders of the 1950s and ’ in 1937, The company’s big break had come the New when the Owens Cruiser debuted at a family-York Boat Show. The 32-footer was conve - oriented boat, built for comfort and and white nience, using mahogany planking sail-oak frames. The 40-foot Owens Cutter known boat was another popular model, well around Chesapeake Bay. Owens was an early adaptor of forward-new tech-thinking production methods and to nology. It was one of the first converts and went fiberglass construction (in 1957) engines. In so far as to produce its own V-8 New Y ork 1959, Owens went public on the Stock Exchange. out to The Owens brothers eventually sold the boats for Brunswick Corp., which produced the 1970s, a time under the Owens name. By the boats the brand had disappeared, though remain popular on the vintage market. — Steve Knauth