40 years afloat: Wooden boat maker reaching milestone

Steve and Ben Van Dam

From the Petoskey News-Review: Through four decades of building wooden watercraft, Van Dam Custom Boats has put priority on continuous improvement in how it approaches projects. As the Boyne City-based company prepares to mark its 40th anniversary this year, founder Steve Van Dam sees that desire for quality as a key factor in the operation's longevity. "We really embrace that, trying to make everything better," Van Dam said. Through the years, Van Dam Custom Boats has pursued projects as large as a 55-foot sailboat, and as distinctive as a wooden 33-foot speedboat capable of traveling 100 mph. The company has tackled projects for a U.S. customer base extending from coast to coast, as well as one international order. Full story.