Wacanda Marine
Encyclopedia
From its inception in the late 1940s through about 1984, Wacanda Marine, Inc. was owned and operated by Forrest Collins, Colville, Washington
. From 1984 to 1988, the company was owned by the Yakima Indian Nation, Wapato, Washington
, although Mr. Collins managed the production
According to the company owner, the name of the company, “Wacanda”, was in recognition that early on, about half the boats were being sold in Washington State, half in Canada.
During the course of its operations, Wacanda Marine Inc. produced a series of 12' to 21' fiberglass boats. The boats were typically operated on the lakes and white water rivers of the Pacific Northwest and western Canada. Mr. Collins has indicated that he does not know exactly how many boats the company produced over the years, although it was several thousand.
In the early to mid-1950s the boats had styling features fairly common to the era, such as dramatically dropped shear lines and tail-fins. Automotive safety glass windshields purchased from the Ford Motor Company
were fitted to some of the earliest 16 foot V-hull
models.
By the late 1950s, Wacanda boats had evolved distinctive styling and performance features including on the v-hulls a flared and concave (hollow) bow profile and ‘squared off’ bow. These features resulted in a roomier interior, as well as a very dry boat.
Also, in the mid-1950s, Mr. Collins designed the V-hulls with an inset transom
that carried forward through the end of production. This inset transom hull design was somewhat innovative at the time, although it was later seen on boats from other manufacturers.
height. Some of the boats had a distinctive molded-in accent line on the sides.
In an early 1960s product brochure, the Evinrude Outboards
featured a 16' Wacanda "Husky" v-hull model blasting through Snake River rapids (on the Idaho
/Washington/Oregon
border).
In the early 1970s, Wacanda began producing an 18' Tri-hull
that was available in three configurations: cabin ("Dolphin"), open bow ("Viking") and a forward control version ("Barracuda".) Mr. Collins has indicated that the 18' Tri-hull was loosely based on a 17' Thompson Marine Co.
tri-hull model.
During the last few years of production, the company introduced a 20' tri-hull, loosely based on the 18' model. All the 20' tri-hulls were sterndrive
or jet powered
.
. In the late 1950s, the company began installing "Starfire" jet drive units, built in Spokane, Washington
.
Inboard jet drives remained a power choice for Wacanda through the end of production in 1988, frequently with drives built by Berkley Pump Co. (California
) or Eliminator Jet (Idaho
). However, Wacanda boats were most commonly powered with outboard motors
or inboard-outboard (stern drive)
power plants.
Colville, Washington
Colville is a city in Stevens County, Washington, United States. The population was 4,673 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stevens County.- History :...
. From 1984 to 1988, the company was owned by the Yakima Indian Nation, Wapato, Washington
Wapato, Washington
Wapato is a city in Yakima County, Washington, United States. The population was 4,997 at the 2010 census.-History:The town was originally founded in 1885 by Indian Postmaster Alexander McCredy as a railroad stop on the Northern Pacific Railroad as Simcoe, Washington...
, although Mr. Collins managed the production
According to the company owner, the name of the company, “Wacanda”, was in recognition that early on, about half the boats were being sold in Washington State, half in Canada.
During the course of its operations, Wacanda Marine Inc. produced a series of 12' to 21' fiberglass boats. The boats were typically operated on the lakes and white water rivers of the Pacific Northwest and western Canada. Mr. Collins has indicated that he does not know exactly how many boats the company produced over the years, although it was several thousand.
Early Innovation
The earliest boats were 12' and 13' (“Fisherman”) models and 15' (“Vandal”) models. Wacanda boats were all built with fiberglass ribs, stringers and floors. The only wood (other than some interior parts) used in the boats were wooden motor mount beds. The boats were known to be extremely well built, with generous fiberglass lamination schedules.In the early to mid-1950s the boats had styling features fairly common to the era, such as dramatically dropped shear lines and tail-fins. Automotive safety glass windshields purchased from the Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
were fitted to some of the earliest 16 foot V-hull
V-hull (boat)
A V-hull, is the shape of a boat or ship in which the contours of the hull come in a straight line to the keel. V-hull designs are usually used in smaller boats and are useful in providing space for ballast inside the boat....
models.
By the late 1950s, Wacanda boats had evolved distinctive styling and performance features including on the v-hulls a flared and concave (hollow) bow profile and ‘squared off’ bow. These features resulted in a roomier interior, as well as a very dry boat.
Also, in the mid-1950s, Mr. Collins designed the V-hulls with an inset transom
Transom (nautical)
In naval architecture, a transom is the surface that forms the stern of a vessel. Transoms may be flat or curved and they may be vertical, raked forward, also known as a retroussé or reverse transom, angling forward from the waterline to the deck, or raked aft, often simply called "raked", angling...
that carried forward through the end of production. This inset transom hull design was somewhat innovative at the time, although it was later seen on boats from other manufacturers.
Later Production
In the 1960s through 1980s, the v-hull boats carried a shear line that gradually dropped down toward the stern, with the bulwarks rising above the beltline to maintain gunwaleGunwale
The gunwale is a nautical term describing the top edge of the side of a boat.Wale is the same word as the skin injury, a wheal, which, too, forms a ridge. Originally the gunwale was the "Gun ridge" on a sailing warship. This represented the strengthening wale or structural band added to the design...
height. Some of the boats had a distinctive molded-in accent line on the sides.
In an early 1960s product brochure, the Evinrude Outboards
Evinrude Outboard Motors
Evinrude Outboard Motors is a company that builds a major brand of outboard motors for boats. Founded by Ole Evinrude in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1907, it was formerly owned by the publicly traded Outboard Marine Corporation , and is now owned by privately held Bombardier Recreational Products.-...
featured a 16' Wacanda "Husky" v-hull model blasting through Snake River rapids (on the Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
/Washington/Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
border).
In the early 1970s, Wacanda began producing an 18' Tri-hull
Cathedral hull
A cathedral hull is a hull shape used in modern boats, usually power-driven. It can be thought of as a kind of vestigial trimaran in which the center hull has two smaller side hulls which are so close to the main hull that there is no longer any open space. In fact a cathedral hull is a...
that was available in three configurations: cabin ("Dolphin"), open bow ("Viking") and a forward control version ("Barracuda".) Mr. Collins has indicated that the 18' Tri-hull was loosely based on a 17' Thompson Marine Co.
Thompson Boat
Thompson Boat was a builder of pleasure boats. The firm started operations at Peshtigo, Wisconsin in the early months of 1904. Peter and Christian Thompson, the elder brothers of a large family made their first wooden boat in the hayloft of the family barn in early 1904. Local lumber was used,...
tri-hull model.
During the last few years of production, the company introduced a 20' tri-hull, loosely based on the 18' model. All the 20' tri-hulls were sterndrive
Sterndrive
A sterndrive or inboard/outboard drive is a form of marine propulsion. The engine is located inboard just forward of the transom and provides power to the drive unit located outside the hull.-Operation:...
or jet powered
Pump-jet
A pump-jet, hydrojet, or water jet, is a marine system that creates a jet of water for propulsion. The mechanical arrangement may be a ducted propeller with nozzle, or a centrifugal pump and nozzle...
.
Propulsion
Wacanda was one of the earliest boat manufacturers to utilize inboard jet drivesPump-jet
A pump-jet, hydrojet, or water jet, is a marine system that creates a jet of water for propulsion. The mechanical arrangement may be a ducted propeller with nozzle, or a centrifugal pump and nozzle...
. In the late 1950s, the company began installing "Starfire" jet drive units, built in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
.
Inboard jet drives remained a power choice for Wacanda through the end of production in 1988, frequently with drives built by Berkley Pump Co. (California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) or Eliminator Jet (Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
). However, Wacanda boats were most commonly powered with outboard motors
Outboard motor
An outboard motor is a propulsion system for boats, consisting of a self-contained unit that includes engine, gearbox and propeller or jet drive, designed to be affixed to the outside of the transom and are the most common motorized method of propelling small watercraft...
or inboard-outboard (stern drive)
Sterndrive
A sterndrive or inboard/outboard drive is a form of marine propulsion. The engine is located inboard just forward of the transom and provides power to the drive unit located outside the hull.-Operation:...
power plants.