Building boats from Hourston glascraft molds
- Thread starter RDale
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Maxpri
Well-Known Member
There was one for sale a year or two ago with etecs, such a sweet setup. I think it’s about as perfect as it gets for a 24.
Eden Island
Well-Known Member
I'm starting to think that the only Hourstons will be ones that get rebuilt [like mine] -- Heritage Boats feels like a mirage.
Rain City
Crew Member
I think they missed the boat with the inflated market prices long gone.
Pun intended.
Dorman Point
Crew Member
It’s a shame, I love Hourstons and was hoping someone would pick up the torch.
Eden Island
Well-Known Member
Hey everyone,
Just wanted to share a bit of exciting news with the group. I’ve got the original molds for the 17ft Hourston Glascraft, and we’re planning to bring the boats back to life starting early in the new year.
These will stay true to the classic Hourston design – the deep-V hull, sleek lines, and solid West Coast look that made these boats legendary – but with some modern touches where it counts. The plan is to offer both composite and traditional layup options, keeping that proven ride quality while reducing maintenance and weight where possible.
For anyone curious about specs, the maximum recommended horsepower is 115 HP, which keeps it well-balanced for performance and safety. Perfect for everything from local salmon runs to lake days or cruising the Gulf Islands.
Pre-orders are opening soon
(We will NOT be building boats on spec. Only pre-order builds buyer direct)
— if you’ve always dreamed of owning a brand-new Hourston built from the original molds, now’s the time to reach out.
We’ll post updates as the first pre-ordered boats come out of the mold and share some behind-the-scenes build photos and details. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s exciting to see Hourston’s heritage getting another chapter.
If anyone has stories, photos, or history tied to the 17-footers, I’d love to see them — they’ve got such a deep legacy here on the coast.
– Ben
West-Bay Shipyards / Hourston Glascraft Revival Project
Just wanted to share a bit of exciting news with the group. I’ve got the original molds for the 17ft Hourston Glascraft, and we’re planning to bring the boats back to life starting early in the new year.
These will stay true to the classic Hourston design – the deep-V hull, sleek lines, and solid West Coast look that made these boats legendary – but with some modern touches where it counts. The plan is to offer both composite and traditional layup options, keeping that proven ride quality while reducing maintenance and weight where possible.
For anyone curious about specs, the maximum recommended horsepower is 115 HP, which keeps it well-balanced for performance and safety. Perfect for everything from local salmon runs to lake days or cruising the Gulf Islands.
Pre-orders are opening soon
(We will NOT be building boats on spec. Only pre-order builds buyer direct)
— if you’ve always dreamed of owning a brand-new Hourston built from the original molds, now’s the time to reach out.
We’ll post updates as the first pre-ordered boats come out of the mold and share some behind-the-scenes build photos and details. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s exciting to see Hourston’s heritage getting another chapter.
If anyone has stories, photos, or history tied to the 17-footers, I’d love to see them — they’ve got such a deep legacy here on the coast.
– Ben
West-Bay Shipyards / Hourston Glascraft Revival Project
Ben, while I understand your reluctanse to build spec boats, do you plan to have boats at the Vancouver Boat Show?
If yes, are you going to have both a composite and traditional layup option boat so that the prospective customers can inspect/ buy, or orderafter seeing the finished product?
Can you please post up a link to your website?
If yes, are you going to have both a composite and traditional layup option boat so that the prospective customers can inspect/ buy, or orderafter seeing the finished product?
Can you please post up a link to your website?
Is the builder
Nothing is listed on the website as of yet. We are till doing renderings for visual references. This was just a soft launch today to give people an idea of the pricing and basic options. If we have a boat at the show, it will be one or the other. Only planning to make 1 floor model as of right now.
Nothing is listed on the website as of yet. We are till doing renderings for visual references. This was just a soft launch today to give people an idea of the pricing and basic options. If we have a boat at the show, it will be one or the other. Only planning to make 1 floor model as of right now.
Eden Island
Well-Known Member
Blindly holding out hope that the gents behind ‘Heritage Boats’ make their annual post to update us on where things stand - maybe add ‘Heritage Boats’ to this thread’s title and we take the active discussion about ‘West-Bay Shipyards / Hourston Glascraft Revival Project’ to the other thread?
Eden Island
Well-Known Member
Something like that could work. I leave it to @Admin to decide what's better and edit accordingly.
I'm just happy people are talking about building Hourstons.
I wish you good luck in this new venture, Hourstons have such a big part in the history of rec salmon fishing along the BC coast, along with all the other past and present bc boat builders. Hopefully DFO lets us keep salmon fishing and does not adopt these latest crazy , misinformed restrictions for 2026. This born in BC new investment is what Mark Carney has been saying the country needs right now, maybe he can talk to the DFO mangers.
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