Estimating the Year of Manufacture of a Boat: Jacrim, Keystone, Seaworthy

by Bob Jones

Many boats were built with no label and can be identified by the keel shape, rudder, and the ship’s wheel. Many were built as advertisements with company names on the sails, and many more were built for department stores who wanted their own identification.

Several other companies either copied the Rimmer boats or consulted with him. Rochett, Rich, and Tillicum sailboats have very similar keels and lines. The Tillicum sailboats have so much in common with the Rimmer boats that it is likely he had a hand in their design.

1921–1924: These were one-of-a-kind boats with gaff rigs and bowsprits and were marked “Seaworthy”. Boats came with a decal or brass plate.

1924–1928: These early boats had labels that were marked “Seaworthy Boats, Chester Rimmer Naval Architect, Boston, Mass”.  They had a ship’s wheel and in the center around the rim of the wheel it said “Guaranteed to Sail”. The keels were dagger-shaped with a lead weight at the bottom. The rudders were square-shaped.

1928–1933: These boats had a similar label, but around the rim of the ships wheel it said “Jacrim Manufacturing, Boston, Mass”. The keel changed to classic shape, and the rudder changed to a teardrop shape. These boats had an automatic rudder that was spring-attached to the tiller arm. The original keel and rudder were offered on the 36-in boat until 1938.

1933–1935: These boats were Jacrim hollow boats manufactured by Keystone Manufacturing.

1936–1938: These boats had printed natural wood decks and were solid wood sloops up to 24 in long, the 26- to 36-in boats had hollow hulls. Electric battery boats were not listed after this. These boats had a “Jacrim” label.

1938–1939: These boats had a printed deck with cloth sails. The sails were printed with “Red Star” or “Red K”. The solid hulls were up to 24 in long; hollow hulls were from 24 in up to 36 in. They had a “Jacrim” label.

1942–1943: There were no sailboats built during this time. Only war toys were made.

1950: These boats were built using Vinlyte (Plastic) sails and had a steering wheel. There was one 24-in hollow hull boat with a steel counter weight (welded) to keel.

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