User:Nikko Gousios/Century resorter

Conception
After the depression and World War Two, the country was booming economically, many people found themselves with extra cash on hand. As a result of this, Century designed its new models with utility and watersports in mind. Introduced in 1946, the Resorter proved to be a massive hit all due to its sales numbers throughout its lifetime until production ceased in 1977. Due to its wider beam, lower freeboard,powerful engine options, low cost and open deck design, the Resorter proved ideal for the average boater or boating family. As a result, the Resorter proved extremely versatile, and when waterskiing became a popular recreation activity in the early 1950’s, the Century Resorter was named the official tow boat for skiing competition in the early and late 50’s.

Models
Since its conception in 1946, the Century Resorter was available in sizes ranging from 16-21’. This continued until the boat was available in fiberglass hull only form, as the fiberglass boats were not available in sizes above 19’. Throughout the years, minimal changes were made to the boats hulls and overall design. The most dramatic changes came in the form of windshield shapes and designs, trim items, engine options, and the switch to fiberglass later on

40’s Resorters
Throughout the 40’s and 50’s, most Resorters came with a square, 2 piece style windshield. Towards the end of the 40’s, specifically in 1947, Century added the 17.5’ and 19’ Resorter to their lineup. Resorter’s in the 1940’s had a somewhat thorough options list, but as the Resorter gained popularity towards the end of the 40’s, its options list grew larger and larger. One major potential upgrade made to the Resorter was the convertible top. Introduced into the options catalog in 1949, it made the Resorter more customizable. With the top up, boaters were able to get a break from the sun, and overall have a boat that adaptable to any situation that would present itself. Proving to be an extremely popular option, more than half of the 20’ Resorters were spec’d up to include the convertible top.

50’s Resorters
Overall, the Resorter’s of the 1950’s option lists kept growing larger and larger. Once again, a major option came in the form of a new top for the Resorter. With its introduction to the 16’ Resorter in 1958, the optional sliding top proved to be popular among boating enthusiasts. It made the Resorter more versatile, less taxing on the operator by increasing protection from the sun and wind, and it added many feet of chrome trim to the boat which caught people’s attention more easily. Although very popular among the 16’ Resorter models, buyers of the bigger Resorter models didn’t select the sliding top nearly as frequently. Another significant option introduced in the late 1950’s, specifically 1957, was the option of the 185 (292 C.I.) or 215hp (312 C.I.) Ford Y-block engine The Interceptor v8 proved to be a popular option, and was able to propel the Resorter to speeds in excess of 40mph.

60’s Resorters
For 1960, the Resorter got a fresh new makeover which included a whole host of new trim pieces, some changes in deck construction materials, as well as other items that all added to the Century Resorter. Among these new changes included vinyl foredecks as opposed to the older blond decking, a shiny new chrome bowplate and cutwater, and finally an optional swim ladder. The older style of blond decking proved to be much more maintenance heavy and less durable when compared to the new style vinyl decking .The boat also received three new engine options all in the form of the Ford Y-block Interceptor v8 in 1960, which included the 135hp (256 C.I.) v8, the 170hp (272 C.I.) v8, and finally the biggest available v8, the 240hp (352 C.I.) Interceptor v8. As a result of the boats new found power, Resorters fitted with the big v8’s could top out at speeds in excess of 45 mph, and tow skiers with ease. Even higher horsepower models were tested, however the hull design proved to be unstable and hard to predict at speeds more than 50mph. Other new features that came to the Resorter in the 60’s were the optional full vinyl deck, thickly padded rear deck sun lounge, and for the first time in the history of Century model, a swim platform, complete with hand rails from the rear deck to midships.

70’s Models and Fiberglass Boats
With the first boats documented in 1966, Century slowly but surely started phasing fiberglass Resorter’s into their production lines and eventually by 1969, every Century Model was fiberglass. Given the fact that they were new technology and different, the fiberglass boats were not as well received at first. Not only did they look much different, but they also had less interior space due to construction in the fiberglass Resorter’s compared to the wooden Resorter’s. Most of the fiberglass Resorter’s hull (watercraft) were nearly identical to those of the wooden Resorters from the sheer (ship) up, and as a result confused a lot of people as to whether or not the boat was fiberglass or wooden. Add to this the fact that some of the wooden Century models such as the Arabian had white paint covering most of the side of the hull, it became difficult to tell the construction of the boat from afar. Another change made for the Resorter’s was in regards to the engine options. Gone were the smaller engines, and now even the smallest engine available for the Resorter was a 260 C.I. 165 HP Interceptor v8, while the biggest was the 427 C.I. Ford FE engine