Charles Burns built the Burnscraft houseboat line for about 5 years, from late 69 to 1974, They were 34 ft to 50 ft with the 50 having a 15 ft beam. He sold the molds to Clyde Head at Harbormaster, who used them and later sold them to Holiday Mansion. Burnscraft Houseboats did not have a blister or Rot problem like most boats of that era. They were very good boats and bring a premium price today.

Information provided by the Pirate
administrator37992.4562731481

I worked for BurnsCraft from 1979 to 1986 when BurnsCraft sold to SunRunner Boats I then worked for SunRunner until they went out of business in 1990.

Any Boat you find with the BurnsCraft name was built by BurnsCraft in its Muscle Shoals, Alabama plant. Until the last few years, all BurnsCraft boats were hand layed, I think the first chop gun we used was on the 38' yacht.

Altho the 32' and the 34' molds were sold no one has ever been authorized to use the name. BurnsCraft made houseboats untill the company was sold.

BurnsCraft bought NautilCraft in the early 1980's and built several NautiCraft houseboats with the BurnsCraft name.

Charls Burns Loved Yachts, he started building a sport, flybridge 41footer w/ 12 beam in the late 70's. This was the mainstay for about 5 years then we built a 40 footer with 14' beam. We displayed a 48 footer w/ 15' bean at the 1982 Miami Beach BoatShow. All yachts and houseboats were built only after ordered, all were custom equiped. The only active dealer we had for the yachts was in City Island, N.Y.

Charles and his brother Jerry sold most of the boats built. Most of the small houseboats went to Cal. but because a good deal were sold at the Miami Beach Show you will find BurnCraft in all parts of the country.

Charles had an heart attach during that show and because BurnsCraft was a small one owner business, the business started to suffer. BurnsCraft filled Bankrupt in 1986 and was bought by SunRunner Boats fron Spokan, Wa. Sunrunner started a branch here in Florence, Alabama. The company was called SunRunner Yachts. Burns had a new model 38 foot yacht in production when the company was sold. SunRunner Yachts only built the 38' yacht.

SunRunner Filed chapter 7 and went out of business in 1990. I purchased the BurnsCraft trade name from SunRunner Yachts.

I hope someone can find some use for this information. The last I heard about Charles was last summer, He was in the hospital in Huntsville, Alabama and not doing well.

bill greer
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Bill,

Thanks for this post! My husband and I bought a 1976 32' Burnscraft houseboat last spring. Your post gives us a much better understanding of the history of the company. We have had our boat out of the water doing an overhaul from Nov until about 2 weeks ago. I have some pics of her out of the water at http://photobucket.com/albums/f55/Burnscraft/? I will be adding pics of the enterior work we are doing very soon.

Thanks again,

Boatgal

Hey boatgal,

I don't know much about the models before 1979, but during the time I worked for BurnsCraft, Charles loved thick fiberglass and lots of teak. The boats were very well built.

bill


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I need some advice about my 50' Burnscraft. The Stringers are hollow but the fiberglass over the stringers are in good shape and not cracked. I boat on backwater lakes and bayous that are nearly always calm. How much has the structural integridy been ompremised? The bottom looks good and strong. The engine mount framing has been reinforced with the stringers in the engine compartment covered with aluminum. Do I need to gut my boat and refill the stringers with wood? The locals claim the wood was a mold and the hull strong enough to stand up the the calm waters as is. Please advise. 50burnscraft

50burnscraft,

All BurnsCraft houseboats were built with hollow stringers, the boats were very seaworthy. Charles Burns belived, a man should get his dollars worth and if a little fiberglass was good more was better. The hulls and stringers were always thicker than necessary. I know of no problems with the hollow stringers, they were well re-inforced for the engine mounts.

happy boating


P.S. Charles Burns passed away just a few months back. He was 75 or had just turned 76.

bill greer

Mr. Greer,

Thanks for the insight! As a new owner of a Burnscraft, I would like to thank you for your help in filling the void of information about these great pleasure boats. Your knowledge and experience has been god-sent. Any other pearls of wisdom you want to share?---Thanks again,

Kindest Regards, 50burnscraft