Cayuga Boats ~ produced locally, in Cheektowaga NY

The company was established in 1950, on Harlem Road in Cheektowaga.

My Dad was the founder.

The "Fisherman" was the first model, she was a 14' open deck outboard with classic lapstrake plywood hull. After the success of the "fisherman", Dad was convinced that larger hulls would be a market favorite. He built the "Capri", a classic with a full mahogany deck, windshield and remote controls for the motor, typically an Evinrude outboard. Next was the 17' " Cavalier".  Similar construction to the "Capri", she was Dad's best seller. Last of the line, and the largest of the fleet was the "Clipper", a 19' beauty, that as a child was our family boat which was moored at the Small Boat Harbor in Buffalo, NY.

Cayuga Boat Company was founded by Bernard Walczak, who worked as an airline draftsman for the Curtis Wright Corporation . during WW II. In 1945, he started building boats in his garage at his Maryvale Drive  residence in Cheektowaga, N.Y. On October 15, 1945, he formed partnership with Marvin DeBoy to build outboard fishing boats. The name of the company was Marben Boat Company. The partnership dissolved after 1 year. In 1949, the business was moved to a purchased building on 1979 Harlem Rd. in Cheektowaga N.Y. The company was renamed Cayuga Boat Company.

Main production consisted of outboard fishing boats in the 14-19' range. Most were made with lapstrake fir plywood planking and bottoms with mahogany plywood sides and decks. A smaller number were produced in cedar planking. Ribs were steam bent white oak. Splash rails and gunnels were a combination of either oak, ash, or mahogany. A large part of production was slated for livery service. Norton's Boat Livery in Bemus Point N.Y. on Lake Chautauqua was a big customer of Cayuga boats. Norton's boats were painted, blue decks and white bottoms. Norton rented outboard boats by the day or week.

During the history of Cayuga Boats, they produced inboard and outboard cruisers in the 20 to 24' range. They were also a franchised Evinrude Outboard Motor dealer. In later years the boats became more upscale, stained varnished decks and topsides became the norm. In the mid-60's, they diversified into sailboat production. Rhodes Bantam and Lightning sailboats became the mainstay of the business. Later, sailboats were the only boats they produced. With the advent of fiberglass boats, an arrangement with a fiberglass manufacturer was struck. One of the Cayuga boats was used as a "plug" from which a mold was produced. The ides was for Cayuga Boats to purchase some unfinished hulls and complete them for resale. However, Bernard was allergic to fiberglass, and so the company ceased production in 1968. Before the demise of the Cayuga Boat Company, they were asked by Lightning Class Association to build on "legal" plywood Lightning to determine if such a craft would have any advantage or disadvantage over conventional built boats. It turned out there were no plusses or minuses.

The design and craftsmanship of Cayuga Boats were excellent and many are still in use. No catalogs of Cayuga Boats were ever produced. Typewritten flyers were handed out at marine trade shows and at the business location, but at this date, none have been found. In 1969 Walczak founded Cayco Metal Products Company, a machine shop, in the same location. In 1986, Bernard sold the business and retired. Cayco Metal Products is still in business. Bernard C. Walczak passed away on May 06, 1995 at age 76. He was past president of the Marine Trade Association of WNY and a member of the Niagara Sailing Club in Grand Island, N.Y.