Golden Pond's Boat: A Classic Wooden Craft

The 1981 drama film 'On Golden Pond' features several boats, including the Thayer IV, a 1950 Chris-Craft Sportsman, and its replica used for the crash scene. The Thayer IV was the name of the boat used by the main characters, Norman and Ethel Thayer, who spend their summers at their cottage on Golden Pond. The film also features a mail boat and a canoe, provided by a boatyards in New Hampshire specialising in the restoration of mahogany speedboats. The boats used in the film have gained a lot of interest and have been the subject of much discussion and verification of their authenticity.

The Thayer IV was the name of the boat used in the film

There were three Thayer IV boats used during the production of the film, including one replica used for the crash scene. One of the boats was a 1950 Chris-Craft Sportsman (U22-1460), and another was also a Chris-Craft Sportsman (U22-1802). The third boat, used for the crash scene, was a vintage 1951 mahogany Chris-Craft. The Chris-Craft Sportsman was the main boat used in the movie, but the script also called for a mail boat, a canoe, and a replica of the Thayer IV.

The boats were provided by Patrick Curtin of Eastern Classics, a boatyard in Laconia, New Hampshire, specialising in the restoration of mahogany speedboats. Curtin bought the boats specifically for the film and sold them afterwards. One source mentions a possible fourth boat that was purchased and dressed for the movie but never used in filming.

The boat crash scene was particularly challenging to film. The vintage Chris-Craft boat used for this scene was so sturdy that it kept bouncing off the rocks without any damage. The crew had to modify the boat so that it would break apart in the wreck. The water level in Squam Lake, where the film was shot, was so low that the actors could have stood during the scene in which they were supposedly clinging to the rocks, and the water was only knee-deep.

The Thayer IV boat has become a sought-after collector's item due to its association with the film. In 2009, one of the boats used in the film was sold on eBay for $35,910. Patrick Curtin has stated that a boat from the film is "worth a hell of a lot more money" than that price.

There were three Thayer IVs used in the movie

The 1981 drama film "On Golden Pond" features three Thayer IV boats. The boats were used in different scenes, including one replica for the crash scene. The main boat used in the movie was a 1950 Chris-Craft Sportsman (U22-1460), which was bought by a family in 1982 from marine coordinator Pat Curtin. Another boat, also a Chris-Craft Sportsman (U22-1802), was sold by Curtin in 1983 and was used by Fonda and Hepburn for their excursions on Golden Pond. The third boat, a vintage 1951 mahogany Chris-Craft, was used specifically for the crash scene. This boat was so sturdy that the crew had to modify it to ensure it would break apart during the wreck.

The boats were provided by Patrick Curtin of Eastern Classics

The boats used in the film "On Golden Pond" were provided by Patrick Curtin of Eastern Classics, a boatyard in Laconia, New Hampshire, specialising in the restoration of mahogany speedboats. Curtin provided three boats for the film, including one replica used for the crash scene. The main boat used in the film was a 1950 Chris-Craft Sportsman (U22-1460), bought by a family in 1982 from marine coordinator Pat Curtin. Another boat, also a Chris-Craft Sportsman (U22-1802), was sold in 1983 by Curtin and was the boat Fonda and Hepburn used for their excursions on Golden Pond. The third boat was a replica used for the crash scene.

The boats were used in different scenes throughout the film. For example, the U22-1460 was used in the majority of scenes, while the U22-1802 had the least amount of film time. The replica boat used for the crash scene had an extra vent on the front deck and a two-spoke steering wheel.

The use of the 1950 Sportsman model as the Thayer IV in "On Golden Pond" generated a lot of interest in antique and classic boats. The Thayer IV was the name of the boat used in the film, and it played a significant role in the story, as it was used by the main characters, Norman and Ethel Thayer, to explore Golden Pond and spend time with their family.

The boats were Chris-Craft Sportsman models

The boats used in the film "On Golden Pond" were Chris-Craft Sportsman models. The Thayer IV, a 1950 Chris-Craft Sportsman (U22-1460), was the main boat used in the movie and was bought by a family in 1982 from marine coordinator Pat Curtin. Another Chris-Craft Sportsman (U22-1802) was also used in the film and was sold by Curtin in 1983. This boat was used by Fonda and Hepburn for their excursions on Golden Pond.

There were three Thayer IVs used in the movie, including one replica used for the crash scene. The vintage 1951 mahogany Chris-Craft boat used for the crash scene was so sturdy that the crew had to modify it so it would break away in the wreck. In addition to the Chris-Craft Sportsman models, the script also called for a mail boat, a canoe, and a replica of the Thayer IV, all of which were provided by Patrick Curtin of Eastern Classics, a boatyard in Laconia, New Hampshire.

The use of the 1950 Sportsman model as the Thayer IV in "On Golden Pond" generated a lot of interest in antique and classic boats. The boats featured in the film have become highly sought-after collector's items, with one being sold on eBay for $35,910. The owner, Jamison Kohout, had acquired the boat as an investment and possessed all the documentation to verify its lineage back to the movie.

The boats were sold after filming

The boats used in the filming of "On Golden Pond" were sold after the movie was made. In the film, Norman Thayer (Henry Fonda) and his step-grandson Billy (Doug McKeon) accidentally crash their boat into some rocks in Purgatory Cove. To film this scene, the production used a vintage 1951 mahogany Chris-Craft boat, which was so sturdy that the crew had to modify it to ensure it would break apart in the wreck.

There were three Chris-Craft Sportsman boats used in the film, with one being used for the crash scene. The boats were supplied by Patrick Curtin of Eastern Classics, a boatyard in Laconia, New Hampshire, which specialises in the restoration of mahogany speedboats. Curtin purchased the boats specifically for the film and sold them afterwards.

One source states that there were four "Thayer IV" vessels bought for the movie, three of which were used on-screen. Two of these boats were sold to a buyer in Key Largo, Florida, including the one that was wrecked. The other boat was sold to Jamison Kohout, who put it up for auction on eBay in 2009.

The boats used in the film were:

• A 1950 Chris-Craft Sportsman (U22-1460)
• Another Chris-Craft Sportsman (U22-1802)
• A replica of the first boat, used for the crash scene

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