VanSant Lifeguard Boats Date Back to 1880 in Atlantic City, NJ

The history of VanSant boats is an extraordinary one, dating back to 1825, with The VanSant shipyard on Nacote Creek by Nickolas VanSant, on the "yacht basin," along Riverside Drive.

The prolific VanSant brand came to the Atlantic City, New Jersey area beginning in the later 1800’s.

The first VanSant lifeguard boat hit the Atlantic City surf in 1880.

We found out from Rusty Pettet that his Great Grandfather was asked by the United States Coast Guard for the mold for their new boats in 1897.

Rusty VanSant Vought grew up in the family boat yard the VanSant. This family has been in the rescue business since 1880.

These Rusty Pettet photos are exceptional and give you such a great perspective about the VanSant master class craftsmanship and the incredible history of this era of more than 125 years ago.

Below is a look at the VanSant lifeguard boat in action in the Atlantic City surf.

Look (directly below) at this amazing early photo of the Atlantic City Beach Patrol. It’s amazing.

For the past 60 years, The Van Duyne family have built the lifeguard boats used by most New Jersey coast beach patrols.

The Van Duyne surfboat is a great one.

However, it is important to note that before there was a Van Duyne lifeguard boat … there was the groundbreaking VanSant boat that predated it by almost one century.

I recently looked at a photo and description of a VanSant lifeguard boat, which was sold at auction.

It was described as having a cedar hull with mahogany gunnels. The attention to detail was impeccable.

Beyond the VanSant lifeguard boats, The VanSant shipbuilders of Gardner's Basin, Atlantic City built what were referred to as "Jersey Whalers.”

They navigated waves for fishing, transporting cargo or used for even battling the British enemy.

In 1849, the first life-saving station, equipped with lifeboats opened at the beach where the Ocean Resort Casino now stands.

Rusty’s Grandfather, Harry VanSant built The Miss Atlantic City in 1946 at the VanSant boat yard.

The VanSant boat building history is an extraordinary story of quality, durability and longevity.

SOURCES: Rusty Pettet, Coastal-Boats.eu