Lorelei Mystery Girl

The story of

"Mystery Girl"

LORELEI BOATS

One of One surviving of 10 ? made.

Galvanized steel construction

Retractable wheels instead of a trailer.

We found this boat in an East Aurora garage Sept 22 2017.

It had sat there unused since 1961.

Stored unused for 56 years

It took two months of research to find the info we now have.

Combined Cabin Cruiser Trailer and LightFreightTrailer

Patent # 2,518,602. Applied for 1947 and granted 1959.

A Unique cabin cruiser boat designed circa 1946 in East Aurora, New York by inventor James Louis Crook.

This is a combined cabin cruiser, trailer and light freight trailer vessel patented by the United States Patent Office on 15 August 1950.

This boat vessel was the brainchild of James Louis Crook, of East Aurora, New York. As World War II came to a close, Americas steel industry had experienced an unprecedented demand to produce steel for the war, and Mr. Crook, realizing their efforts, sought to find new products that might take advantage of the use of steel materials as the war came to a close (WWII officially came to a close in August, 1945) . Thus, he invented a boat of modest size that could be transported by average Americans from place to place.

James Louis Crook

The only known photo of the original prototype for this boat is shown. It includes James Louis Crook, and one of his two financiers, George R. Sedita, posing with the prototype boat July 3, 1946 edition of the Buffalo Evening News.

Below is a compilation of specifications for the prototype steel hulled cabin cruiser invented by Mr. Crook that is in my possession (please note that it is my understanding that the version under my ownership is one that was manufactured after the original prototype shown in the pictureon line.

BOAT INFO:

Boat registration # 9J779

Trailer license plate on rear of boat is New York Trailer # 94 - 417 year 1960 - 61

We could not find any manufacturer's name on it.

Length is 16' 8

Hull materials: galvanized steel hull riveted over steel skeleton of formed ribs.

Roof is made of 2 oak strips spaced over steel ribs with a burlap type padding cover with a rubberized landau type top.

It has small (6'W x8Lx 4'H) cabin that is accessed through as folding door. Inside is a steel Frame bed with original mattress.

It takes a 1 7/8 ball which is located on the ront for you to hook your hitch up.

The boat is on a permanent trailer/frame.

The pair of wheels are retractable.

When the boat is in the water you release a clasp, pull up on a cable and the wheel rise up inside a compartment inside the cabin. When fully up there is a clasp you turn to hold them in place.

There are two door/flaps on the sides of the wheels that are spring loaded and cover the bottom of the boat for cruising.

At the stern is a two door compartment to place the outboard motor in.

The transom for the outboard motor is recessed two feet into the hull creating a tunnel.

The motor that came with the boat is a 1953 "Evinrude" 25HP Big Twin.

I have replaced the coils, points.condensers,plugs and impeller. set everything to specs and cleaned the carb wire. there is a carb rebuild kit included.

That said it does not want to run. it started briefly and backfires, but goes not run. a ground fault or other simple gremlin.

Included is a large canvass cover for the boat.

Also included with the boat is a 48"l x 24"w x 34"h wood supply box.

Inside there is a brand new "American LaFrance" Fire extinguisher. Rope, flares. 2 0 metal 5 gallon gas cans. 9 cans new/full "Texaco Outboard Motor Oil." Extra props - new. Spare tire (new). "Kooklite" two in one cooking lantern.

Life jacket Box address is Jafco Marine basin, inc 2192 Niagara Street buffalo ny

A new old stock box of Orange Adult Size, "Life Saving" Vests. Dated and Approved By U.S. Coast Guard, N.Y., N.Y. October 26, 1952

Made of eight pieces of flotation cork wrapped in a bright orange can vas vest with six canvas ties.

Typical of Life Vests found aboard Ocean Liner Made by "Atlantic Pacific Manufacturing Company, Brooklyn, New York."

Vest contains four pieces of cork measuring 11"tall x 5"wide x 2"thick and four pieces of cork measuring 6 1 /2"tall x 5"wide x 2"thick.

Cork approval # A78.

Vest overall measures when opened, 44"long x 11"tall x 2"deep.

Weight 6 pounds.

Clues to the age of the boat are:

- 1953 outboard motor.

- Orange life vests dated October 26, 1952

- Texaco outboard motor oil cans dated1957

- Kooklite stove lantern is from 1953 or so.

Researching the life of this boats inventor James Louis Crook, has proved to be quite challenging.

internet search for 1953 mystey girl metal cabin will show you videos of this boat.

questions for me to:Scot Marechaux5100 Amity Lake RoadBelmont NY

BOAT COMES ON A TRAILER FOR SAFER TRANSPORTATION.1 7/8" BALL HITCH.BOAT AND TRAILER ARE NEW YORK STATE REGISTEREDhttps://youtu.be/01alCIPETQs