Plywood

For sale is this fantastic survivor of Milwaukee Winnebagoland Outboard Marathon (1953) We bought it in an estate sale in Oklahoma and they had told us it was part of the legendary race. Unfortunately, we don't have anything to prove that as truth. The boat was stored on a farm for 30 years. During this time it was stored indoors not in touch with water. I bought this is a farm auction estate sale. I do not have the titles for the boat. The boat looks sturdy and straight. Anyways, we have been doing our research about it and this is what we found....Plywood Outboards:In terms of pure performance, the late 1940s and early 1950s were dominated by the St. Joseph, MS-based Speedliner Boat Company. The 12 Rocket, The 13 Thunderbolt, and 14 Trophy were light and fast. The original company was actually called the General Marine Company and started out in Chicago, IL. Bob Speltz features some excellent photos in the Volume Four Outboard Edition. While these boats were fast, the steep chine angle would have limited turning ability when compared to later designs. Very few vintage examples survive today due to their rode hard and put away wet lifestyle and light construction.Early Switzer Craft hulls built by the small McHenry, IL family business resembled the Speedliner in most aspects. By 1951-52 however, the distinctive Bullet design featuring flared non-trip chines hit the racing scene with a vengeance. In 1952, Bob Switzer won the famed Winnebagoland marathon race help in Oshkosh, WI in a prototype D class Bullet. Truly impressive, however, was that three of the next four finishers rode standard Switzer D marathon hulls.Switzer also produced sport runabouts and even cruiser models. A sport or gentlemen's plywood boat would contain more creature comforts (like seats!) and perhaps a deeper V bottom for a safe if slower ride.