1930 Motorboats

In summer, swift motorboats cleave both Manhattan's broad grey Hudson River and narrow, oily East River. But unusual is the sight that Manhattanites had last week--a tarpaulin-covered motorboat left all night on a truck at a Park Avenue corner. Many another night and all day many another glistening, rivet-new motorboat was being carted through the streets. Gapers who followed these land-hauled boats found they were bound for Grand Central Palace, there to bask in blue and silver brilliance for the 25th (Silver Anniversary) New York Motorboat Show.

Trends. Three 1930 boating trends were discerned: 1) Hearty price-cutting all down the line. 2) The entry of cheap inboard runabouts into the outboard class. 3) Increased power and better accommodations in the fast express and commuting cruisers. Many of the 39 large boats shown have adopted twin-screws.

Cruisers. Outstanding of the American Car & Foundry (A. C. F.) line was a new 38-ft. sport cruiser with two 110-h. p. motors and a speed of 26 m. p. h. Radio equipment was included on four of the larger A. C. F. boats.

Chriscraft, proclaiming itself the world's largest mahogany boatbuilder, announced 24 new models, chief of which was a 34-ft. custom commuter which does 40 m. p. h., has two emergency bunks.

Elco, offering a standardized line since the Chicago World Fair (1893) showed a fleet of six slow, safe, comfortable family cruisers, including the "Honeymoon Special" (see col. 2).

Runabouts. Interest among the 62 runabouts centered on cheap inboards. A Dodge 16-ft. "Watercar" selling for $945, capable of 25 m. p. h. attracted much attention.

About the same size was a Ludington "Sportship Senior," Gray-powered, designed by Outboard Racer Jake Dunnell.

Others in this class included Auto-Hydro-Craft's metal boats, Dee Wite, and four Hacker Craft, cheapest of which was a 24-footer at $3,150. Aeolian Co., whose wood products include pianos, and pipe organs, showed the Aco "Seaboats." Meteor Motor Car Co., a hearse-maker who last year turned to motorboats, did not show.

Engines. Outboard engines showed some changes. A newcomer was Indian Motorcycle Co. with a two-cylinder, two-cycle job developing 12 h. p. at 4,500 r. p. m. Included in this division were of course the venerable Johnson Motor Co. and Outboard Motors Corp., merger of Elto, Evinrude and Lockwood. The latter offered a 29-lb. folding outboard motor to be tucked into a small carrying case. Among the inboards, Universal Engine Co. showed the "Blue Jacket," a 4-cylinder, 45 h. p. plant for runabouts. Larger engines embraced Chrysler's new "Majestic," a 152 h. p. eight, and Winton's mighty new 16-cylinder V-type Diesel weighing 18,500 lbs. to give 650 h. p. at 700 r. p. m.

Outboards. Outboard motors have long been a favorite form of boating. Last year 70,000 were produced as against 55,000 in 1928. Much of this development is due to the National Outboard Association. Recently N. O. A. ordered higher weights for racing boats. The results of this will be greater safety and durability; also, new business from racers who find their equipment obsolete.

President. A tall figure in the boating industry is Henry Randolph Sutphen, president of Electric Boat Co. and Elco Works. He is also president of the National Association of Boat & Engine Manufacturers, which organization is responsible for the Show. His experience with motorboats dates' over a period of 38 years. At one time he advocated the electric boat but now considers the first offering of a standard line Elco's main contribution to the industry.

Chief of Elco's recent triumphs was selling Charles Augustus Lindbergh a 38-ft. cruiser, delivered with the utmost secrecy on his marriage night (TIME, June 17). Many a sale resulted and the Elco 38 is now called the "Honeymoon Special."

Outlook. Obviously a business depression should affect such a luxury product as motorboats, but the manufacturers are confident. Reasons: motorboating is still in the development stage, with improvements following each other rapidly; increased production along mass lines is making prices lower; buying is seasonal and unless the business recession is very severe the worst should be over when motorboat purchasers venture forth. A specific indication of motorboat prosperity: 27,000 persons attended the Show on its first day. more than saw the Automobile Show opening (TIME, Jan. 13). During 1929, cruiser production jumped 15% and runabouts 25%. Schedules for 1930 indicate full speed ahead.

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