Raceboat
That
Name/Title
RaceboatEntry/Object ID
1987.018Description
In 1909 a group of members from the Thousand Islands Yacht Club commissioned 20 identical launches with identical engines to encourage the sport of gentlemen's racing on the St. Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands. The Yacht Club hired well-known naval architect Charles D. Mower to develop a suitable design for this express purpose. It would be a boat that could be used as a comfortable family boat as well as one suited for racing at Club events. By insisting on identical, one-design boats the emphasis would be on the driver's skill rather that spending large sums on "super" boats and engines. George Boldt of Waldorf Astoria fame purchased two boats and decided to name the pair This and That. Each of the original twenty boats were assigned racing numbers that were painted on the hulls. This was number 3 and That was number 13. Ever since the boats arrived with their large racing numbers in 1910, they have been affectionately referred to as the "Number Boats." The original design appeared in Motor Boating magazine and it was officially called "The Thousand Islands One-Design." The boat is technically a launch style, with the engine located under a long forward deck just ahead of the helm. The boats have a cockpit large enough for four. The original power was provided by a four cylinder Jensink engine. In addition to That, the Museum has also received This. As a result the original pair of "Numbers Boats" that were purchased ninety-five years ago are once again united. Engine info from Everett Smith 1994.Collection
BoatsAcquisition
Accession
1987.018Source or Donor
Cox, RobertMade/Created
Manufacturer
Leyare Boat WorksDate made
1910Place
Location
Ogdensburg, NY, USAEdition
Model: Number boatNotes
Early Date: 1910 Propulsion: inboard gasoline Engine: Gray Marine 71320, model 6-69 Cylinders: 6 HP: 69 Field 13: Electrics Maker Auto Lite 4 cycle gas 42"L 29"H 24"WDimensions
Width
5 ftLength
28 ftLocation
*Don Doebler Collections Storage Facility
Boldt Castle Yacht House