What Does The Indy 500,Miami Beach And Lake Tahoe Have In Common? Yup. A Boat!

Okay, how is the Indy 500 involved? Read on!

It’s not a trick question BTW, Okay, stick with us here, cause it all makes sense, but only in our strange little world known as Woodyboaterville. Ready? Now, Meet Carl Fisher.

Carl.

For those who don’t know Carl, he is the one who started Prest-o-lite

and with the fortune from that company built the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which opened in 1909.Okay, go that part?

So, what’s that have to do with a boats bear with me. Fisher also created Miami Beach out of Florida swamp land. Yes, that Miami Beach.

Needing a boat to oversee his development, he turned to George Lawley and Sons to build a William Hand designed V-bottomed powerboat. Hence the boat and it’s name.

Miami.. the boat

The cockpit.

Very cool boat

And now to lake Tahoe. Sierra Boat did a full restoration on Miami, a 1916 Lawley. And here is the best part, You can continue her amazing history, maybe in Miami, Ohio? Or back to Florida. She is Currently for sale, this a great opportunity to own this historic vessel. Go to sierraboat.com for pictures, and this video and more.

Okay, that was the video. So, there are a ton more photos and even a restored toilet! YUP! It has it all.  HERE IS THE DIRECT LINK

9 replies
  1. Wilson
    Wilson says:

    Funny…Those of us who grew up in Miami don’t remember seeing her…Wonder where she was docked ?

  2. floyd r turbo
    floyd r turbo says:

    I thought planning v-hulls were not “invented” until late teens or early 20’s Was the bottom reconfigured? Great looking and performing boat.

    • Troy in ANE
      Troy in ANE says:

      floyd: I don’t know exactly when William Hand started designing but I have read that he is considered the father of the planning v-bottom hulls.

      There has been quite a bit written about him in Woodenboat Magazine.

  3. Troy in ANE
    Troy in ANE says:

    Cool boat, Cool history!

    Many people forget that the original Miami Vice boat was a Chris-Craft Stinger.

    Oh Miami Beach!

    (Images may be subject to copyright)

  4. Riva Della
    Riva Della says:

    Matt- Nice try with the babe gif, but I think Troy has you covered there, as usual……..Great that we can count on Troy to ‘fill in the blanks’ 😉
    BTW: where is that Stinger now…..?

  5. Ranger
    Ranger says:

    Yesterday we were asked to go down to Miami to look into doing the plaster restoration on the Carl Fisher Clubhouse!
    So after years of trying to figure out just how we could possibly become the official plastering company to Woodyboater…
    Woo-hoo!!! Thank you Mr. Fisher!

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