FAY WOW Rare FAY BOW Barnfind

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Older photo in its original barn

A HUGE thanks to longtime fellow Woody Boater and Oriental rug in the shop brother from a different mother Gary Michael for sending in this insane rare Fay & Bow Runabout. Maybe we are brothers? Gary just wondering? Did your mom work late at nights like mine? Did you have a bunch of dads? Daddy Bob, Daddy John, Daddy Rocky? Where there oriental rugs at your home like mine? We have so much catching up to do! Like the time Mom???? Went away for a bit and I got taken to my “Aunts” house for a year. Mom said she was able to come home because she behaved well? WOW, this has gone down a strange rabbit hole. PLEASE GARY, TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME!

Now in Gary’s workshop

Matt- Found a super rare 1930’s 18′ Fay Bow Runabout in a barn here in Brookfield N.H. I first looked at the Fay 15 years ago when i was in a barn in Brookfield documenting the configuration of a Chris Craft Model 199 Dbl Upswept and the Fay was in a narrow section of the barn against the wall. It had great lines and very Dodge looking with a Crouch bottom, blind fastened at the battens, graceful crowned decks and 3 planks tall.

FAY WOW

Love the lines

Love the temp cradle

Complete hardware and 4 cylinder Lycoming that turns over. The owner travels to N.H. from Florida and stays at the farm for a month in July and i stop for a visit every year and ask about the Fay and possibly buying it and the answer has always been i’ll restore it someday. The boat came from the finger Lakes in N.Y and has been in this barn for 46 years surrounded buy some super boats.

Clean and cool bilge

LOVE IT

FAY BOW shifter, oh try and find one of these. NO WAY IN HECK!

WATCH YOUR LUBRICATION.

My annual visit this year we worked out a deal and i bought the old girl. Fay Bowen Engine Co built displacement Launches in the 20’s and 30’s the depression called for new money and branding and they resurfaced as Fay Bow building hard chine runabouts possibly until 1935. This boat is Hull # 714 if any one has any info on these boats please contact me. Thanks for keeping the boat news coming. Gary Michael

WEBSITE FOR INLAND BOATS HERE

LOVE my Brothers shop! GOD not this again, PLEASE FILL THE COMMENT SECTION NOW!!!!!!! I need to go see my therapist for my daily morning appointment.

15 replies
  1. Syd
    Syd says:

    I remember one of these being used at Lake Placid back in the 80’s. It was kept at a marina there.

  2. John F Rothert
    John F Rothert says:

    Bill Bowman has one here in Colonial Beach Va….I think…very cool boat and story! thanks

    John in Va.

  3. GeneP
    GeneP says:

    Gary Michael
    Not many Fay Bows have their original engines. Thanks for saving this one. I look forward to seeing it at a future show in NH/ME

  4. Greg Lewandowski
    Greg Lewandowski says:

    GREAT STORY! I love Gary’s description of the architecture of the boat. I could visualize what it looked like without the picture.
    Love the longitudinal starboard fuel tank. Love the engine. Love the lubrication placard.
    I have never seen a runabout before, only the launches. Thanks so much for sharing!

  5. Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U P)
    Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U P) says:

    Nice Boat!! I like others , can’t wait to see it restored. This could make for some good WB stories. Oh by the way Matt you need some mental health boatrides.

  6. Tom Gruenauer
    Tom Gruenauer says:

    It’s great to see boats like this STILL being found and are going to be back in service. Thirty years ago “all the boats already have been found”. Keep us posted on the restoration.
    Great Shop.

  7. John F Rothert
    John F Rothert says:

    as Greg so rightly states most of the early ones were launches and that is what the one I referenced here in Va is.
    The runabout must be super rare.

    John in Va Going Boating for the weekend…weather nice

  8. floyd r turbo
    floyd r turbo says:

    That’s what I was going to say, a hard chine Fay Bowen with original motor, wow. Good for you. Keep us updated on resto.

  9. PHIL BANNON
    PHIL BANNON says:

    Wow?!! 4 cylinder inline Lycoming!
    Never heard of such a thing.
    However, being the most innovative manufacturer of the time (and some would say today) I’d say; Ford copied Lycoming.
    I put the manufacture date of the engine; just before the model T ford era 1908–1927.

    Does the 1909 Model T Ford engine look familiar?
    I’d say it has a few years advancement on the Lycoming in the Cylinder head water cooling jacket, exhaust flow and intake areas at least, right?!!

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