William Jackson – The Seaflea King
The man!
Today, the day after Christmas, I thought it would be fun to give you a chance to use that new phone or ipad to watch some cool stuff. Also don’t even bother to try and download the Woody Boater App. It’s a train wreck and has been left outdoors to rot a little to long. I apologize. But you do get what you pay for? Ya.. Me too. All those guys in the Ukraine that helped build it are now hacking the CIA and all. So I suppose they are busy.
William was one bad aft boater.. I wish I could have met him.
Anyway I digress. This cool story is about one designer that literally, as in magazine literature, designed an entire category of cool boating. I am embarrassed I never have heard of him, but now I have, and salute the SeaFlea King, William Jackson! Grab a cup of Joe in your new Christmas Coffee Cup and enjoy 25 minutes of coolness.
Cool guy and great story. He even had a Lancaster hat!
I’m fixing up one of his Doodlebugs. I got it from the original builder. He and his dad made it in a garage in 1953 from magazine plans. It’s been a long term project but the bottom is about done and I hope to flip it this spring. Through Instagram I found a guy in Russia that’s building a new one!
Very cool!!!
My Dad and Uncle built some small boats for my brother and cousin that we still have. I did not see this design in the video. We still have both boats and every year I think “This year we need to get one back in the water.” Maybe this will be the year.
Thanks!
An amazingly prolific designer for the every-man. Great story. Thanks for bringing him to our attention.
Way cool, I have copied the link to send to my sons and grandson who are all into racing hydro’s and boating in general.
I noticed that WB was in the credits, what did you have to do with the making of this great production?
COOL! I went back onto Svensons free boat plans to the next boat I want to build(the Zipper) and lo and behold, that fella designed that.
Great video!
What a great way to spend the morning after Christmas ! A very cool documentary. I had seen a lot of those plans in Popular Mechanics growing up. The water shots reminded me of playing with those little boats with my kids when they were younger.
Happy Boxing Day! Sorry I missed yesterday, the family woke me up early and I never recovered!
This is a William Jackson designed “Ace” about 5 years old.
Most existing Ace’s are production boats, from the Sande Company of Belfair, WA; built in the 50’s and early 60’s.
For a lot of Ace photo’s and history, see http://www.Sandeace.com
Loved the video, especially all the running and build shots of the MINIMAX. This was the first boat I (with help from my dad) built back in the late ’50’s in our living room — it was a great little hydro!
He, along with Glen-L, were most responsible for getting kids and families out boating.
The Minimax was my first boat also. We bought it from a friend of my Cousin For $8.00, in 1959, or so. Here is a photo of the bill of sale I later found in one of my dad’s drawers after he passed away.
We put a 5hp Scott Atwater on her and I quickly learn how not to take boat waves straight on. You would cut thru the wave and half the wave would hit you in the face. A good lesson at an early age was to take the wave at an angle …
I am looking into building his TORPEDO. Such an interesting design. Have troubles figuring out the width of port and starboard frames…….
Have Sam’s R. Fontana, like designs of that era.