Are You Ready For Some Good Times?

I would have named it Bad Lines. She just doesn’t look quite right.

If you want to get $160,000 plus, learn how to spell mahogany and sell a boat that goes faster then 40 mph +. I’m not a fan of the upswept shear line in this case. JMHO.

I don’t think she’s bad looking at all. Directly from the bows she’s reminicent of a scaled Elco PT boat. I agree that the design aesthetics could benefit from some more rake to the bow when viewed from alongside. But, overall quite pleasing …and I’ve seen much worse.

What hurts this IMHO is the ambitious price tag attached to a virtually unknown marque and non-significant history of the boat. Tell me JFK had her made and then she’s worth it!

Just keep running pictures of the girl in the black suit and Ill be happy

Viewers may be interested to know that the development of the stylish Emancipator Express Cruiser came about when a retired millionaire speedboat king became bored and found a new, albeit temporary, career as boat builder.

Mortimer Aeurbach one-time heir to one of Chicago’s largest, busiest and most profitable department stores, had at a very early age professed a desire to race automobiles, a career that was that was summarily vetoed by his overly protective parents. Ultimately, however, time won out and young Aeurbach prevailed in his goal- well sort of. In 1932 at the height of the great depression he began to successfully campaign, not race cars but a series of 135, 91 and 225 cubic inch hydroplanes, all seven appropriately christened “emancipator”.

According to an article that appeared in the July 1938 edition of MotorBoating magazine, the diminutive Aeurbach had, (up to that time), participated in nearly 200 races. A career that featured many perilous crack-ups, and earned him the experience of being thrown from his cockpit at least five times, , three of which ending in an extended stay in hospital. Nevertheless despite his full-fledged membership in what was known as the Hell Drivers hall of fame Aeurbach was a winning competitor.

To that end in the late summer of 1939 Aeurbach piloted Emancipator VII, (pictured below) a Ventnor Hydroplane (designed and built for him by the legendary Arno Apel) to victory, claiming the Duke of York Trophy in England. A race that ended up being his last official run.

Having hung up his racing suit, Aeurbach dabbled in boat repairs and servicing during the war years and in due course incorporated the Emancipator Boat Corporation in December 1946.

Soon afterward a 32 thousand square foot plant was procured in the little river district of Miami and the firm began rolling out a stylish 26 foot express cruiser co-designed by Aerubach and ex WWII PT Boat Captain Clayton Lowe.

At the height of production MotorBoating reported that five boats per week were being completed by approximately 110 workers (in retrospect this seems to be a somewhat over-enthusiastic estimate).

Unfortunately despite an extremely innovative and well-funded print campaign and a quality product, the company found it difficult to sustain the inflow of new orders and soon overextended itself. By 1949 the situation had become dire and the firm, in a last ditch attempt to expand sales, introduced a sedan version of the express, all to no avail.

Ultimately in September 1949 with growing debt and few orders coming in the firm made the difficult decision to declare bankruptcy leaving a number of disgruntled suppliers in its wake.

Several months later the Nelson Boat Corporation, also of Miami, acquired the Emancipator brand and carried out a complete redesign of the now aging express cruiser.

In an attempt to reinvigorate the brand the 1950 model sported hydraulic controls, an all-new mahogany hull with expanded beam and a re-contoured bottom; all calculated to achieve more stability and higher speed. In addition the boat’s freeboard was also raised significantly to deliver both a drier ride and additional cabin headroom.

Despite the extensive makeover Nelson apparently had little success with the brand too, probably because of a highly competitive market jammed with similar luxury cruisers from other firms.

Accordingly, in April 1955 Nelson decided to unload the Emancipator trademark and associated molds, patterns, hardware and designs after finding a buyer, the Olsen-Montgomery Yacht Corporation of St Simons Island (Brunswick) Georgia.

Olson continued to sporadically produce the Emancipator to around 1960.

With regard to “Good Times” I agree that over the years she has been extensively re-muddled. While mahogany is a wonderful wood, the Emancipators’ design does not lend itself to a varnished hull. This boat came from the factory with Whitesides for a reason, to give her a sleek modern look. That’s what she needs to look her best.

nice!!