We Have A Real Whatizit Situation Out West Going On. Zoomer Needs Some Closer.
Its a WhatiZoomer story
Longtime fellow Woody Boater Brian Toye adopted Zoomer years ago. And to many of the citizens of Woodyboaterville is very familiar. But are we really? Brian has been searching for answers and just got a bit of a breakthrough. But like any good bingable mystery, one clue seems to lead to another.So he is reaching out to us..okay you, not me. I have no clue. Other than maybe some plans from Motor Boating magazine. Here is Brian’s note.
ZOOMER
I do hope that all of the pros in Woodyboater land can finally identify our craft.
Let the newest game of Whatizit begin. I am betting that I stump everyone!
So here are the photos for Zoomer after having spoken yesterday with the son of the original owner and builder. Since our purchase in 2006, I have searched as to what exactly this boat is. The daughter of the builder whom I actually purchased the boat from, only knew that her Dad and his brother built the boat, but she had no clue as to plans etc.
Zoomer Zide
The son told me this yesterday:
It was 100% built from a kit.
He could not recall the maker. Could even have been a CC kit.
Started building the boat in the boathouse but switched to a warehouse in Portland.
Zoomer under construction
This was in 1929.
Boat was completed and launched onto Oswego Lake in 1930 where it remained until 1998.
There was a searchlight mounted on the starboard side of the bow deck. Removed though.
Zoomer doing her thing
When the boat had a substantial rebuild 1993-1995, the only changes from the original build was that the rear section of the bottom from where the prop shaft exits the bottom to the stern, was flattened out a bit. Perhaps then it had more of a V when viewed from the rear.
Deck details
Dash
Cool Brass cutwater
The only other change was that the four vents for the engine bay were originally all mounted on the two access hatch doors.
Engine was a straight six Kermath with the Kermath instrument cluster.
The black and white images are from the original story we did 12 years ago! Here is that story if you need some more Zoomer info
I think some other later updates are throttle and gas cap. Don’t know what it is other than a really nice home built. Glad she now has a great caretaker who is enjoying her.
This does not look like the same boat to me, unless the modifications from 1993 – 1995 were quite substantial in the stern area.
To my eye this looks like a sail boat build. (AKA Blow Boat)
What exit Troy?
On the water.
Now in Atlantic City, NJ
It is the same boat as I have seen the large box of original photos. The throttle is an update. The gas filler was originally behind the seat and again the top access cap was added. Just found that out.
We would just really like to find out the original kit name and maker!
I have nothing to add today. I do think it is a beautiful boat Brian. and I’m glad it was restored. I hope we learn more😃
I have a hard time believing it is a production kit boat – primarily because it’s a 1929 build. It is somewhat ahead of it’s time with the V bottom and performance. I’m wondering if it was perhaps a Hacker or Nap Lisee design – (NW, could be early Ed Monk) – that a shop offered as an unbuilt one-off “kit”?
Regardless, it’s a great boat and is in good hands, being kept and used as intended!
Probably built form one of the plans that Motorboating Magazine had. A lot of them were published in the Motorboating Ideal series of books. I think there were about 12 or 14 volumes before the war and a total of about 40 volumes pre and postwar. Most of the designs were by well known navel architects at the time. Including John Hacker.
http://www.boat-links.com/Ideal/index.html
My best guess is a Welchcraft. The Welch brothers sold lots of kit boats in the 20’s and 30’s Lots were inboards.