The public is invited to see these gorgeous boats on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23 and 24.
Admission is just $10 at the gate. The show is open 9 am to 4 pm at the Sierra Boat Company docks in Carnelian Bay on Lake Tahoe.
“Big Boy” is a 1937 Gar Wood 28’ triple cockpit Custom Runabout, Hull Number 5925, Model Number 746, the only Model 746 ever built.
Big Boy, now owned by Stephen Hamill, was built by the Gar Wood Boat Division of Gar Wood Industries at Marysville, Michigan. On June 8, 1937, Big Boy was shipped to the Wisconsin Transportation Company, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and initially purchased by J.E. McAuley for $7,720!
Big Boy is the 343rd of 352 total Gar Wood Custom Runabouts manufactured between 1920 and 1941. Big Boy cruises up to 47 mph powered by a 361hp 894 cubic inch Scripps Model 302 V-12, serial number 27622.
Big Boy is 1 of only 10 Gar Wood triple cockpit Custom Runabouts that were equipped with this powerful V-12 engine, only 7 are still known to exist. The first was delivered in August, 1934. Six of the 10 original high powered triple cockpit Gar Woods were sold by Jake Obexer, Lake Tahoe, CA.
Big Boy was first restored in 2002 for a prior owner. Sierra Boat Company completed a second 2 year comprehensive restoration in 2013, to address pervasive dry rot discovered in 2011 which had spread since the first restoration compromising the structural integrity and safety of the boat. Sierra Boat Company completed additional improvements in 2015-16 as recommended by ACBS judges to enhance Big Boy’s compliance with historic and original manufacturing specifications.
Big Boy’s transom reflects a long and storied history with the iconic original Big Boy logo established in 1937, the same year Big Boy was manufactured.
Big Boy has appeared in ads for Mercedes and Serengeti Sunglasses featuring Val Kilmer.