by Robert Hunter member of the Water Wonderland chapter
Any time I’m around water, I’m looking for the impossible. My Eddy-find was one of those. As my wife and I were driving around the canal area in Sebewaing, Ml, we found an open garage door. There sat the bow of a boat I had never seen. The owner knew little about the boat, but prompted by my interest to buy it, he said he would sell it to me if I would research it.
First, I checked the web and the local museum with limited luck. I did find out the boat had been designed by Douglas Van Patten. Further research revealed that there were approximately 60 Eddys ever built in 1936 at the Bay City, Michigan-based factory of Eddy Marine Corporation. Production of the Eddy pleasure boat stopped at the end of one year; some of the boats were started and never finished. I’ve come across two other Eddy’s over the years, one in Wisconsin and the other in the Michigan. I’ve heard of the existence of others but have never seen them. She’s a rare one.
Two years went into researching the boat. I pursued the builder’s family to glean information, I got drawings, magazine articles, literature from various sources. I was also looking for pictures. Finding special parts was a must to keep its authenticity,I found an original Eddy rudder that was perfect in meeting that goal.
One of the highlights of my search was communication with Bob Speltz, author of “The Real Runabouts” series of books. I wrote him asking if he knew of any resources that would help in the renovation. He wrote back and praised my success in finding such a gem. He said he really couldn’t help me, over and above the information published in his book series. I cherish that letter. Bob Speltz died shortly thereafter.
This Eddy had been reconfigured into a fishing boat after a gunshot/fire/sinking was experienced by a previous owner. Wanting to bring it back to a near-original condition, I found a woodie restorer that was willing to do the work. I became the gofer. It took 6 years to refurbish it.
She’s been on exhibit at shows in Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, and Florida. She has also been featured in a couple of major wooden boat publications.
Designed to handle the rough water of Saginaw Bay with higher freeboard and a crowned deck, she is appropriately name “Bay Beauty”.
Great article, Bob. …and what a boat! Glad to have caught up with you in Bay City some years back. You’ve managed an incredible restoration on her; what a beauty of the bay she is!!
I have an Eddy Cat 13 foot sailboat built at Gougeon in Bay City in 2008. Another guy I know had an Eddy Craft that he recently sold. Very few left now.
This was my Uncle Wilbert’s boat. It had been in Sebewaing a great many years. Formerly owned by doctor Thume of Sebewaing, as well. It used to have teeth painted on the front, to represent the Air Force “Flying Tigers”, of which my Uncle was a veteran and one of the mechanics. Being an artist, I’m currently working on a painting of her as we remember her, in that way. Nice to see her restored.
Tom Travis, tatravis44@gmail.com
I have had for many years a rudder from an Eddy speed boat. I wanted to rebuild the speedboat I found in a farm yard but the original owner wouldn’t sell, I kept track of it over several years and one day found the new farm owner burning all the old boats, unfortunately including the Eddy anyone interested please contact my E-Mail.
Does anyone know what relation there might be between this boat and a boat currently for sale in Michigan under the designation as being a 1945 Eddy Moby? Lapstrake planked weekend cruiser
My father’s uncles built Eddy boats in the thirties.
I’m about to purchase a1945 Eddy weekender/express cuddy it looks to be 25-28 ft, big bow. It’s in Charlevoix,MI. Any info anyone has would greatly be appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Greetings PL,
Can you provide any additional information about the boat you are buying? Photos? Is there a name plate with additional info on it?
I am the grandson of George Glen Eddy, owner of Eddy Marine, which became Eddy Shipbuilding Corp,
I may have photos and possibly some blue prints that could be copied.
My father Edward Kriewall of Bay City worked at Eddy Shipbuilding during WWII. My father was the rigging foreman on the rescue boats being built for the Navy. He said they were the same design as the PT boats without armament. John Hacker was in charge of the production. Somewhere I have a letter written by Hacker on Eddy Shipbuilding stationery