Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum

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In 1960 or thereabouts, I picked up a small hydroplane on a lake that limited motors to 6 hp. Even so, it ripped...at least until my jealous sister ran it through a sailfish race. Whereupon it was banned. Lived in our garage until my father unilaterally sold/junked it.

As I remember, it was built for a MUCH larger outboard. The nose was canvas-covered on a frame. (I learned to heed the weather when a recanvas job went slack only hours later.) There was a steering wheel and accelerator lever on the right side. There was a small metal fin affixed to the bottom.

I recall a metal tag crediting a Century company as manufacturer, but can find no information backing that up on Google.

 

Any help would be appreciated, particularly some idea of present value. If high, I can reproach my 91-year-old father.

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I have a few 1930's vintage Century brochures which show several small (8'-6" to 11'-6") stepped hydroplanes.  They were single step craft with canvas covered forward decks and a single fin on centerline just aft of the step.  Century stopped building these small hydros by 1940.  You can check with the Century Boat Club site (http://centuryboatclub.com/cbcindex3.htm) for production #'s of these boats by dates.

Someone in Couer d'Alene area had (2) of these small stepped Century hydros on display at the 2008 ACBS International Boat Show on Lake Coeur d'Alene.  There was one on eBay about 3 or 4 years ago back east -- I recall the minimum price was somewhere around $5000, but don't remember if it sold.  Not many of these small Century's of this vintage survived so they are pretty rare.  See if your father can remember who he sold it to!!!!!

Randy Mueller

Gig Harbor, WA

Yeah! Thanks so much. I'll visit the club site, but this has got to be it.

As for a reunion, my wife has banned any further acquisitions that are powered by electricity or gas, rigidly enforcing a "Think Amish" regimen. (I am partial to purchasing high-end appliances and then making repairs, this without the ability even to remember Ohm's Law.)

The hydroplane was so sweet, even with that tiny 5 hp motor. I still can recall the sound as it cut through the water.

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