1940s

A NEW BEGINNING.

Flying Boat

In 1903, the Wright Brothers made their ﬁrst powered aircraft ﬂight. Later, Glenn Curtiss created the Curtiss MF ‘Seagull’ Hydroaeroplane. Curtiss was both an inventor and an innovator and ﬁnally perfected what is now known as the seaplane.

Naptha Engine

In the late 1800s, motorboats were primarily powered by steam engines that required a licensed captain, as they had a tendency to explode. The 2 year license requirement hindered most personal and recreational boating and so a new form of power was developed. The resulting Naphtha engine was powered by boiling petrol that used the vapor to drive a sort of ‘steam’ engine. This low grade gasoline emitted vapors that sometimes caused small ﬁres or an unfortunate explosion.

Displacement Hulls

Wooden boats during this era were mostly long and narrow, utilizing round bottoms that ploughed through the water instead of planing over it. Launches became popular pleasure craft, and high speed auto-boat contests emerged during this decade.

Cup Racing

Motor launch racing was born in the beginning of the 20th century. Boats were built and designed to compete in two very distinguished cup races. The Harmsworth Trophy was gifted by Alfred Charles William Harmsworth in 1903. It was the ﬁrst annual international award for motorboat racing and designed as a contest not between boats or individuals, but between nations. The other, the APBA Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the Gold Cup, is the oldest active trophy in all motorsports and was ﬁrst awarded in 1904. The Challenger pictured here was the US participant for the Harmsworth Trophy in 1904. She was a 39 foot craft with a 150 hp engine, capable of 16 mph.