A Middle West Flyer

by Andreas Jordahl Rhude

Out in the Middle West, at Wayzata, Minn., on Lake Minnetonka, there is a firm that for years has been quietly and unostentatiously building up a reputation for runabouts of the highest class. We refer to the Ramaley Boat Co.

The latest of a highly successful line of runabouts turned out by this firm is “Hillcrest,” the newest sensation on Lake Minnetonka. “Hillcrest” is a 30 footer of the V bottom type with the rather unusual beam of seven feet which   does not seem to hold her back any. Powered with one of the famous six cylinder 200 H.P. Hall-Scott Marine engines, her builders claim a speed of 40 miles an hour, which is going some for a displacement boat. Despite her phenomenal speed, “Hillcrest” is not a light racing hull, but a good substantial runabout with forward and rear cockpits and comfortable seating capacity for ten persons.

The engine is installed about amidships under hinged hatches. The steering wheel, switches, and instruments are mounted on the bulkhead aft of the engine. Instead of the usual bucket seat for the helmsman, wicker chairs are provided. Two additional wicker chairs and a luxuriously upholstered athwartship seat at the after end, complete the furnishings of the big roomy rear cockpit. “Hillcrest” has proven so highly successful, that it is the intention of the Ramaley Boat Co. to standardize on this model, and a number of duplicates are now under construction to meet the demand for 1921.

Reprinted from OPEN EXHAUST (LaCrosse, WI) Dec. 1920 (vol. 1 no. 6) page 9

A New Midwest Speed Runabout

The profile and arrangement plan of a 28-foot racing runabout from the board of E. Weston Farmer is shown herewith. The boat is designed for Mr. O.H. Gray, of Minneapolis, who already owns two of the fastest runabouts in the Northwest. The arrangement is logical from the standpoint of balance and convenience, and follows quite closely the arrangement of “Baby Gar,” owned by Mr. Gar Wood, of Detroit. In fact, Mr. “Win” Wood, brother of the Detroit man, together with Mr. Gray and the designer decided that the best chances for speed lay in the same general arrangement as carried by “Baby Gar,” but with a shorter overall length.

The drawings show the resulting design to be a thoroughbred in every respect. With a 410 H.P. engine at 1,800 R.P.M. the designer has given a conservative guarantee of 55 M.P.H. All fittings are specially designed to be cast in Lynite, furnished by the designer. The boat is of mahogany construction throughout, with a double planked bottom.

For the sake of graphical misrepresentation, the drop in the chine as shown on the outboard profile, does not correspond with the actual, the lines being carried out somewhat differently. The dimensions of the boat are L.O.A. 28 ft.; beam 6 ft. 2 in.; mean draught to rabbet 10 in. Her ratio of length to beam is .22 and running displacement 3,500 lbs. with a crew of three.

Reprinted from OPEN EXHAUST (Peoria, IL) Feb. 1922 (vol. 12 no. 8) page 21

A Mississippi Speedster

The Wonder Boat owned by L.P. Piper of the Minnetonka Motor Boat Club of Minneapolis, Minn. The design herewith presented is of “Miss Liberty,” a runabout owned by L.H. Piper, of the Minnetonka Motor Boat club of Minneapolis, Minn. This boat, by reason of its showing at the Chicago Pageant of Progress, is the fastest runabout of the Mississippi Valley Power Boat association, to which organization the Minneapolis club belongs. “Miss Liberty” was matched against “Adieu II” in the Pageant regatta and won the initial of a three-heat event so easily as to astound all watchers and upset all of the calculations of experts who were watching the performance. At no time was the boat extended in this heat and she is credited with one lap at a rate of 46.14 MPH. In straightaway mile exhibitions, this boat has recorded a mile in one minute and three seconds or a 57.14 MPH pace. Her owner and her builder are confident that they have the fastest runabout in the world. She easily won her events at Toronto, Ontario.

            The boat was designed by Gene Ramaley of the Ramaley Boat building company at Wayzata, Minn. and the sketch will show that she is arranged for a pleasure, rather than a racing boat. Mr. Piper had this remarkable boat built to take friends on hunting trips on the Minnesota lakes. He is an enthusiastic boating man and has promised that his entry will appear for the Burlington, Iowa regatta where he hopes to set up new world records for this type of pleasure craft. The craft is a 26 footer and, as the lines indicate, is of the most approved types. She is built to carry an engine of 460 Horse power.

Reprinted from BOATING (Peoria, IL)  Feb. 1923 (vol. 13 no. 8) page 13