18-19 foot Higgins motorboat

[Diver1111]

I found this off Welch Island while looking for an El Camino that sank in the '70's and a truck with a trailer attached that sank as I recall in the 70's or 80's.

Search as I may I cannot find any Higgins brand boat that looks like this nor have I heard of a Higgins before. Found stuff on Higgins on the 'Net but what I saw looks nothing like this.

Interesting small glass windshield. Straight-6 motor. Hull completely intact (fiberglass?). No signs of scuttling. No plate or bow numbers.

No decent side-scan image to post. Terrain brutal for a good scan.

Can anyone tell us more about this make/model boat? Age?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UulZdHnmKxw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UulZdHnmKxw&feature=youtu.be

[Tallyho]

I remember seeing these on the lake during the 1950s.

http://www.higginsclassicboats.org/

[diz]

This looks pretty close:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1602160

[Aqua-andy]

Great video and in excellent shape. Was that a gas pedal on the floor like you would have in a car?

[ApS]

I looked around Google, targeting the windshield with the three braces—two of which are strangely manufactured in a re-curved style. It appears this Higgins was a post-war runabout. The left-side steering was moved to the right side in the 1950s models. Its actual length would nail it down to one model.

Here is the Higgins 17-footer:
http://www.antiqueboat.com/GetImage.ashx?H=H&ImageID=21065&Force=False&Width=400&Height=300

I gather that the license plate had corroded away from the frame.

:confused:

Someone in the Madison, WI area can check this at the boat show, July 31 – Aug. 1st 2015:

The Higgins Classic Boat Association will be having a Higgins Rendezvous as part of the 10th Annual Madison Area Antique & Classic Boat Show at Madison, WI. We invite you to bring your Higgins boat and join the fun this year as part of this ACBS Glacier Lakes Show. For details, contact: Mark Walters (608) 224-0815 or waltswoodie@charter.net; or www.glacbs.org or Marge Morris

During the war, plywood was also used to build troop-carrying gliders and various aircraft such as the awesome Mosquito fighter-bomber. ("The Timber Terror").

The solid appearance of the hull may be due to Higgins' (New Orleans, LA) long experience with plywood—including the wartime PT boats. (Though it's also possible that it's a restoration, lost on a rough Broads day).

[rsmlp]

wow. crazy good vis. 20'?

[Diver1111]

Yes viz was nice. As many know this changes radically on the lake depending on where you are.

I sent the video clip to the Higgins (Owners) Association; So far all they can say is that it is not 'glass but instead made of plywood.

[VitaBene]

I have a friend whose dad lost a couple of tractors 35 years or so ago. I will get details if you are interested. Their business was supplying and renting bobhouses for years and sometimes Winni won!

I love your photos. Great history!

[Diver1111]

Spaced out on one question re: gas pedal; As I recall it does indeed have a gas pedal. I thought I saw some of it in the clip.

And yes viz was terrific even at 56 feet.

[steve c]

There doesn't appear to be a middle seat so I think it is probably a 17 ft Sport Speedster. There aren't a lot of obvious differences between 48 and 54 so it could be either year. I found a picture of a 52 that looks close and sales info from 54 all from Bob Speltz's Real Runabouts books.

[steve c]

here is some additional information. PM me if any one wants the PDF file

[Grant]

...And yes viz was terrific even at 56 feet.

Dove it on Wednesday. It was closer to 40-45 feet. Cool find. Almost looks clean enough to salvage (emphasis on "almost"). ;)

[salty dog]

This one looks very similar...

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1dcOeUFwMO8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dcOeUFwMO8

[Diver1111]

http://www.speedboatclassics.com/new_page_6.htm

Mr. Higgins was quite a guy.