Sport: Show Boats

Promptly at 7 o’clock one evening last week a uniformed Boy Scout, whose job it was to strike a brass ship’s bell six times, stupidly struck it seven times. A Girl Scout blew a loud squeak on a gold-plated whistle and the 1935 National Motor Boat Show was officially open in Manhattan.

Costs. Most expensive of the 100 boats in the exhibit was a 48-ft. Elco ($20,000). Cheapest was a 12-ft. Kayak ($13.95). Boats equipped with toilet, started at $1,590 for a 25-ft. Chris-Craft cruiser containing bunks for four & galley. Most orders were received for motor boats in the low and medium price range ($500 to $6,000). Maintaining its trend, rising steadily since 1931, the industry reported more orders on opening day than last year.

Boats. Unlike automobiles, motor boats ordinarily change little in appearance from year to year. Visitors to last week’s show, however, noticed that streamlining had been applied to cruiser construction. Mechanical revelations were less revolutionary. Outboard motors this year will have electric starters. Smallest outboard in the show was a 24½-lb. Evinrude-Elto with 1½ h.p. ($55). Principal development in larger motors was V-drive construction, with motors mounted at the extreme stern to make more cabin or cockpit room. Interesting to many were three silent electric boats for anglers, 15-to-18 ft. long. Speed: 5-9 m. p. h. Price: $175-$750. One has a bow-rudder.

Gadgets are really the most important part of a boat show. Last week they outnumbered boats by 39,900, took up one entire floor of Manhattan’s Grand Central Palace. Sample gadgets: streamlined searchlights, helmets for novice deep-sea divers, log cabins, bilge pumps, nautical china, gear grease, chronometers, barometers, fire extinguishers, glue. Best sellers this year as last were life-preserver cushions ($1.50 up).