55 foot wood classic Thunderbird after Bill Harrah added the SS Helm station

George Whittell had a life-long fascination with the latest technology of the day, particularly that which manifested itself in aircraft, automobiles and boats. He had built and owned the legendary Wood Classic 55′ speedboat, Thunderbird.

Thunderbird was designed by famed naval architect John L. Hacker and built by Huskins Boat Works in Bay City, Michigan. Enamored of the lines of Whittel’s DC-2 aircraft, also named Thunderbird, the eccentric millionaire requested that the hull and cockpit of his new speedboat resemble the fuselage of his personal airplane. Fashioned of double-planked mahogany and brushed stainless steel the new acquisition would enable Whittell to get about Lake Tahoe with unmatched speed and style. Outfitted originally with twin V-12, 550 hp Kermath engines, the vessel was capable of 60 knots.

Thunderbird first crossed the mountain lake’s sparkling blue waters on July 14th of that year. The aging playboy used it extensively that summer and the next, retrieving friends from nearby communities and showgirls from the Cal-Neva casino for lavish parties at his estate.

Suspended by slings in the boathouse for most of the last 10 years of Whittell’s life, the boat was rescued by casino magnate (and Whittell protégé) William F. Harrah, who purchased it from Whittell in 1962. Harrah had it transported to his Automobile Collection restoration shop in Reno where it was refurbished. His workmen added a matching, brushed stainless steel flying bridge and replaced the original Kermath engines with two V-12 Allison aircraft engines of 1100 horsepower each. Harrah used his wood classic boat Thunderbird  as his private yacht for the entertainment of his casino high-rollers and showroom headliners, such as Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank Sinatra and Bill Cosby, to name a few.

For over a hundred years, Hacker-Crafts have been hand-built in America–one at a time–by some of the world’s finest boat building craftsmen.

Our master craftsmen toil thousands of hours over every Hacker–always sanding one more time, or applying another coat of varnish to ensure the ultimate mirror finish. Our designs–carrying the Hacker Legacy–provide the ultimate ride, but our precision and attention to detail deliver a true classic that demands admiration. 

Our legacy is that of John L. Hacker [1877-1961]–the unchallenged preeminent naval architect of wooden pleasure crafts of the last century. Nearly fifty years after his death, the mere mention of his name evokes memories of days of innocence and long summers in the golden age of classic wooden boats His boats still ply along the most beautiful waters on earth. Boats that demand immediate attention and admiration. From captains of industry to celebrities and racers–a handcrafted Hacker was the ideal. And remains so today. His designs would easily make a who’s who list of the greatest wooden boats ever built. Pardon Me. Thunderbird. El Largarto. Bootlegger. Peerless. Dolphin. Kitty Hawk. Belle Isle Bear Cats. My Sweetie. To name a few. 

We are the company that still builds the originals. Only better. We use the design plans of our company’s founder–John L. Hacker. Many of our models look like classic original Hacker-Crafts above the water, but improvements have been made throughout thanks to improved modern boat building techniques and materials.

…POSH, the flagship of Mahogany Bay, is a 1937, 54’commuter, designed by John  Hacker and built at the Huskins Boat Works in Bay City, MI.

WeeJoe II was one of only three Hacker designed-Huskins built boats ever made.   These three Hacker boats are among the most famous, and some say the most beautiful, commuter style yachts ever built.

A 44-footer was owned by Guy Lombardo under the name TEMPO (the same name that he used for his race boats). 

WeeJoe II, at a length of 54’, was built second. 

The third boat in the series was built for George Wittell in 1939, and includes a stainless steel cabin roof  which was designed to mimic the lines of  his DC2 airplane. He named the boat Thunderbird, after his estate on Lake Tahoe, part of which is known today as Incline Village

These three boats represent the most limited of limited production, and, in many ways, it’s amazing all three have been preserved, and still exist. We are honored to have both Tempo and WeeJoe II (POSH) as part of the Mahogany Bay Collection. 

We rechristened her POSH, in honor of Bob Speltz wrote a series of books called The Real Runabouts featuring several wooden boat manufacturers.  In volume three of his series, he described WeeJoe II as ‘posh’ because she was such an elegant commuter boat. 

Posh is a working girl.  She has been instrumental in raising funds for local charities.  Often donated as a live auction item, our POSH cruises have raised several thousand dollars for charities…

As a boater, I would rather image the Hacker-Craft shown than the winter scene of Lake George also pictured.  

“Ice Out” is when the ice clears off the lake, usually around the second or third week of April for Lake George.

Hacker Craft’s are hand built on the shore of Lake George and you can get more of the history here…

http://www.hackerboat.com/

or chat with Dan at the wood shop if you would like more information where Hacker Craft boats are on display this March.