1939 Gar Wood

This 1939 Gar Wood is a 28′ runabout that features a semi-planing mahogany hull with triple cockpits. It was originally owned by Jake Obexer of Obexer’s Boat Company, who used it as his personal vessel on Lake Tahoe. The boat was acquired by the Marsten family in 1956 and reportedly won a number of Tahoe Yacht Club regattas in the late 1950s. It was purchased in the 1994 by Bob and Nancy Cunningham, who renamed it Miss Tahoe and commissioned a restoration. Both the fore and aft cockpits are equipped with raked, V-shaped windscreens, and an 894ci Scripps V12 drives a bronze propeller through a forward/reverse transmission. This Gar Wood runabout was donated in 2002 to the seller, the Tahoe Maritime Museum, and served as their ride boat on and off between 2003 and 2010. It is now offered with a 2006 marine survey and a triple-axle trailer, along with clean California titles in the museum’s name for both the trailer and boat. Miss Tahoe’s semi-planing hull is constructed with seam and batten mahogany and measures 28′ 6″ long and 7′ 4″ wide. Gar Wood rubber step pads are fitted on the dark-stained gunwales, and polished brightwork includes the cutwater, deckware, engine compartment vents, rub rails, and quarter rails. The foredeck, cover boards, and quarterdeck are made of plywood with varnished mahogany planks and payed seam overlays. The vessel’s registration number and manufacturer’s name are painted on the sides, while its home port, Homewood, and name, Miss Tahoe, can be found on the transom. The exterior was refurbished during previous ownership in 2001. The triple-cockpit design features three separate seating areas, each equipped with varnished wood bulkheads, burgundy upholstery, and planked soles covered in black rubber mats. The forward and aft cockpits are protected by raked windscreens with hinged frames featuring side grab handles. Removable cover boards in the soles allow for access to the bilges. The middle cockpit is equipped with a varnished mahogany locker, and a fire extinguisher is mounted in the aft cockpit. A banjo steering wheel is located on the port side of the forward cockpit and features a throttle lever on its center hub. A forward/reverse selector is located to the driver’s right. A large combination instrument is centered in the dash fascia and includes a 5k-rpm tachometer, ammeter, gauges for engine temperature and oil pressure level, and a fuel level indicator. A Jaeger clock is mounted on the starboard side of dash fascia. The Scripps Model 302 V12 displaces 894 cubic inches (14.65 liters) and was rated for 315 horsepower when new. It features twin-spark ignition and two Holly down-draft carburetors. A fuel shutoff valve has been added under the transom hatch, and a video of the engine starting can be seen here. A stainless steel shaft turns a three-blade Michigan propeller, forward of a bronze spade rudder. The vessel was last in the water approximately 10 years ago, and the the seller notes that the seams are opening up on the green-painted underside. The triple-axle trailer is finished in green and is equipped with turf-covered wood bunks, side steps, surge brakes, two spare wheels, and a manual winch. A 2006 survey by Admiralty Marine Services can be read in the gallery below.