A Rare Western Fairliner Torpedo De Luxe Sports Runabout Length: 5. 18m(17ft.) Beam: 1.83m(6ft.) Draft: 0.46m(1ft.6in.) Built by the Western Boatbuilding Company, Tacoma, Washington, USA, in 1949 of mahogany on spruce with double bottom. Bright varnished to the waterline and antifouled below with a green boot top and chrome rubbing strips. Engine: Gray Fireball 6, 150hp petrol. Twin batteries, instrumentation includes revolution counter, speedometer, ammeter, oil pressure and water temperature guages. General arrangement: Distinctive 'Torpedo' shaped hull with pronounced tumblehome and retrousse stern, foredeck of laid spruce planking with white caulking mahogany king plank with chromed bronze mooring cleat, navigation lamp and spotlamp. Split windscreen on chrome pillars to forward cockpit, with Fairliner logo to either side. Wheel steering to starboard, hand throttle and floor gear shift. Polished mahogany dashboard with chrome instrument bezels. Fitted with a full-width bench seat upholstered in dark green vinyl. Rubber tread plates to either side before the aft cockpit, fitted with an upholstered full- width bench seat. Aft deck of laid spruce planking, caulked in white and mahogany king plank, fitted with chrome cleat, fuel filler, chrome vents to either side and ensign socket. Double chrome edged doors lift open for access to engine compartment. Inventory includes warps, fenders. On a custom built two wheel road trailer. Founded in 1913, The Western Boatbuilding Corporation initially concentrated on fishing boats, but after World War ll they turned their attention to the leisure market and at the end of 1946 launched the Fairliner Torpedo, designed by Dair N. Long and described as a 'De Luxe Sports Runabout'. This boat has the larger of the two engine options available and originally sold for $3,475, with a top speed in excess of 42mph. Production ceased in 1956 and a serious boatyard fire around 1960 destroyed the plans and building jigs. It is believed that only 35 of these stylish and stunning craft were ever constructed and that as few as six may still remain today.
