Tweet
Yesterday, at the culmination of a three-year restoration, we launched the 22-foot, 1936 Lylecraft cabin runabout that was built by Lyle Mrachek of Lake Chelan. The boat is owned by Don McArthur of Lake Chelan, who as a child had his first-ever boat rides aboard the Lylecraft, since his family had a cabin next to the Mracheks.
The Lylecraft had been sunk inside its original boathouse, and badly damaged during a winter storm, when the family gave the derelict hull to Don McArthur about 14 years ago. Don put the hulk in a barn for the next 10 years while figuring out what to do next...at which point we began to discuss restoration options.
The restoration amounted to building a new 1936 Lylecraft. We saved most of the original side frames and some mahogany from the cabinsides, but otherwise everything you see is new construction--the bottom, side planks, cabintop, interior, hardware, gauges, steering and all running gear. The old flathead V-8 was totally rebuilt and, in the process boosted from 85hp to 160hp, thanks to Dick Gabrielson of Dick's Lakeside Flathead.
Following our water test on Kitsap Lake, Don towed the Lylecraft back to its birthplace on Lake Chelan, smiling all the way.
- Marty
The Lylecraft had been sunk inside its original boathouse, and badly damaged during a winter storm, when the family gave the derelict hull to Don McArthur about 14 years ago. Don put the hulk in a barn for the next 10 years while figuring out what to do next...at which point we began to discuss restoration options.
The restoration amounted to building a new 1936 Lylecraft. We saved most of the original side frames and some mahogany from the cabinsides, but otherwise everything you see is new construction--the bottom, side planks, cabintop, interior, hardware, gauges, steering and all running gear. The old flathead V-8 was totally rebuilt and, in the process boosted from 85hp to 160hp, thanks to Dick Gabrielson of Dick's Lakeside Flathead.
Following our water test on Kitsap Lake, Don towed the Lylecraft back to its birthplace on Lake Chelan, smiling all the way.
- Marty
Comment