What brand is this thing?

Raricks345 · May 8, 2023

Picked up this boat the other day. It had a lot of coats of paint all over it. There is no Hull identification number that I can find. I tried to take some of the paint off of this, however, I am unable to still identify the maker measures 13 feet from front to back. And the top edge around the top is wood. All of the seats are wood.

mbullen · May 9, 2023

I'm not going to be of much help on this one, but just for a couple of ideas...
Wooden gunnels were pretty much abandoned across the board by the mid-50s.
The two majors that used them were Arkansas Traveler and Crestliner (but it's not a Crestliner, for sure)
And I'm sure that were plenty of short-lived brands in the post-war boom that used them, too.
But that being said, I'm not spotting anything obviously Traveler, either, but they did make a flat bottom/pointed bow Angler series: AN-12 and AN-14.
Might be a decent rabbithole with which to begin?
Interesting boat. Please keep us updated if you find anything solid.

Raricks345 · May 10, 2023

mbullen said:
I'm not going to be of much help on this one, but just for a couple of ideas...
Wooden gunnels were pretty much abandoned across the board by the mid-50s.
The two majors that used them were Arkansas Traveler and Crestliner (but it's not a Crestliner, for sure)
And I'm sure that were plenty of short-lived brands in the post-war boom that used them, too.
But that being said, I'm not spotting anything obviously Traveler, either, but they did make a flat bottom/pointed bow Angler series: AN-12 and AN-14.
Might be a decent rabbithole with which to begin?
Interesting boat. Please keep us updated if you find anything solid.

Thank you! I will look into these

airshot · May 10, 2023

Having the boat get narrow towards the transom like that also shows its age...I agree, probably 50's era...unfortunately back then, there were a number of come and go mfgrs getting into boats. Some only lasted a couple years before going belly up or being sold. That marking with the M looks familiar to my 73 yr old eyeballs, but my brain hasn't caught up yet !!

KMixson · May 10, 2023

The first thing I thought was the emblem looked like an M over a W. Maybe, a Montgomery Ward. Just a guess.

KMixson · May 10, 2023

After a short research, it may be a Montgomery Ward Sea King. That may be the K in King and the G is upside down looking like a 6. The I and N are missing.

airshot · May 10, 2023

Looks like an M over a W, could very well be a monkey ward symbol..

Hardpan · May 11, 2023

I'm inclined to agree with Airshot... likely a "Monkey Wards Sea King."

Back in the mid 70's I inherited a then old Sears boat about that size - it too had wooden gun'ls, which were severely weathered. I replaced the wood with some sort of plastic (vinly?) baseboard material - whatever was popular at the time. Worked well, and the li'l craft served me for several years until I passed it on to a younger family member.

mbullen · May 11, 2023

Quick note about private labels: Brands do not always equal manufacturer.
Montgomery Wards, Sears, Western Auto, etc didn't actually make anything. Sea King, Elgin, Ted Williams, Wizard, etc. were all private labels attached to other company's products created by contract.
Traveler, Meyers, Lone Star, Sea Nymph, and Starcraft are a few that did the double duty in the tinny world.
Same with motors. Scott, McCulloch, Mercury, Gale, Chrysler, West Bend, etc. all had private label side shows.

Raricks345 · May 11, 2023

KMixson said:
The first thing I thought was the emblem looked like an M over a W. Maybe, a Montgomery Ward. Just a guess.

I thought the same. I do not see any Montgomery Ward models that look like this one.

Raricks345 · May 11, 2023

Raricks345 · May 11, 2023

The other side

Raricks345 said:
Picked up this boat the other day. It had a lot of coats of paint all over it. There is no Hull identification number that I can find. I tried to take some of the paint off of this, however, I am unable to still identify the maker measures 13 feet from front to back. And the top edge around the top is wood. All of the seats are wood.View attachment 114608 View attachment 114609 View attachment 114610

Raricks345 · May 11, 2023

Raricks345 · May 11, 2023

Found it! It is a Montgomery Ward SeaKing. Definitely 50’s model. I found this photo in an old ad. No idea how to mail the actual year down. It’s hard to find anything

drxfish · May 12, 2023

Very cool find! Can't wait to see what you do with it.

What brand is this thing?

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