#3 • 1949 Larson 14’ Deluxe Speed Runabout, All-Wood Hull, Double Cockpit, w/1954 Evinrude Big Twin Electric 25 HP

Part of Classic Outboard Auction (timed auction by Estate Online Auctions)

Status: No sale

Category: Boats

1949 Larson 14’ Deluxe Speed Runabout, Double Cockpit, w/1959 Evinrude Big Twin Electric 25 HP Scarce 1949 all-wood model in amazing restored condition. She is ready to hit the water with a running ‘59 Evinrude Big Twin 25hp. 18 gallon fuel tank. B&M Haul Rite trailer included. (1949 was a limited production year for Larson with their wood boat plant being destroyed by fire) 3” surface damage on hull under the bow shield. From building his first boat as an 11-year-old in 1905 using salvaged materials, Paul Larson grew his passion into a thriving business, Larson Boat Works. Starting with custom-built wooden boats in 1913, catering to local demand, Larson's business boomed in the 1920s with the rise of lakefront properties and resorts. Known for strong, valuable boats, Larson's reputation spread beyond his local area. In 1939, he introduced the popular Falls Flyer, followed by a patent for an inboard version in 1941, which was met with high acclaim but hampered by World War II. Post-war, Larson collaborated on aluminum boats with Larson Watercraft, maintaining separate entities. Despite a devastating fire in 1949 that destroyed his wood boat plant, Larson persevered, focusing on the growing outboard market and eventually embracing fiberglass construction in the mid-1950s with the new Falls Flyer and Laker Line. Recognizing the shift in the industry and the difficulty of finding skilled woodworkers, Larson transitioned fully to fiberglass by 1956. By 1957, having built a successful company over 44 years, Larson sold an interest to Earl Geiger, who, along with Chuck Gravelle, spearheaded a national expansion through licensee agreements, introducing stylish new models like the Thunderhawk and setting new standards for features and design.