Truscott Fantail Launch, Michigan Maritime Museum, South Haven, Van Buren County, MI

Significance: Recreational boating under power increased during the early twentieth century. Vacationers from Chicago traveled to South Haven and other Michigan destinations to enjoy the cooler temperatures and cleaner waters. Power launches were built for wealthy families or were rented or used as water taxis to ferry people from resorts along the lakes and rivers. This launch is typical of a prolific type of craft throughout the United States. This launch is believed to be built by the J.W. Truscott Boat Company in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The four-cylinder engine currently in the boat is a Gray Marine, and almost certainly is not the original, which may have been a Truscott Pierce engine that the company built early in the 20th century.

Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N1080

Survey number: HAER MI-411

Building/structure dates: ca. 1915 Initial Construction

boats recreation boating maritime south haven truscott fantail launch truscott fantail launch michigan museum michigan maritime museum buren van buren county todd croteau historic american engineering record j w truscott boat company photo ultra high resolution high resolution chicago ships port water transport transportation ferry ferry ship library of congress

1915

Library of Congress

http://www.loc.gov/

No known restrictions on images made by the U.S. Government; images copied from other sources may be restricted. http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html