T
he elegant appeal of the classic
runabout remind us of a time when life
was simpler. Many people do not know the
rich history that surrounds these wooden
ladies of the lake and how they made their
way to Lake Tahoe.
The first runabouts, dating back to
the early 1920’s, were designed to
take advantage of the technology of
the outboard motor and the effects
of hydroplaning. Naval architect and
visionary John L. Hacker produced some
of the first runabouts igniting the wooden
boat revolution with the Hackercraft.
Another notable innovator of the classic
wooden motorboat was entrepreneur and
speedboat racer Gar Wood who pushed
- LIFESTYLE -
the design of the runabout to the limit. To
this day, Hackercraft and Gar Wood boats
continue to be some of the world’s most
cherished brands of wooden boats.
Runabout enthusiasts have a strong
affinity for the vintage elegance and
gr