Jellow Jacket Boats

[WillySteve]

Thought y'all might find this story kinda interesting!

Mom and a Family Friend Cruising Lake Texoma, 1958!



The Company:
The Yellow Jacket Boat Company was located in Denison, Texas and produced thousands of boats over a span of 10 years, from 1949 to 1959. They made quality All Wooden Boats until the last year in which they produced several fiberglass models!
The company's founder was R. A. McDerby and for a period of time Roy Rogers was a major investor and their Vice President.

Now the story on our boat:
Back in 1958 my dad purchased this 14' Yellow Jacket boat, (seen above), from the then Vice President of Yellow Jacket Boats, Roy Rogers!
There were only "2" of this particular model made and after completion, one went to Roy and the other went to the 34th President of the United States, Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower!
What made these two boats so interesting, other than only 2 being made, was that they were designed as an inboard yet in the final days of construction, it was decided to go with outboard propulsion!

pic #2

The transom and rear deck on these two boats looked very similar to this boat in pic #2, (which I posted for an example), except it was a much lower profile, a rounded back without fins, and the extravagant use of Mahogany and Maple made them really stand out.
The battery and fuel tanks were kept in the rear under the two access doors which normally housed an inboard engine.
Bolted to the transom was a 12" Cast Aluminum Skeleton style SetBack Bracket in which the outboard motor was mounted, possibly the very 1st JackPlate???
Also notice the Very Crude 1st version of the Ride Guide Cable Steering! I remember Dad having a heck of a time keeping the cable housing anchored to the plywood deck, which was evidently before people figured out how to mount it on the engine bracket
A year or so after this pic dad pulled the Mark 55E and went to a Mark 78AE which would run mid 60's with an old brass 2-blade prop!
I have no clue on this boat's whereabouts today but would like to know if it's even still alive!!!

HAPPY TRAILS!

[WillySteve]

Found these interesting specs on the inboard Yellow Jacket!

[WillySteve]

Wonder if these advertised weights were lake ready or without engine.....hahahaha!! ?

[rock]

I have been a self employed woodworker/cabinet maker for near 40 years and have always wanted to build a wood boat. I have owned a couple but have ended up selling them before I had the chance to rebuild. I just recently found out my grandfather built boats albeit fishing jon type boats. There may yet come I get a chance to restore one once my new shop is done.

Rock

[WillySteve]

Very cool Rock.....I can foresee this in your future!!!

You know, myself as I'm sure others will agree that in most of the older wood boats the transom was a weak link in their designs.
I'm sure that this will be addressed when you do decide to rebuild OR build!!!
IMO, a boat should be built starting with a solid transom....esp with the HP avail. in today's World.
The old YJ boats were no better....years of rough water and speed seemed to always take it's toll with the exception of the few transoms which were tied in really strong at the top, such as one like the inboard design with a jackplate bolted to it's transom for outboard power.
Cheers and Good Luck Amigo!!!!

[WillySteve]

The Crosley engine used for the inboard version of Yellow Jacket Boats which was also avail in a supercharged version!

[rock]

I had been looking for several years for a wooden boat and one day a Merc tech friend of mine says he found one. Well I had just bought a new racer and told him I did not have the funds at the moment. He tells me this guy is ready to burn the boat and I should talk to him. I did and ended up with the boat for $250 or $300. Been a while so I am not so sure as to the exact price. It sat for about a year when I found out what it might be worth and put it on Ebay. The thing sold for $3500 and I could have sold 5 of em. I'm sure another will pop up eventually.

Rock

[WillySteve]

Awe Man....That'll make somebody a good one for sure! Can't believe you sold it but Money Talks....good sale!!!