A fine example of a steel motor-boat in popular demand back in the early 1900's is this Special 18-foot model built by the Michigan Steel Boat Company, of which three photographs are shown, This has a beam 4 feet 6 inches and the cockpit is 11 feet 7 inches forward, and 1 foot 10 inches aft. Equipped with a 3-1/2 hp Detroit engine , the boat makes a speed of 10 miles an hour. It seats ten persons in all, the forward cockpit seating six, having seats 4 feet 6 inches wide. The net weight of the boat is 650 pounds. The measurements boxed are 18 feet 3 inches by 4 feet 8 inches by 3 feet 4 inches, or 284 cubic feet. The price of this model in 1910 complete with engine installed ($147.00, crated, f.o.b. cars at Detroit) brings it within the reach of the most moderate incomes of the time period. In materials, workmanship and power, this 1910 boat is fully up to the well known standards of the Michigan Steel Boat Company in every respect.

The launch could be equipped with an engine as large as 12-14 hp if desired. With such an engine installed it has made actual speed over a measured course of 19 miles an hour. The price with the larger engine was comparatively higher.

1908 Michigan Steel Boat 18ft, Owner of the Boat is unknown.
Photo's taken by Miro Forest at a local boat show.

Michigan Steel Boat Construction

One of the leaders in steel boat construction back in the early 1900's was the Michigan Steel Boat Company, of Detroit , Michigan, who turned out thousands of boats annually. These boats were built clinker fashion of heavily galvanized steel, cut in regular pattern strips, lock seamed and welded together by pneumatic hammers. The builders said they have never believed in the modern wash tub as a boat, as there is to much risk about it, so each strip is cut from a regular pattern and conforms without strain to the beautiful curves which distinguish their boats and give them a distinctive poise in the water. The lapping, seaming and grooving of the steel strips is by a special process, and the seams running from stem to stern have each four thicknesses of steel, which gives the hull great strength. The steel is then treated on the exposed surface with a special adhering aluminum paint which the United States Government used at that time period to perfect the steel clad monsters of our navy. This in addition to the galvanized steel renders the boats equally immune from the effects of salt and of fresh water. Each boat is fitted with air-tight compartments, and the water-tight compartments are thoroughly tested before they are put in the boat. For the amateur builder the construction of a steel boat is practically out of the question. The prices at which these steel boats could be purchased, however, place them within the easy reach of the general public.

Steel launch hulls were furnished by the Michigan Steel Boat Company, complete, without the engine, to those who desire to install engines of their own choice. These launch hulls were complete with woodwork, gasoline tank, engine bed, rudder, post, yoke and shoe, but did not include engine, engine fittings, shaft, propeller or stuffing box.  

Specifications of Steel Boats

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16 foot Regular Launch

Dimensions :  Length, 16' ; Beam, 4' 2" ;   Draught loaded about 12".   Seating capacity, 6 to 7 persons.  Speed, about 6 to 7 miles an hour.  Weight, crated 700 pounds. Measurement boxed for export, 16'x5'x3' = 240 cubic feet. Gross weight, boxed, 900 pounds.

Frame :  Ribs of best selected white oak, 7/8x1/2 spaced 4" centers. Hull of galvanized steel cut in strips and lock seamed, making it impossible to pull apart. Boat has six water-tight compartments.

Woodwork :  Best selected matched material, finished in natural color. Launch fitted with heavy iron shoe under rudder to protect rudder and propeller should boat run into obstruction.
    
Motor :  This launch is equipped with latest design 2 hp, two-cycle Detroit reversible engine, with speed controlling lever.  Launch can be run from about 1/2 to 7 miles an hour. Boat and engine undergo thorough test before being shipped.
   
                                                                                                
                                                             

18   Foot Automobile Boat

Dimensions :  Length, 18' : beam, 4' 6" ; draught, about 14"; seating capacity, about 10 to 12 persons; depth amidship, 2'  2" height of bow, 2' 4" ; height of stern, 2' 5" ; length of cockpit, 10'  3" ; width of cockpit, 3' 6". Speed with 2 hp engine, about 7 miles per hour.  Shipping weight, 1,000 pounds.  Capacity gasoline tank, 10 gallons. Measurement boxed for export, 18' 3" x 4' 8" x 3' 4" = 284 cubic feet.  Gross weight, boxed, 1,125 pounds.

Frame :  Ribs of best selected white oak, 7/8 x 1/2 every 3 inches apart; hull of galvanized steel, lock seamed , making the staunchest boat possible. 

Decking :  Fore and aft decks of wood, covered with paint canvas, ecru color, same as up-to-date yachts are finished.

Cockpit :  Sealed up in a narrow strips of cypress ; seats extend fore and aft full length of cockpit.

Fittings : Woodwork filled and finished with spar varnish; each boat fitted with heavy shoe under the rudder to protect rudder and propeller should the boat run into an obstruction. It also has brass and cherry trimmed steering wheel in bow, and chocks and cleats on forward deck.

Engine :  2, 3, 3-1/2, 4, or 5, 6 H. P. two-cycle reversible high speed Detroit engine, with all latest improvements. All engines thoroughly tested both before and after they have been put in the boat.

 21  Foot Cruiser

Dimensions : Length 21'; beam, 5'8"; draught loaded, about 20"; speed, about 8 to 12 miles per hour. Shipping weight, crated, about 1,500 pounds. Measurement boxed for export, 21' 6" x 5' 3"x 4' = 538 cubic feet. Gross weight, boxed, 1,900 pounds.

Frame : Ribs of best selected white oak, 1-1/2x7/8 inches, spaced 5" centers. Keel, keelson, stem, stern-post, dead-woods, floor beams and deck carlings best quality clear white oak. Hull of galvanized steel cut in strips and lock seemed, making it impossible to pull apart. These seams running from bow to stern are like steel girders encircling the boat, making it the staunchest boat possible.

Decking : Fore and aft of cypress, covered with heavy canvas, painted ecru color, set in white lead, the most serviceable deck known to up-to-date builders. Length forward deck 4' 7"; length aft deck, 4' 6".

Cockpit : Ceiled up inside with narrow strips of pine. Solid matched flooring. Seats running fore and aft full length of cockpit, with an extra wide seat athwartships, aft. Length of cockpit, 12' 3"; width, 4' 10". Coaming, best quality white oak, 6" high forward and 4" aft.

Fittings : All woodwork finished in natural color. Metal painted with silver steel aluminum paint, the paint adopted by United States Government in painting the new navy. All Michigan steel launches are fitted with a heavy shoe under rudder to protect entirely the rudder and propeller, should the boat run into an obstruction. Riveted to this shoe, just forward of the propeller wheel, and bolted through the keelson, is a solid brass shaft hanger, which, besides strengthening the shoe, relieves the shaft of vibration. A brass steering wheel is fitted regularly forward with steel cored cable running under half to quadrant on rudder post under aft deck, thus leaving the decks and cockpit entirely free of all running gear. Chocks and cleats on forward deck are also included.

Motor : 5-6hp and 7 to 8 Detroit single cylinder reversible engine, or 10hp double cylinder, or 12 to 14hp double cylinder.

25 Foot Launch

Dimensions : Length, 25'; beam, 6' 6"; draught loaded, about 22". Seating capacity, 18 to 20 persons. Speed, with 5-6hp engine, 8 to 9 miles per hour. Shipping weight, crated, 1,900 pounds. Measurement boxed for export, 27'x 6'x 4' = 720 cubic feet. Gross weight, boxed, 3,000 pounds.

Decking : Fore and aft of wood, covered with painted canvas, ecru color, set in white lead, same as most modern launches are now finished.

Frame : Ribs of best selected white oak, 1-1/2"x 7/8" every 6" apart; hull of galvanized steel, cut in strips and lock seemed, making it impossible to pull apart. These seams running from bow to stern make it the staunchest boat possible.

Cockpit : Ceiled up inside with narrow strips of pine. Arranged for 6 to 10 wicker chairs, if desired, in place of locker seats. Launch fitted with locker seats unless otherwise specified.

Fittings : Woodwork finished in natural color. Metal painted aluminum. Steel rudder and galvanized tank in boat. Brass steering wheel in bow.

Motor : 5 to 6hp single cylinder, 7 to 8hp single cylinder, or 10hp or 12-14hp double cylinder Detroit engine. The above covers a complete outfit ready to run, but does not include awnings, cushions, etc. These are not necessities, but add to the comfort.

Resources:   collected from a 1910 book written by Thomas H. Russel
(Motor Boat Construction & Operation).
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Not sure who the owner of this engine is?   If you know please e-mail me.

                                                                                                          
                                                                                    
These engines were manufactured by Detroit Engine Works. 


             
Owner & Photographer William Schaller from Minnesota.
Notice this engine has four holes in the flywheel and a float type Schebler carburetor.
DEW manufactured many different variations of this style of engine. 





See Detroit Engine Works history page on main menu for history of Michigan Steel Boat Company.