can help me ID this boat?

[brianbr]

Just bought this real fixer Larson and I'm not sure the year, model, etc. Seller was guessing mid 60-s? and I think it is a 14 footer. Old decal on the side says "Larson Larline" and the dash panel says "Hiawatha" but can't seem to find either on this forum. I'm new here so could be beginner's ignorance.

 

[flowjet_man]

Re: can help me ID this boat?

Let me preface my response by saying I don't have much knowledge on the subject but I love researching this stuff. My best guess is that you have 1961 All American 142. The logo on the side is actually "Larson Lapline", which was part of their marketing campaign highlighting their hull design which allowed the boat to produce air bubbles beneath the boat and giving it a "million-bubble ride" as their marketing propaganda suggests. The link below is for the 1961 Larson brochure. The boat on the cover is very similar to yours. As for the "Hiawatha", that was likely the type of Outboard that came on the boat, as Hiawatha was a manufacturer of Outboard motors.

http://www.larsonboats.com/assets/dwnld/_brochures/1961.pdf

Here is a nice link talking about the history of Larson...

http://www.fiberglassics.com/larson.htm

Hope this helps!

Tim

 

[brianbr]

Re: can help me ID this boat?

Great information and thank you so much for your help. I love the sales brochure, its a classic. After looking at the pictures, I wonder if it may be a playmate? It seems to have the same indentations on the dash as the playmate pictures on page 18 and it doesn't have the large space between the back seat and the transom mount as the All American seems to show.

 

[flowjet_man]

Re: can help me ID this boat?

You may be on to something. You might want to check a couple other years, but the whole "lapline" thing was really pushed in 1961. It is the only year where I can see it on the logos. Also, the sales numbers were down in 62' and 63' and the whole lapline deal was dropped in 64'.