PHOTO BY JOHN VORHIES IIWhile I had owned a number of modern family bowriders
when our children were younger, once they were all
grown up and I was nearing retirement, I found the classic
boating hobby calling to me. Having grown up with
several fi berglass MFG runabouts, I set out to fi nd one in
my favorite color: A 1966 16-foot Westfi eld model with a
blue deck and white lapstrake-style hull that my dad had
while I was growing up.
After looking for a year, I located and purchased
a 1966 14-foot Niagara, just like the one my dad had,
except the smaller model. It was found in original,
unrestored condition and looked like new. I have taken
that boat, now called Little Blue, to a number of ACBS
boat shows and, amazingly, it has taken the “Best Non-
Wood Boat” award every time. It’s used primarily at
Portage Lakes, near Akron, Ohio. A second MFG runabout
— a 1962 17-foot Edinboro model soon to be named Big
Red with a red deck and again a white lapstrake-style hull
— has recently completed restoration
and will be launched this spring.
—Dave Nau, Shaker Heights, OHLittle Blue
Award-winning 1966 Niagara.
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