Evening star., 1954-01-17
Five Bay Area Firms
Among Exhibitors in
Golden Jubilee Event
By Malcolm Lomborne. Jr.
Special Correspondent Of The Sfor

e
NEW YORK, Jan. 16.-Ameri-
cas- boating industry spread its
wares for all to see In the man.
moth Kingsbridge Armory In the
Bronx today as thousands Of
boat lovers launched the golden
Jubilee National Motor Boat
Show in New York's ice and
sluSh.
The ecord-breaking fleet Of
800 boats Is spread out over acres
Of space on q single floor. in
contrast to the four floors in the
shows former headquarters in
Grand Central Palace.
The show opened last night
for the traditional five-hour pre-
view and resumed today with a
new opening hour Of / pm. in
stead Of II am. Another change
is a Sunday showing from 2 to Z
pm, which means exhibitors will
have no day Of rest. Hours for
next week are / pm. to II PM,
with windup Saturday.
Sponsor 50 Years Old.
The golden Jubilee theme Is
based on the fact the show spon-
sors, the National Association of
Engine and Boat Manufactur-
ers, was formed so years ago.
That also was the first year for
the Gold Cup race. The shows
queen" a 50-year-old naphtha
launch, provides a sharp contrast
to 1954's sleek, streamlined
cruisers. runabouts, outboards
and windjammers.
There's no thought or talk here
Of any recession for yatching in
1854. Dealers and manufacturers
experienced their best year in
history in 1853, and they see
nothing over the horizon but fair
weather.
Boating Industry, a trade mag
izine, reports on a survey of rep
resentative dealers and distribu-
tors throughout the country in
these words:
THE almost unanimous opin-
ion Of battle-ground observers,
many of them industry veterans
OF many years experience, points
to an avalanche of sales and
growth for an industry that is
truly SO years young this year."
Halt in Price Spiral.
The inflationary spiral for
boating seems to have halted.
judging from the price tags on
the many boats, engines, marine
equipment and gadgets that de-
light the hearts of all yachtsmen.
Generally. they compare favor
ably with year ago.
AS usual. the outboard engine
boys make the news again. Evin-
rude and johnson motors feature
push-button starters just like
your automobile. This, coupled
with the gear shift outboards
added several seasons ago. finally
has taken the outboard out OF
the cantankerous gag class. j
johnson also is showing a 5lz-
horsepower engine that is sup
posed to be so quiet you can
hear the slap of waves against
the bow.
Outboards Dominate Show.
Other outboard features in.
clude power plants ranging up
to 40 horsepower, an automatic
bailer attachment which pumps
water out of your boat as long
as the engine is running, and
a clutch that automatically dis
engages the prop when it strikes
an underwater object.
Scores of runabouts at prices
the average family can afford
are on display. to go with the
new look in outboard engines.
In fact, outboard craft outnum-
Der inboards in the show at
nearly 7 to l.
The larger outboards are an
obvious result Of the growing
popularity of outboard cruisers
which made show headlines two
years ago. The latter are here
again in all sizes and shapes.
Wood is still the old standby
in hull and cabin construction.
But you will find steel. alumni
mum. nodded plywood. fiberglass
and other plastics. One cruiser
as large as 2612 feet is made Of
fiberglass.
Flagship Of the show, which
(c.. n~A- rvr~1r,