Vehicle Description
Built by Ditchburn Boats of Lake Muskoka, Ontario, the 'Malolo'
(Flying Fish in Hawaiian), was originally custom crafted in 1927
for Casper Erholm of Lake Whatcom, WA. From the luxurious yellow
pleated leather seats to the perfectly restored Gray Fireball
racing engine, this boat is a head turner. At 20' in length and
with a beam of 4'10", Malolo is a very nimble boat with enough room
for friends to join your cruise. Most of the Hull planks are single
run front to back, fitted so tight you can barely see the seams.
All the graphics are made with lustrous silvery-white Palladium.
Modern amenities like an under seat heater, electrical panel, radio
and bilge pumps are all hidden behind beautiful woodwork. These
amenities mean the boat is not just for show, it's meant to be run.
Ditchburn Boats were known as the Rolls Royce of boats at the time
and were considered to be one of the premier speed boat and yacht
builders in the world. They also built racing boats, twice winning
the Gold Cup and the Harmsworth Trophy once. This fabulous example
is thought to be one of only about two-dozen remaining worldwide,
with the majority being restored and residing in eastern Canada.
Ditchburns are the classic Porsches of the wooden runabout world -
quick and maneuverable, and this boat is exceptionally well built.
A boat like this comes available once in a lifetime. Don't miss
this opportunity at adding this incredible, extremely rare and
highly desired Ditchburn wooden speed boat to your collection.The
Malolo was referred to as a 'Gentleman's Racer'. It was
exceptionally fast for its day, going 28 miles per hour. It is
powered by a 'Grey 490 Fireball' racing engine and has Dual
Carburettors and High Compression (it had to run on aviation fuel
at that time). The Malolo's original owner, Casper Erholm, was the
son of Charles Erholm, the 'Finnish Laundry King of Bellingham',
who founded Pacific Steam Laundry in 1889. In 1921, Erholm's son
Casper began his apprenticeship in the family business. One can
only imagine the young and entitled playboy cruising in what may
have been Lake Whatcom's fastest boat.The Malolo plied the waters
of Lake Whatcom from 1927 to 1959, when it suffered hull damage
from hitting a dead head. It went into storage and stayed there
until 2005, when its stewardship was passed to the passionate
master-crafters at Glen Cove Boatworks. Glen Cove Boat Works did a
magnificent job of rebuilding this 1927 Ditchburn Gentleman's
racing classic. The restoration was undertaken by craftsmen Richard
Montag, Tom Walton and Terry Buzzard, along with assistance and
advice from many others, including historians from the Lake Whatcom
Motor Boat Club. With an eye toward keeping this very special and
rare watercraft as near to original as possible, the team
painstakingly restored 'Malolo'. The result is an absolutely
stunning piece of American boat building history that is sure to
impress even the snobbiest boaters.The engine refurbishment was
entrusted to the legendary Hy Twiford. Hy starting working with his
dad at the Cleveland Yacht Club in the family boat repair business,
Twiford Marine Services. He had an innate ability to fix anything,
especially if it had to do with boats or boat engines. Jim Rowland
of Jim's Upholstery hand-crafted the leather seats, Clawson
Instruments expertly refurbished the gauges, the electrical system
was restored by Ken Benthien. Larry Oliverson masterfully applied
the graphics. The silver highlights are actually Palladium leaf,
which is about 5-times more expensive than Gold leaf.Ditchburn
Boats is the popular name for a manufacturer of wooden pleasure
craft launches and racing boats located in Gravenhurst, Ontario, on
Lake Muskoka. At one time the company was the largest boat
manufacturer in the lakes region. Ditchburn operated from 1871
until approximately the 1930s building wooden rowboats and canoes
early in its history, and later gasoline-powered launches.Although
over 73 years have passed since the last Ditchburn boat left the
Gravenhurst factory, their products continue to set the standard
for the glory years of wooden pleasure craft construction in Canada
and are still recognized as among the best and most beautiful boats
ever built. Ditchburn's important innovations in construction,
mechanical systems, and design produced higher standards of
customer satisfaction, safety, and utility. His vessels possessed a
singular beauty-a sculptural quality that set them apart. Survivors
are treasured reminders of a time when craftsmen built boats by
hand, using the finest materials, creating a custom product
uniquely suited to its purpose and its owner. Ditchburns are highly
prized by collectors.For more information, or to discuss delivery
arrangements for adding this rare and desirable, beautifully
restored 1927 Ditchburn Speed Boat to your collection, contact one
of our friendly and knowledgeable sales consultants today or always
feel free to drop by our Bellevue, WA facility - Home to the West
Coast's Most Diverse Inventory of Luxury, Exotic, Collectible and
Special Interest Automobiles, (and boats & motorcycles). With 200+
Always on Site, Nobody Has What We Have!
