1925 Hickman Sea Sled

Description

This 1925 Hickman Sea Sled Sedan features an inverted-V hull constructed with double-planked mahogany over steel-reinforced oak frames and measures 27.5′ in length. Powered by a Hall-Scott OHC straight-six turning a surface-piercing bronze propeller, the boat is further equipped with a partially enclosed forward cockpit, an open rear cockpit, green upholstery, and dual rudders. The vessel spent time in the collections of William Harrah and Alan Furth before undergoing a restoration by Tony Brown of Western Runabouts in Homewood, California, that involved refurbishing the hull, deckware, and engine. Following completion of the work in 1994, the boat earned Best Vessel of Show and Best Engine of Show at that year’s Tahoe Yacht Club’s Concours d’Elegance and went on to win the Best of Marquee award at the 1995 Carnelian Bay Concours d’Elegance. It was later donated to the
Tahoe Maritime Museum
in 2005.
The Albert Hickman–designed Sea Sled Sedan was introduced by The Sea Sled Company at the 1913 New York Motor Boat Show. It features an inverted-V bow, which forces air under the hull and helps it achieve higher speeds than a conventionally hulled boat with the same horsepower. The vessel measures 27.5′ in length, approximately 9′ in beam, and has a 1′ draft.
Constructed of double-planked mahogany over steel-reinforced oak frames, the hull of this example features a varnished finish above a white boot top stripe. The sides wear gold letting for the registration number and the boat’s name,
Miss Lakeside.
Further details include polished stem bands and rub rails as well as Herreshoff-style cleats.
The partially enclosed forward cockpit is fitted with a four-pane split windscreen that opens for ventilation as well as port and starboard fixed glass windows. The curved mahogany roof has a ribbed interior as well as varnished wood exterior grab rails. Accommodations for as many as six people are provided by two rattan seats and a bench upholstered in green leather.
The starboard helm station is equipped with a wood four-spoke steering wheel with a central throttle tab paired with a forward/reverse shifter. Hall-Scott-branded instrumentation includes a 2,400-rpm tachometer, an ammeter, and gauges for oil pressure and water temperature. The dash also features a Phinney-Walker clock and a Hall-Scott/Delco switch panel.
Varnished paneling lines the cockpit aft of the engine compartment, which houses a bronze manual bilge pump equipped with a canvas hose and Wooster bronze nozzle.
The Hall-Scott straight-six features an overhead camshaft design and produced 200 horsepower when new. The engine runs on gasoline, and the fuel system has been upgraded with a Holley fuel pump and a water/fuel separator filter. A stainless-steel exhaust silencer is installed beneath the starboard side of the aft cockpit and vents through the transom. The electrical system have been upgraded to 12-volt operation.
The engine turns a three-blade bronze propeller located between two teardrop rudders with exposed linkages. The bilge pumps are located in the bow, and a 2005 inspection report recommended adding at least two additional pumps in the stern.
The dual-axle trailer was manufactured by DHM Enterprises of Sacramento, California, and is equipped with carpeted support pads as well as white-finished 15″ steel wheels mounted with Carlisle USA Trail Bias tires.