1946 Gar Wood Ensign

WWII had ended and Gar Wood was trying to save his business by introducing a relatively inexpensive model. The 16' Ensign was powered by a Chrysler Crown M47 flathead six. Because high-quality mahogany was all but impossible to find, he saved his best wood for transoms, decks and covering boards, and painted his topsides white.
The bambit failed, and Gar Wood was out of business before the end of 1947.
We have worked on several Ensigns and find them to be well built, very muscular in design and that the deliver a great ride.
The Ensign in Wes Van Dine's collection has arrived at Snake Mounain Boatworks for a comprehensive preservation. We are emptying her hull in preparation for flipping her, stripping her bottom planking and then repairing any failed framework we discover.
A 5200 bottom will be installed before we move to the topsides and transom, both of which will be stripped bare, refastened where needed, b;eached, stained and varnished.
We are eager to get beyond the deconstruction phase, after which we can begin bringing her back to herr former glory.