1947 17-foot Higgins Sport Speedster - Snake Mountain Boatworks

The following is our playlist of videos for our 1947 17’ Higgins Sport Speedster preservation. Click on each to view the video, or the title or text below to watch and read detailed write-up on the video.

Just into the shop today is a 1947 17-foot Higgins Sport Speedster for a comprehensive stem-to-stern cosmetic, mechanical and structural preservation that even concludes redesigning her trailer so it protects her hull rather than destroying it.
Once her hardware, windshields, “innards” and engine have been released, she will be flipped and we will begin working below her waterline and her engine will be shipped to Robert Henkel, Peter Henkel INC in Marine City, MI
Her original bottom is one ¼” thick plywood that is fastened to a minimal framing system that is mostly comprised of glued-up ¼” plywood. We will replace all of it with a much more robust frame and a modified 5200 bottom that is two sheets of plywood.
Above the waterline, she will be returned to high gloss fire-engine-red-and-white complete with correct racing stripe running beneath the gunwales.
The indoor-outdoor carpeted floor panels will be returned to what Higgins used, marbleized dove gray Marmoleum.
Her upholstery, which is now a dimpled muddy purple, will be updated to the correct pattern of red and white.
She will return to Georgia being looking just like she did when she left the New-Orleans-based Higgins plant in 1947.