-
FLYER CLASSIC SPEED BOAT
SAVY DIRECT PRICE $649.96MSRP: $699.99FLYER CLASSIC SPEED BOAT FULLY BUILT AND READY TO DISPLAY BOAT MODEL Dimension approx.: 35.5"L x 10.5"W x 8"H The model is already built. THIS IS NOT A MODEL SHIP KIT The name Flyer... -
TYPHOON PAINTED CLASSIC SPEED BOAT
SAVY DIRECT PRICE $649.96MSRP: $699.99TYPHOON PAINTED CLASSIC SPEED BOAT FULLY BUILT AND READY TO DISPLAY BOAT MODEL Dimension approx.: 39.5"L x 9.5"W x 9"H The model is already built. THIS IS NOT A MODEL SHIP KIT In the... -
HACKER CRAFT CLASSIC SPEED BOAT
SAVY DIRECT PRICE $629.96MSRP: $699.99HACKER CRAFT CLASSIC SPEED BOAT FULLY BUILT AND READY TO DISPLAY BOAT MODEL Dimension approx.: 31.5"L x 9"W x 10"H The model is already built. THIS IS NOT A MODEL SHIP KIT The story of...
Description
PETTERSSON CLASSIC SPEED BOAT
FULLY BUILT AND READY TO DISPLAY, QUALITY BOAT MODEL
- Dimension approx.: 33L x 8.6W x 8.6H (inches)
- The model is already built. THIS IS NOT A MODEL SHIP KIT
-
The story of the Pettersson Classic Speed Boat begins with one man: Carl Gustaf “Cege” Pettersson, the prolific Swedish naval architect whose influence on Scandinavian pleasure boating is almost impossible to overstate. Active from the early 1900s through the 1950s, Pettersson designed hundreds of wooden motorboats and became known as the father of the Swedish motor yacht. His boats were unmistakable—long, narrow, elegant, and built for the sheltered waters of Sweden’s lakes and archipelagos.
Pettersson’s signature style emerged early and remained remarkably consistent. His boats typically featured slim, varnished mahogany hulls, raised foredecks, and a distinctive curved bow sometimes referred to as the “Pettersson ear.” Most ranged from 7 to 10 meters, optimized for efficiency and modest power, gliding through the water with a quiet confidence. Their interiors were famously compact—so compact, in fact, that Swedish boating folklore jokingly credits Pettersson’s narrow bunks with influencing the nation’s birth rate.
Production of Pettersson’s designs was spread across several respected Scandinavian shipyards. The Stockholm Motor Boat Yard, founded in 1915 at Hornstull, became one of the most important builders, producing serial runs of Pettersson boats with the designer himself inspecting each hull. The Sjöexpress yard on Lidingö handled many of the larger commissions, including impressive 19‑meter cruisers that showcased the full potential of Pettersson’s long, lean hull philosophy. His influence extended beyond Sweden as well—boats built to his drawings were exported to Norway, Holland, and Germany. One particularly rare example, the Eol, was constructed in 1921 at the Pabst shipyard in Berlin for a Swedish industrialist, making it the only known Pettersson boat ever built in Germany.
Today, surviving Pettersson boats are cherished pieces of Scandinavian maritime heritage. Many are more than 40 years old, and prospective owners are advised to inspect underwater woodwork carefully, but the boats that endure—like the Eol in Berlin and numerous examples still cruising Swedish lakes—remain elegant reminders of a bygone era of craftsmanship.
In modern times, the Pettersson name has taken on a second life through hand‑crafted wooden model boats, often built in Vietnam. These 33‑inch scale models echo the lines of Pettersson’s originals, complete with detailed decks, rudders, and fittings. They’ve become popular not only with collectors but also as feng shui symbols of success, blending maritime nostalgia with decorative artistry.
Across more than a century, the Pettersson Classic Speed Boat has evolved from a practical pleasure craft to a cultural icon. Whether in full‑size form on Scandinavian waters or as finely crafted models displayed around the world, Pettersson’s designs continue to embody the qualities that made them famous: elegance, efficiency, and a uniquely Swedish sense of understated beauty.