Description

ZIPPER (FAST HYDROPLANE) CLASSIC SPEED BOAT

FULLY BUILT AND READY TO DISPLAY BOAT MODEL

Dimension approx.: 38"L x 10"W x 9"H
The model is already built. THIS IS NOT A MODEL SHIP KIT

The Zipper is one of the most distinctive classic commuter yachts in North America, a vessel whose story stretches from the elegance of 1930s yacht design to decades of active service on the St. Lawrence River. Her origins trace back to the Stroh family of Detroit — owners of the Stroh Brewery and passionate boat enthusiasts — who in the early 1930s commissioned renowned marine architect Ned Purdy to design a fast, stylish express commuter yacht. Purdy responded with a 42‑foot design that captured the glamour of the era: a long, sweeping sheer line, pronounced tumblehome at the stern, and a forward cockpit reminiscent of rumrunner craft from the Prohibition years.

But the Great Depression intervened. Construction was postponed for more than 40 years, and the Zipper remained only a set of elegant drawings until the Stroh family revived the project decades later. When they finally chose a builder, they turned to the Staudacher Yacht Company, known for its craftsmanship and modern wooden‑boat techniques. Staudacher built Zipper using cold‑molded, epoxy‑saturated wood, giving her the strength and durability of a contemporary yacht while preserving the classic lines envisioned in the 1930s.

Powered by twin 454‑cubic‑inch Mercruiser V‑8 engines, Zipper delivered quiet, confident performance. Her layout included a forward cockpit accessible through an interior passage — complete with an intercom to the helm — and a main cockpit that comfortably seated six to eight passengers. Varnished mahogany brightwork throughout gave her the warm glow of a traditional commuter yacht, while her proportions and detailing evoked the golden age of fast waterborne travel.

In 1985, the Stroh family donated Zipper to the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, New York, with one important stipulation: she must remain operational, not a static exhibit. The museum agreed, and Zipper soon became its goodwill ambassador, carrying visitors on tours through the Thousand Islands and beyond. Over the next 27 years, she logged thousands of miles, cruising to Montreal, Ottawa, Lake Champlain, and countless island destinations. Weddings, charters, educational trips — Zipper became one of the most active classic commuters in the country, admired not only for her beauty but for her reliability and grace underway.

Today, the Zipper stands as a rare example of a 1930s commuter yacht brought fully to life in the modern era. She embodies the romance of executive water travel, the craftsmanship of Staudacher’s wooden‑boat tradition, and the enduring legacy of the Stroh family’s vision. More than a museum piece, she remains a living artifact — a classic yacht that continues to do what she was designed for: carry passengers swiftly, stylishly, and with unmistakable elegance across the water.