1925 - Across America By Outboard: Transcontinentalists Reach New York

Have you joined AOMCI yet?  If you are interested in the earlier motors like these you can find support there! You can tap Special Interest Leaders and members for advice.  

This article was written by Motor Boating magazine as yet another warm-up for the blow by blow accounting of the journey which was published starting in the next issue.  

Arriving in New York City, October 1925. Image from Mystic Seaport's Rosenfeld Collection.

_______________

Years ago, before modern methods of transportation were available, the west was an unknown and unexplored region.  The first expedition to actually traverse this region was that of Lewis and Clark, the famous explorers who forced their way through to the west coast, traveling practically the entire distance by means of waterways.

These hardy pioneers were followed by the westward rush in covered wagons and on horse back, until gradually the west was populated, and railroads and more modern transportation systems were built.

The route across the continent by water was forgotten, until it was re-explored by John Edwin Hoag and Frank Wilton, who are the modern day pioneers of this route.   Some two years ago, Mr. Hoag pondered over the possibilities of covering the route from west to east entirely by water, and found it would be possible for a fish to make such a journey.

The physical limitations of boats and depths of water however, presented a few obstacles to the passage of a boat which made it impossible to sail a boat for the entire distance.   The thought  was investigated further an, and after considerable research, it was decided to undertake the trip.

A little boat designed especially for the journey was built by Emil Aarup, and after some tests, the cruise got underway from Astoria, Oregon, on May 20.  The plan was to sail up the Columbia River as far as it was physically possible, and due to exceptional flood stage of the river at the time of the start, difficulties were encountered immediately.  

The river was 25 to 30 feet above normal with a consequent heavy current.  Progress was slow, although the boat pushed steadily on, and reached the limit of navigation in due time.  The boat was then transported overland to the headwaters of the Missouri River, and from this point on was continuously on the water until it reached New York.  The entire journey was made in eighty-six traveling days, while the two Evinrude Big Twin engines, which were named Lewis and Clark, provided the entire motive power.

When the little boat had come through Lake Champlain it and reached Albany it was possible to get in more direct touch with them.  Their progress down the Hudson River was eagerly awaited by representative yachtsmen of New York, and when they finally arrived at the Columbia Yacht Club during the afternoon of October 4, amid a heavy rain, there was a very large delegation on hand to greet them.  They were cordially received and cheered at the conclusion of their long voyage, and after reciting a brief outline of their journey to the assembled newspaper men, departed for a hotel and the first good night's sleep in many months.   

Columbia Yacht Club - http://collections.mcny.org/

A dinner at the Columbia Yacht Club was tendered to Mr. Hoag and his companion later in the week, at which Ira Hand, Secretary of the National Association of Engine and Boat Manufacturers, Commodore F. R. Still, President of the American Power Boat Association, officials of the Columbia Yacht Club, and others, congratulated the adventurers on the successful termination of their ling voyage.

In the course of the 5, 280 miles covered by water some 1,200 gallons of gasoline were consumed by the little engines.  The cost of the trip was not excessive, the greatest item being that of fuel.  Prices for this varied considerably, although the cost per day averaged from three to five dollars.  At the beginning of the trip, and until such a time as the boat reached the more densely populated eastern  section of the United States, it was necessary to camp out, practically every night, and provide meals from the stores they carried in the boat.

Further east, after leaving Chicago, it was generally possible to sleep ashore.  This was done not so much to avoid the cooking, etc. as to save time which was becoming valuable.  The delays suffered on the Missouri and and in the West had slowed the boat far behind its schedule, and in order to reach New York before the real cold weather, it was necessary to move rapidly.  For this reason meals were eaten ashore to save the time necessary in preparing them, and also the time necessary for cleaning up afterwards.

Be sure to follow this interesting story in the next several issues of Motor Boating.   It will provide an education in itself, and will be a most interesting account of an event which will go down in history  as of equal importance to the first journeys across the continent by the hardy pioneers of years ago.

________________