Dee-Wite Runabout

Description

1930 Dee-Wite Model 9 Runabout. This is a super rare boat and this maybe the last of a few known to exist. Dee-Wite was a lumber company that started building boats and not too far into the venture The Great Depression put them out of business. This boat came from a collection of boats owned by a friend. He bought it from the family (2006) that owned the boat since new. I have the original paperwork from the transaction dating to 1929-1930. I have communicated with the Grandson of owner and he let me know the boat was well taken care throughout the ownership from 1930-1956 when it was put away and never to be used since. He took ownership of it in the early 1970's and thought at some point he would restore it. The boat needs a full restoration including the rare Gray Marine engine.
The hull is free of rot anywhere we can find. It was stored inside. The parts are all there with the exception of the engine's flywheel. It was removed to put the motor on a stand and seems to have been misplaced.
I thought I would take this project on and realized once I unloaded it that I do not have the time to complete it properly. Very few of these boats were known to ever be built and the last I knew there were only three survivors of this model. The Gray Marine seems to be another rarity. The Model 6-70 was a higher compression version of the hefty 6-60 used in cruisers. This model was made for higher speed runabouts. The motor will need a full rebuild. I understand it was put away running but will require a skilled rebuilder to make it as it should. It is also a very rare V-Drive. The V-Drive unit turns over smoothly without any grinding. Will include a trailer. Open to reasonable offers, not interested in trades. I had a high offer for the motor alone but do not want to separate the motor from the boat. This is a chance to own a piece of boating history that cannot be duplicated.