The Baby Bootlegger

The Baby Bootlegger is not, as the name may suggest, a bootlegger who imports babies. It’s a racing boat that went on to revolutionise boats and it’s effect is still felt in the world of marine architecture to this day. She was designed and built in 1924 by George Crouch for wealthy Wall-Street banker Caleb Bragg, Bragg then raced her in the 1924 and 1925 APBA Gold Cup and won on both outings (by over a minute and 16 seconds in 1925).

Baby Bootlegger originally used a 1,000-cubic-inch V-12 Lycoming engine, in recent years this was replaced with a water-cooled Hispano-Suizo V-8 marine engine producing approximately 300hp. She has seating for two in the aft cockpit and seating for 2 in the bow cockpit, the engine is mounted amidships to maintain balance and stability at speed.

Text and images from “SiloDrome”

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Riva – Building On A Legend

1842. Lake d’Iseo. A sudden storm wreaks what appears to be irreparable havoc: damaged boats, disheartened fishermen with no means with which to work. But a skilled young carpenter, newly arrived in the area from Laglio on Lake Como, accomplishes a miracle, managing to repair most of the boats, earning himself the esteem and admiration of the people of the town.

This is how the Riva story began – from a man who became the master of his own destiny. The skilled carpenter who had just arrived in Sarnico was Pietro Riva.

Text and imags from “Chili Libido”

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