Morphew Boats

[Islandmon]

Hey all, I was hopping that some of you history buffs might be able to shed some light on this ad that came across my desk. I know nothing about this design but would like hear what you "Seasoned racers" remember of it.

Thx,

Sam
87M

[sam]

They were a competitive boat in the beginning of stock racing, from the days when the bigger boats had to seat 5 and marathon racing was as popular or more popular than heat racing. Visually the style resembles the Switzer Bullet

[Tomtall]

Info

The follow information was provided by collector Ronald Lietha regarding these boats from the past. Thanks Ronald for sharing this information and pictures.


Tom: I Know the total history of the Morphew Boat Co. I Have owned & driven a couple Morphew B Class boats, still have a 1947, (first year), B double cockpit runabout. Company was in Paris Texas & operated, I believe out of a old school. Yes there was a Morphew dealer in Bay City & they ran a few Morphew boats at Top O, mostly D Class stuff like 114M. A "B" Morphew like mine won the B class in 1953 with a KG7H. Morphew dealer here in south central Wisc as well, boat was a consistent winner in Texas as well, Alex Weatherbee who worked at Morphew ran on the factory team, he ran # T-46, a B class boat in the New York marathon in 1949. I have a restored Morphew clone to his boat but mine is the 47 model & his was a 49,( had one of them also), only difference is the 49 had a 3" afterplane added for stability. Great boats, well built & handles very well although the B was 11ft long & a bit heavy, (more a Marathon boat than a short course boat)., as were the "D's" Morphew sold out in the early 50's to a employee named Winters, boats were so named after that but were not changed.

Ronald

[master oil racing]

The first photo is Alex Wetherbee in a Morphew hydro maybe in Arkansas. The second is Alex in the pits at the 1949 Albany-New York marathon. He ran out of gas just short of the finish line depriving him of the win. The three inch afterplane was credited with his hugh lead by keeping the boat smooth and steady and not porpoising all the time. The final photo is at the 1951 or 52 APBA Nationals in Dallas. I believe the guy next to Alex is Tex Flagg, Sr. Can anyone confirm this, or say who he is?

[John Schubert]

The first photo is Alex Wetherbee in a Morphew hydro maybe in Arkansas. The second is Alex in the pits at the 1949 Albany-New York marathon. He ran out of gas just short of the finish line depriving him of the win. The three inch afterplane was credited with his hugh lead by keeping the boat smooth and steady and not porpoising all the time. The final photo is at the 1951 or 52 APBA Nationals in Dallas. I believe the guy next to Alex is Tex Flagg, Sr. Can anyone confirm this, or say who he is?

The largest Mercury dealer in Northern NJ & staunch supporter of early Stock Outboard racing, Bussies Landing, Greenwood Lake, NJ, had a Morphew class "B" hydro. In 1952 prior to my starting racing in 1953, Paul told me to take the hydro with KG7H out & test it & if I could see 52mph we would go to the Divisional in Buffalo, NY. Dick O'Dea was his driver. So I went out on the lake & saw less than 52 came in & changed props & saw 52. Paul immediately called Dick, told him they were going to the Divisionals, told me to go home & get some things & permission to go. I did, but my dad said no. I was only 13 & Paul only had a Chevy pick up with one bench seat & a rack in back to hold the hydro. I was devastated having done the testing for Dick O'Dea. Don't know how he did in the race. The hydro was a lot like the Fillinger.