Baby Gar V
By Rocky Sumrall

As a boy growing up in rural South Louisiana, I always had interest in two things, boats and woodworking. It was only natural to be drawn to the beauty and elegance of a finely crafted wooden boat.

One day while attending the Miami Boat Show about twenty years ago, I was captured by the beauty of a 24’ Chris Craft triple built to resemble the fine watercraft of the mid-nineteen thirties. At the time, my financial position did not allow such luxuries as a $75,000 piece of floating artwork. But the dream of someday owning one of these finely crafted vessels stayed with me since that initial encounter in the early 1980’s.

In October of 1993, while walking the docks at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, I came upon a beautiful GarWood 28’ triple cockpit. I knew immediately that I would have a GarWood of my own. This is where I first met Tom Turcotte then owner of the GarWood Boat Company in Watervliet, New York. Tom explained the boat in detail as well as other models available from his company. Tom also began to educate me on Garfield Arthur Wood, the man behind the legend.

Being a former offshore powerboat racer myself, the history surrounding Gar Wood and his legendary accomplishments on the water appealed to me in a way that I can only describe as heroic. It reminded me of a couple of times back in the 1970’s when I had the opportunity to meet the legendary Don Aronow. I did not think anyone would ever surpass the nautical legend of Don Aronow. Little did I know at the time that Garfield Arthur Wood had already established a benchmark that not even the incomparable Aronow could equal.

My next step was to research and learn as much as I could about Garfield Arthur Wood. His competitive nature and determination to succeed convinced me that if I were going to purchase a wooden watercraft, a "GarWood" was the only boat I would own. A couple of months later, my best friend, George Benedetto, and I made a trip to Watervliet one cold December day to take our first ride in a GarWood. Although the high temperature that day barely topped the freezing mark, the excitement of our boat ride in the Hudson River far surpassed the mild discomfort of the chilly winter weather. George had a little different opinion as he was freezing but still enjoyed the GarWoods.

I recall riding in a 22’ Streamliner and 28’ triple cockpit that first day. As we circled to return to the dock, Tom told me the story of Gar Wood’s race with the Twentieth Century Limited train. It was from the very railroad bridge above our heads where on Monday, May 26, 1925, the Twentieth Century Limited crossed the Hudson River bridge on its trip from Chicago to New York. This bridge crossing marked the start of a 150 mile race between the speedy Twentieth Century Limited and Gar Wood’s Baby Gar IV and V from Albany to New York City. At the time, I didn’t know just how much Tom’s incredible story of Gar Wood’s race against the train would relate to my future in boating.

Gar Wood was an industrialist and inventor. He is credited with inventing the hydraulic ram and the first dump truck. He also invented some of the original parts used in air conditioning. Although successful in business at a very early age, Gar Wood’s passion was boat racing and record setting on water. He was so successful in racing that he would sometimes work on his competitor’s boats just to get a good race. Gar Wood was also a master of the media.