Jest Bean Mice Elf - Page 16

This is a Circa 1958, South Seas Samoan, built in Lake Helen Florida, and found nearby. It is one of only two known at present. There is some literature from the time, in the form of advertisements, but not much more is known about these interesting catamarans. They seem very elusive.

The B&W photo shows a Samoan being tested by Mercury Marine at Lake X in Florida. My boat is missing it's outermost fin tips. As you can see, the fins shown on the other survivor and the Mercury boat are much more pronounced. The owner of the other Samoan has agreed to make a template of the missing tips, which attached at the seam between the deck and the hull.

The boat is very wide with a very roomy interior, and was designed for twin outboards up to 70HP each, although it would easily handle more power if desired. Catamarans were a stable design that was popular at the time, before being upstaged by Glastrons' popular Trihull models, which did not require the expense of a twin motor configuration. The front end is a very convincing representation of a '59 Pontiac. This was the first year for the split grill on those cars and they are somewhat collectible as a result.