Gar Wood Baby Gar

Why it matters

Gar Wood was the speed king of American powerboating. His racing boats set world records, and the Baby Gar brought that heritage to regular buyers. The name itself telegraphs the lineage — these were scaled-down versions of the race boats. Owning a Baby Gar meant owning a piece of racing history.

Specifications

Patina notes

Pre-war Gar Woods are artifacts. The patina on a Baby Gar is museum-grade — every scratch tells a Depression-era story. The hardware is heavier than post-war boats, the wood choices more exotic. These boats aged differently because they were built differently.

Preservation reality

Baby Gars are blue-chip collectibles. Low production numbers and high demand keep prices elevated. Finding one means working the ACBS network and auction houses. Most survivors have been through restoration; original-condition examples are exceptionally rare. Expect to wait years for the right boat.