Sea-Lyon Burgee Pennant Flag

Sea-Lyon History

Sea Lyon boats, produced in the late 1920s and early 1930s, represent a remarkable chapter in American boatbuilding history. Crafted by Howard W. Lyon’s Lyon-Tuttle Shipyard on City Island, New York, these vessels were celebrated for their elegance, speed, and exclusivity.

Origins and Vision

Howard W. Lyon aspired to create a premier line of luxury runabouts and cruisers, rivaling contemporaries like Chris-Craft. Between 1927 and early 1933, the Lyon-Tuttle Shipyard produced Sea Lyon boats, branding them as “Aristocrats of the Seas” and “Exclusively Fast Runabouts.” These boats attracted a distinguished clientele, including Major H.O.D. Seagrave, Edward J. Noble, Lawrence P. Fisher, David M. Goodrich, W.K. Vanderbilt, Igor Sikorsky, and the Fitzgerald family of Troy, New York

Design Excellence

Sea Lyon boats were notable for their advanced design and performance. A 1929 Vanity Fair article highlighted two models: Vanity Fair | The Complete Archive

• A 42-foot commuting cruiser designed by renowned marine architect George F. Crouch. This two-step hydroplane featured two cabins, three cockpits, twin 200 h.p. Sterling Petrel engines, and could exceed 40 mph.

• A 36-foot runabout designed by Purdy, another esteemed builder. This model, also a two-step hydroplane, was powered by a 450 h.p. Liberty motor, achieving speeds up to 60 mph.

These boats combined cutting-edge engineering with luxurious craftsmanship, making them highly sought after by affluent boating enthusiasts.

Legacy and Rarity

The onset of the Great Depression in the early 1930s curtailed the production of Sea Lyon boats, ending Howard W. Lyon’s ambition to establish a lasting boating empire. Today, surviving Sea Lyon boats are rare and cherished by collectors. For instance, a 1929 28-foot triple cockpit Sea Lyon, powered by a 6-cylinder Scripps 202 engine, is owned by Don and Teresa Kehr, members of the Sunnyland Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society.

Sea Lyon boats remain a testament to a bygone era of luxury and innovation in American boatbuilding, reflecting the opulence and technological advancements of the Roaring Twenties.