Sea-Lyon Burgee Pennant Flag

History

Sea Lyon was a small American builder of high-quality mahogany runabouts during the late 1920s and early 1930s. The company was founded by Howard W. Lyon, a successful New York boat salesman who had previously represented Gar Wood boats.

Around 1927, Lyon began building his own boats at the Lyon–Tuttle shipyard on City Island, New York. Sea Lyon runabouts were designed for wealthy buyers and competed with premium brands such as Gar Wood, Hacker, Dodge, and Chris-Craft.

The boats were known for their long, low-profile appearance, fine mahogany construction, and powerful engines. Many were built with three separate cockpits, automobile-style windshields, and custom bronze or chrome-plated hardware. Models generally ranged from about 24 to 30 feet in length and were capable of speeds between 35 and 40 miles per hour.

Sea Lyon offered several models, including the 24-foot Model 35, the 28-foot Model 40, and larger boats sometimes identified as the Model 45. Engines included Scripps, Sterling, Chrysler, and Lycoming marine powerplants.

These boats were expensive for their time. A 28-foot Model 40 reportedly sold for about $4,650 in 1929, placing it among the most exclusive pleasure boats available.

Unfortunately, Sea Lyon entered the market just before the stock market crash of 1929. Demand for luxury boats declined sharply during the Great Depression, and production ended around 1933.

Because the company built relatively few boats, surviving Sea Lyons are extremely rare and are now highly valued by collectors of wooden boats.