This Ingenious Car From 1923 Turned Into A Boat
It looks like any old car… (Practical Electrics magazine, Octopber, 1923)
In 1921, John A. Cowan patented a car roof that slips off and turns into a lightweight flat-bottomed boat.
But as the magazine explains, the top simply pops off… (Practical Electrics magazine, Octopber, 1923)
The idea even was featured on the October 1923 issue of Practical Electrics magazine:
“Why go to the trouble of hiring a boat when out on a fishing trip when the top of your automobile makes a very serviceable skiff? As a matter of fact, John A. Cowan of Kansas City, Mo., has patented an automobile of just such a type in which the top comes off. It may then be carried down to the water, the oars removed and a pleasurable boat ride may be experienced. Of course if it should rain while the rowers are on the lake, the interior of the automobile would get wet, but who wants to be in an open boat while it is raining, so the cover goes back in place.”
And can be carried right into the water… (Practical Electrics magazine, Octopber, 1923)
There’s a risk of damaging the interior of the car if it starts raining. But perhaps that could be solved with a canvas cover over the open roof.
And as the author of the magazine article explained, you wouldn’t want to get caught in the rain… (Practical Electrics magazine, Octopber, 1923)
