22' Triple-Cockpit Runabout (1940) - GATSBY

Triple , runabout, oak frames, ribs, cedar bottom, mahogany deck and sides

22’ 1947 power- Chrysler 6 Cylinder, 135hp

WJ Johnston Jr. ( Billy) Was the nephew of William Johnston. William started building boats under the post office in Port Carling, Ontario, Canada in 1869. By 1892 he had established sales and rental offices in Port Sandfield and Windermere on Lake Rosseau and had built over 300 boats. During this time he hired his John Matheson who came the be a noted builder of his own. In 1900 he hired his nephew Young Billy Johnston. By 1910 Billy had become and partner in the business.
While in Port Sandfield Billy found a use for a device that Ed rogers had been working on and he developed the disappearing propeller device. By 1916 he formed the Disappearing Propeller Boat Company with J.R . Hodson the company employed 44 men and built 300 to 400 boats a year until 1924 when the company liquidated and was sold to Thomas Hodgson of Lindsay were the company continued.
Billy then went into business with other former employees on a new company. This company was the Port Carling Boat Works. After 4 years with the company he retired and started to build boats of his own design. He usually had one helper. This boat is one of the boats from this era. By 1956 at the age of 75 W.J. Johnston retired for good. He died in 1968 after a lifetime in the boat building industry.