Anchors Aweigh For 40 Million Admirals

The rollicking postwar boating boom shows no signs of slackening its dizzy pace. Since 1947, the first year of the bonanza, the number of recreational boats in use has nearly quadrupled. Nearly 40 million pleasure sailors took to the water in some 8 million boats last year and spent over $2 billion. The figures would be even more staggering if enough dock facilities had been available. Some 500,000 boatmen were on waiting lists for marina berths, and more than a million people who applied for mooring space were turned away. The National Association of Engine and Boat Manufacturers estimates that 2 million more boats would have been sold in 1958 if there had been enough moorings to go around. It is on this optimistic note that New York 's National Motorboat Show, celebrating its 50th anniversary, will open on Jan. 15. For 10 days (through Jan. 24), 411 exhibitors will display the newest boats (some of which are shown on these pages), motors and accessories, and the show expects to surpass last year's record crowds (415,000) and record sales ($26,790,000).

SMOOTH-RIDING TOMAHAWK SEA SHARK 18 FEATURES 48 SQUARE FEET OF OPEN REAR-DECK AREA AND STURDY FIBER-GLASS HULL

Family and fun...

Luxurious K-35 yawl, built by Knutson Shipbuilding Corp., has solid-mahogany planking, full headroom, six bunks, electric refrigeration, 600 square feet of sail. Price: $24,900.

Spacious sleeping quarters for two are offered by the 23-foot Viking family cruising sloop. It has a round-bottomed, double-ended hull and a draft of only two feet. Price: $3,295.

Frolicsome 18-foot Old Town canoe utilizes two sails, paddles easily and can even take a 3-hp. outboard motor. The lateen sails come as large as 75 square feet apiece. Price: $225.

Speed and spray...

Lively Merriman Trident sailboat is lightweight (150 pounds) and compact (11 feet 8 inches long). Kick-up rudder and centerboard permit sailing right off beach. Complete with nylon sail: $389.

Swift 17-foot Tiger Cat catamaran is built by the Pearson Corp. Twin hulls are made of molded fiber-glass, and the spars, centerboards, rudders and tillers of aluminum alloy. Price without sails: $1,795.

Classy cruisers...