1956 Lyman Runabout 15 foot mahogany speedboat I restored this 15 foot mahogany speedboat over the summer after my first year in architecture. At the time I was working for a carpenter whom encouraged me to take on the great challenge, seeing that the boat and trailer was in very bad shape. Through lots of handy work, long hours, and the next few summers to polish and install the lights and electrical systems, the Lyman Runabout lives again. It is such a joy to see something so neglected over many years to become beautiful once more.
While restoring this 1956 Lyman Runabout mahogany speedboat, I recognized that there were two divergent approaches that were possible. One was merely to replicate the original design. The alternative, which is my design philosophy, is to introduce personal meaning and recognize that evolution could retain the essence and best qualities of the original, and yet add character to create a deeper significance. A museum piece may desire to achieve perfect replication; however, a living piece can adapt to blend the historical significance with new elements. I found this process to parallel with the restoration(evolution) of buildings and cities, and the importance behind blending original and new designs.