Rare Harley-Davidson Tomahawk Boat Is Still Cruising

Rare Find

Harley has made all sorts of things other than motorcycles over the years, but none of them really captured enough of their respective markets to warrant mass production. That includes the intriguing Tomahawk Boat, which was produced in scant quantities and is rarely seen today. That's why we were particularly interested to come across the story of one survivor recently published in Shore Magazine.

Photo: Harley-Davidson

Surprise Gift

The boat is owned by Eric Miller and his wife Joleena, who live in Kansas City, Missouri, and routinely take their craft out on the water at their second home in Lake of the Ozarks. Joleena actually purchased the 1964 Tomahawk for Eric as a gift after he spotted it for sale and told her about it, but despite her best efforts to keep it a secret, he figured it out before she could surprise him.

Photos: Lake Shots Photography

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Wholesale Changes

The Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Corporation debuted way back in 1945, producing a 15-foot model called the Red Wing, which sold 100 units in its first year on the market. Years later, when fiberglass took over the boating industry in the 1950s, Tomahawk made the switch from wood as well. Then, in 1962, Harley-Davidson purchased a major share of the company, which led to a few wholesale changes.

Photos: Lake Shots Photography

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Short Period

Tomahawk continued to operate as its own entity, yet started producing motorcycle parts like saddlebags for Harley. Less than a year later, the motorcycle-maker acquired the rest of Tomahawk's stock, and for two years, it produced boats bearing an emblem that said "Tomahawk Boat - A Division of Harley-Davidson." However, after that short time period, MoCo decided to get out of the boat business entirely, which means that very few of these H-D Tomahawk boats were produced in total.

Photos: Lake Shots Photography

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Enjoy the Irony

The Millers grew up vacationing at Lake of the Ozarks and eventually purchased their own home there in 2017. Every summer, the couple trailer the classic boat down and enjoy it on some early morning rides, before traffic on the lake gets too crowded. Eric's father owned a Mark Twain boat when he was growing up, so he also enjoys the irony of now piloting a 50-year-old Tomahawk around the same waters his dad once did.

Photo: Harley-Davidson

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Classic Vessel

After some time at a local mechanic, the Tomahawk is also reportedly running like a top. Now, the Millers mostly enjoy it in the spring and summer, when the small boat fares better in the less-crowded waters and cooler temps. So the next time you're out on the lake, keep an eye out for this classic and obscure vessel.

Photos: Lake Shots Photography

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