1961 Lyman 16’ Runabout

Slide into the cockpit and you’re instantly reminded why these early-60s Lymans are so beloved: high, secure mahogany coamings, wide, stable beam, and that soft, wave-taming lapstrake hull. The helm layout is simple and honest—easy to run solo, yet there’s still comfortable seating for family or a couple of friends. Storage is tucked under seats and forward, enough for day-gear without cluttering the deck. The boat’s compact size makes it painless to launch, retrieve, and tuck back into the garage between outings. At idle, the hull tracks straight and predictable, and when you ease the throttle forward, she lifts cleanly and settles into a confident, dry ride that feels larger than sixteen feet.

A 16’ Lyman runabout is ideally sized for the mixed waters you find in this region—equally at home poking along quiet shorelines as it is handling afternoon chop on more open stretches. The lapstrake hull softens short, confused waves, making crossings to distant coves or sandbars more comfortable than many modern, flat-sided skiffs. Its moderate draft lets you nose into shallower backwaters, while the classic sheerline and woodwork turn heads at any dock. Trailer-friendly weight means easy towing with a mid-size vehicle and access to a wide variety of ramps, giving you flexibility to chase the best weather, scenery, and fishing each weekend.