Liberty The Second, sank during a test run in 1922, it remained on the bottom of Conneaut Lake in 48' of water and 6' of silt for 63 years (22945 days). In July of 1985 the boat was raised by divers William H. Houghton and Bryan Simpson. The engine was restored in 1986 and the boat was finished and run on Conneaut Lake in August of 1987. Liberty The Second is powered by a refitted expermental WWI aircraft Liberty V-8 Engine. This was one of 15 built and one of three known to still be in existance. Of the 15 that were built it was the 15th one built. The boat was built in Pittsburgh for Harry N Snavely. Above the boat just minutes after being raised from the bottom of the lake. On this page you will see many photographs of the boat that were taken the day after it was raised, and post restoration photographs. The boat is on display at the new Lakeside Museum in its new location on the waterfront in Conneaut Lake Park.


Liberty The Second underway on Conneaut Lake August of 1987.

Click here to see one of the boats that Liberty the Second raced with.

The following photographs are from the 2003 Conneaut Lake Classic where Liberty The Second was on display in the water. This was the first time Liberty The Second was in the water since August of 1987, and the first time the engine was run since 1992. In some of the photographs is Gary Worthington the man the rebuilt the Liberty Aircraft engine for the boat. Gary rebuilt the engine in less than six months in early 1986. Liberty The Second is back in the water after 16 years out.

Liberty the Second at the Conneaut Lake Navagation Companys docks 6 a.m. on June 29, 2003. It was lifted in the water the evening before. This was the first time the boat spent a night in the water since it was raised in 1985.

Gary Worthington Starting the Liberty Aircraft engine in Liberty the Second. The engine was run at the dock four times on Saturday drawing a large crowed each time. Their were some minor problems that prevented running the boat out on the lake. These will be corrected for future displays.

This and the next three photographs are the boat on display at the Conneaut Lake Classic Antique Boat Show June 29, 2003. The engine is running in all four photographs.

After our dinner Gary Worthington giving a talk on the rebuilding of the Liberty V-8 engine .

After the presentation Gary and the audience went down to the dock for a night time running of the Liberty engine.

From inside Liberty the Second being towed back across the lake to be lifted out of the water. Bob & Chuck Miklos are in the tow boat, a 1960 Century Arabian 19'.

Gary preparing to paddle the boat into the lift.

Liberty the second once again under the lift and Tom Shannor's 1948 Chris Craft 20' Custom Runabout.

Liberty The Second back on it's trailer, June 30, 2003. Liberty spent two nights in the water.

Liberty The Second back in the water over the Labor day weekend of 2003. They were going to run it but conditions did not allow it to happen. But on the Tuesday after Labor day the conditions were better. Here Gary Worthington and Bob Moss paddle the boat out for the first run.

Liberty The Second under its own power for the first time since 1987. The date is September 2, 2003, approximately 81 years after the boat was lost.

The Liberty at about 1/3 throttle.

Being towed out for the second run, Gary Worthington on the deck. Some minor problems early in the second run caused an early end to the day. But Liberty the Second will run again.



































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