Forest E. Johnson built boats a certain way. He built thousands of still-popular classic wooden powerboats, many emblazoned “Prowler.” The first Prowler was officially launched in 1948 (just a year after Forest E. married Heidi Tutwiler and took her on a boat-racing honeymoon) and many of the vessels he built during his lifetime became instant classics, often sold to rum runners, government agencies charged with chasing rum runners, politicians, businessmen, movie stars, or racing enthusiasts. At the height of the Prowler’s popularity, the list of Forest E.’s friends, acquaintances, and clients included celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Sam Snead, Don Aronow, Sam Griffith, Ernest Hemingway, and even the president of the United States, Richard Nixon, who once dialed up during a brief economic downturn to assure himself that his favorite boatbuilder was okay.

The 1959 Prowler 24 is perhaps the most attractive runabout from the legendary designer, and the one which has best stood the test of time in terms of aesthetic appeal and performance. Marlin has an open cockpit with a small cuddy cabin forward and a flush foredeck laid in teak. She’s built on a traditional plank frame construction with cedar planking over mahogany saw frames with a mahogany superstructure. 

In 2019 MARLIN benefitted from am 18-month long top-to-bottom restoration which we think would make Forest Johnson himself proud to see. Her engine was removed and completely overhauled and all systems were removed then overhauled, replaced, or updated to modern ABYC standards. A custom fabricated swim platform was added and additional rear seating was added to the cockpit. A new marine head was added. All bright mahogany was stripped, faired, stained, and newly varnished. The original hull skin was sheathed in biaxial fiberglass for durability and longevity, faired to perfection, and finally painted with AwlCraft for a glossy shine.

As MARLIN is owned and offered for sale by a professional yachtsman and purveyor of fine vessels who owns a boat dealership and mechanical shop – so no expense or effort has been spared on bringing her to and keeping this special boat in ‘Bristol condition’.