Member Spotlight--

Paul Mikkelson

My love for boating could, in part, come from my ancestors from Norway who were mostly fishermen. My father would have fished every day if he could. One luxury this ultra conservative afforded his family was a small lake cabin on Eagle Lake north of Willmar. Every summer of my youth was spent at the lake. My first hands-on experience was rowing our Larson fishing boat around the lake. The 5hp Johnson motor would have to wait until I was deemed more worthy of such an upgrade. We were frogmen, Vikings, and pirates, with imaginations spurred on by that new-fangled TV and matinees at the old state theater.

Paul driving his 1942 21' Fallss Flyer in the summer of 1998

Sometime in my teens, the boat was upgraded to a better Larson boat with an inset transom and a 10 hp Johnson motor. In my mind, I would surely be the envy of all with my new-found blazing speed. The use of what we called surf boats was a daily event. All sorts of feats of daring-do were performed for all to see. A 16 hp Scott Atwater marine corps surplus motor was our next upgrade. While supplying more power as our size and weight increased, it was nearly impossible to keep tuned and difficult to start. At this time, a pair of homemade water skis was added to our list of options. One day in the mid 50’s, after hearing daily about how inadequate our equipment was, my father came home with a new 14’ Larson Falls Flyer with a 30 hp Johnson Javelin motor. It was totally out of character for him to allow a salesman to talk him into a frivolous face-forward, go-fast, boat, but there it was. His three sons stood in awe. My mother was sure we would all be killed. My father reminded us this was only a test, mind you. The boat never left Eagle Lake.

Our cabin, by now enlarged to a three bedroom cottage, became the summer place to be for all my high school friends -- a pattern that continued through college as time would allow. My boating was reduced to evenings and weekends as summer construction jobs were needed to help pay tuition at St. Olaf. I met and married the love of my life, LaRue, from St. James, Minnesota after college. My dad always claimed I got dumb luck when I talked her into it. I went to work in the credit business and learned the skills that would be my life’s avocation. The boat sat for many years unused, as I found a home, had kids, and started businesses.

July 4th, 1998 on Eagle Lake. Paul and friends in a 1939 17' split cockpit Falls Flyer inboard, one of two known. The Muesum owns the other one also.

It seemed forever before my first business started to generate income beyond house payments, medical bills, and groceries, but it did. In a weak moment, my wife said, either get rid of that old boat or fix it up. A search introduced me to John Monahan from Little Falls. John was both knowledgeable about Falls Flyers, having been around them all his life, and he was also willing to take on the restoration project. Months went by as I waited patiently to see the end product. One spring Saturday, the call came and the boat was done. LaRue and I jumped into the car and headed for Little Falls to pick up our long-awaited prize. It was better than we had hoped. Sunday morning, the lake was like glass and the sights and sounds were unchanged from the past, as we glided effortlessly across Eagle Lake.

Somehow, news got out that I had an “as new” Falls Flyer and Bob Speltz called to invite me to his show in Albert Lea. A doctor from St. Paul called and invited me to his home for a Falls Flyer “show and tell.” My first show was Dr. Bob Johnson’s home where I met Ross and Pat Pfund, Tom and Carol Juul, Chuck and Marge Steele, and Bob Johnson and Beth Kessler, all of whom continue to be close friends as we share our interest in Falls Flyers and other old boats.

1939 17' Falls Flyer, split cockpit inboard at the

1998 BSLOL Rendezvous on Lake Minnetonka

A short time after the show, I called John Monahan to discuss the possibility of doing another one. By this time, I had discovered that Paul Larson had been quite an innovator and that Falls Flyers had been built in many variations of the theme. So the search for other rare examples of the breed began. Over the last 12 years, I have tried to locate and procure each variation to add to the collection. A building was purchased in Willmar, Minnesota to house the collection and it evolved into The Mikkelson Collection, Inc., Classic Boat Museum. Housed in the museum are, without question, the finest collection of this rare boat in existence. The building has also been embellished with all sorts of boating memorabilia, including outboard motors, signs, and all manner of marine collectibles. On display also is a toy boat and motor collection considered to be one of the best in the nation. Extensive archives of boat and motor literature are also carefully filed for future reference. The museum is open most Saturdays during the spring, summer, and fall, and by appointment in the winter. There is a $4.00 fee to tour the museum and, as I like to say, “You ain’t seen nothing like it!”

Two 1939 Larson Falls Flyers at the 1998 BSLOL Rendezvous, Treasurer Island Resort and Casino. These two have consecutive serial or hull numbers.

Editors Note: By sheer coincidence (believe it or not,) our member spotlight ties beautifully with the next article. On May 8th, the BSLOL toured “The Mikkelson Collection.” We spent a terrific day at Paul’s museum where we were treated no only to a barbeque lunch, but a wealth of information on his marvelous array of boats.

Journey to the Land of Flyers

by Andreas Jordahl Rhude

"We may affirm absolutely that nothing great in the World has been accomplished without passion" George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel Great is the passion of BSLOL member Paul Mikkelson when it comes to the Larson Falls Flyer. And this enthusiasm is clearly evident within moments of meeting Paul.

About 35 BSLOL members and guests took a road trip to west central Minnesota on Saturday, the eighth of May. The purpose? To take part in an open house at the unique collection of boats, outboard motors, toy boats and motors, and memorabilia at "The Mikkelson Collection." Located in Willmar, the museum is owned and operated by Paul Mikkelson. He opened about three and a half years ago.

The main viewing area with old outboard engines in front of the two consecutive-hull number Falls Flyers

Paul's passion for the Falls Flyer built by Larson Boats of Little Falls, Minnesota began when he was a high schooler. In 1956 he obtained his first "Flyer" with the help of his father. Since then, its all history; Larson's seem to attach themselves to Paul! As Paul said during his tour, "According to my dad, if it wasn't a Larson with a Johnson motor, it wasn't worth a darn." Apparently Paul is a chip off the old man's block! If you want to see half a dozen or so Falls Flyers, just go to Willmar and visit his museum. Another ten or so boats, such as the Larson Thunderhawk and Play Boy, a 1928 duck boat, and others fill out the collection.

After plenty of time for visiting and self-guided tours of the museum, Paul gave the "official" tour and explanation of the various boats and how he came to acquire them. As an example, he owns consecutive Falls Flyer hulls, numbers 4172 and 4173 - certainly the only collection to be able to make this claim!

Outboard motors and toy boats (a hobby on steroids) ... and they all work!

A wonderful picnic lunch was served and everyone was given ample opportunity to visit the numerous displays as well as chat with one another. What a fun way to spend a day - surrounded by wooden and fiberglass boats, motors, food, drink, and friends! Another fine BSLOL event has come and gone. If you missed this one, make certain you attend one of the upcoming gatherings! Your participation help make this even a better organization.

Paul's passion for his Falls Flyers and the countless other treasures in his collection is very apparent! One need to only listen to him for a few minutes to see that.