MAINE BOATBUILDERS SHOW Page 19.
Passed Over The Bar
Thomas D. C. Morris Morris 38 and Morris 42. The M-Series line
BASS HARBOR – Morris Yachts is saddened currently has six hulls in production.
Maine Boatbuilder’s Hall of Fame
by the loss of their founder Thomas D.C Arvin H. Young
Morris Sunday, December 7
th
at 1830. Tom Arvin H. Young, 68, died July 30, 2008, at his Inductees this year: Frank Day, Sedgwick
was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of residence. He was born May 25, 1940, in Tom Morris, Morris Yachts, Mount Alonzo Eaton, Castine
2007 and fought it valiantly. To those who Corea, the son of Clifford and Sara Desert Island. Ralph Ellis, Manset
knew him it will not be surprising to know (Faulkingham) Young. Arvin was a graduate Arvid, Arvin and Colby Young, Young William Frost, Beals Island
that he outlived all the doctors’ prognosis. of Sumner Memorial High School in 1958, Brothers, Corea Harvey F. Gamage, South Bristol
He died at home in Southwest Harbor, Maine and then joined the U.S. Coast Guard, serv- Harold Gower, Beals Island
surrounded by his loving family. ing until 1968 and achieving the rank of Clifford Alley, Beals Island Walter Greene, Yarmouth
The understated Morris was not a na- boatswain’s mate first class. When he re- Richard Alley, Beals Island Henry R. Hinckley, Manset
tive of Maine, but his connection to the Pine turned he worked as a lobster fisherman, and Otto Backman, Winter Harbor George I. “Hodgdon, East Boothbay
Tree State goes back more than a century. then along with his older brother Colby and Everett Barlow, East Boothbay J. Ervin Jones, East Boothbay
Beginning in the mid-1880s, his family be- his twin brother Arvid, started building boats Herbert Baum, Kennebunkport Winfield Lash, Friendship
gan what was to become a long tradition of as Young Brothers Co., Inc. He and his broth- Adrian Beal, Beals Island Ernest Libby, Jr., Beals Island
summer vacations in Maine. Tom was born ers never went to school to build boats, but Alvin Beal, Beals Island Carroll Lowell, Yarmouth
in Philadelphia in 1940 and developed an it was in the family. Jack Backman came to Calvin Beal, Jr., Beals Island Royal Lowell, Yarmouth
early passion for sailing on the family’s A the United States from Finland and settled Clinton Beal, Beals Island Paul E. Luke, East Boothbay
Class sloop, which his grandfather acquired on Beals Island. Arvin told me back in 1988 Franklin Beal, Milbridge Roger Morse, Thomaston
in 1913. Five generations sailed the A Class that “At the time you couldn’t make enough Mariner Beal, Beals Island Newbert & Wallace, Thomaston
number seven before the family donated her to get through the winter. We were young Osmond Beal, Beals Island Jarvis Newman, Southwest Harbor
to the Mystic Seaport museum in 1975 where with a family and a lot of kids and we wanted Riley Beal, Beals Island F. Pendleton, Wiscasset
she is on display. something to get us through the winter with Vinal Beal, Beals Island Rices, East Boothbay
After an early career in business, Mor- a decent pay check.” The three began fin- Willis Beal, Beals Island Clifford Rich, Bernard
ris gave in to his love of sailing and moved ishing off bare hulls from Jarvis Newman and Roy Blaney, Boothbay James H. Rich, Tremont
to Southwest Harbor, Maine where he set up Webber’s Cove and had little trouble finding Chick Booth, Kennebunkport Robert F. Rich, Bass Harbor
shop finishing fiberglass Friendship sloops customers for them. It was not long before J. O. Brown, North Haven Robert D. Rich, Jr., Bass Harbor
built by Jarvis Newman. In 1972, he opened they figured that they should have their own Raymond Bunker, Southwest Harbor Ronald Rich, Southwest Harbor
the doors of Morris Yachts in a boat shop he hull. Arvin explained to me years back “There Chester Clements, Southwest Harbor Earl Rumery, Biddeford
built behind the family house on High Road was this 38-foot wooden boat from Beals Is- Elmer Collemer, Camden Gus Skoog, Vinalhaven
in Southwest Harbor. Production of the land in the harbor we liked the looks of. The Corson Boats, Madison Frank Sprague, Swan’s Island
Frances 26 designed by Paine began in 1974 boat belonged to Allison Bishop, a local fish- Cy Cousins, East Blue Hill Ralph Stanley, Southwest Harbor
and set the course for the company¹s future. erman, and was built by Osmond Beal over Bruce Cunningham, Round Pond Jim Stevens, East Boothbay
One of the company¹s slogans ‘Each on Beals Island. We went out aboard his boat Sim Davis, McKinley (Bass Harbor) Joel White, Brooklin
one an Owner¹s Original’ was backed up by with a tape measure to see if she would suit Arno Day, Sedgwick
Tom’s close involvement in the build pro- our purpose. The owner was up on his wharf
cess. As a result, Tom became close friends repairing traps and we went up there to see
with his owners and was wined and dined at him. We told him we would like to take his two stepsons, Darren Light and his wife, share. The concept, somewhat lost today,
their homes wherever he went. He enjoyed boat and use it as a plug so we could make a Cheryl and their son, David, of Hancock and he said stemmed from his early days of ocean
this immensely. mould from it and he said it was okay.” That Michael Light and his wife, Tammy and their deliveries and racing. FALCON’s crew, who
As a boatbuilder, one need only step winter the brothers built a 24 by 40 foot shop children, Megan of Tennessee and Carrie and all learned from him, have a profound appre-
aboard a Morris to witness his prowess. Go on the back of Arvid’s garage. That summer Christopher of Hancock; one stepdaughter, ciation for being so fortunate to be called his
through any Morris and you will see his many they took the boat into the shop and began Debra Dell Cioppa and her husband, Tony, ship mates. Once we were racing from Cape
influences no detail was too small a true getting her ready to make a mould from. It of Hollis and their son, Adam Colson, of Cod to Castine. Olin had chosen not to join
mark of a consummate sailor - hand-holds was a lot of work and the day they popped Gouldsboro; a twin brother, Arvid Young and us in that race because he had retired from
where they should be, wide, clutter-free the mould off there was about 25 local fish- Brenda of Corea; a brother, Colby Young and overnight racing. Just after the start, we had
decks, a well thought out galley. The only ermen watching and instantly they had six Nana of Corea; one half sister, Joanne a cell phone call from him saying he had fallen
compliant one might have with him as a sailor orders. Mathews of New Jersey; several nieces and and injured himself, but was determined not
is that he was light on the provisioning. He Arvin added in that interview that, “We nephews. The family extends their apprecia- to go to the doctor who would only tell him
would show up for a delivery with a sleeve didn’t like the model glass boats we were tion to Hancock County Hospice, Deb to rest quietly and skip the racing. Later, two
of saltines and a can of herring and maybe a using because we weren’t used to them. This Scappaticci and Alzena Stover. A graveside days into the racing, he was not bothered at
can of corn beef hash. All Morris crew knew is all tradition, no matter where you grow up service with military honors was held 2 p.m. all in the Camden Feeder Race that the
to bring along extra eats when doing a deliv- along the coast. He then pointed out the Saturday, August 2, at Corea Cemetery. weather was all gloom, light rain and zephyr
ery with Tom. advantages of the skeg boat over the built- Olin J. Stephens air. We spent about ten hours passing North
When his son Cuyler became President down model. He also stated that they wanted “Drive her boys, drive her!” Haven Island to our south, across the Bay
of the company in 2001, Tom was able to to build boats to Ernest Libby Jr.’s design The above quotation is taken from and then beating through the Deer Isle Thor-
spend more time sailing. In his new role as from Beals Island. Libby agreed and he de- Across the Atlantic on DORADE, an unpub- oughfare while changing lead several times
Ambassador-at-Large, he sailed the first signed the boat from the waterline down, and lished manuscript by John D. Fox, Able Sea- with two other boats of his design. The three
Morris yacht S/V Escapade a Morris 46, to the Young Brothers from the waterline up. man, and Member of the Port Watch in the finished one, two and three in what Olin de-
Scotland which also happened to be his first They wanted their models beamer, flat sheer 1931 Trans-Atlantic Race. It appears here clared was one of the most exciting light air
transatlantic. As the company¹s official de- and high sided. Over the years Libby pro- because it sums up the competitiveness of a races he had ever raced. All the crew cheered
livery skipper he has sailed the Morris 38, duced a number of models for them, such as great yacht designer and racing sailor. Able as we came across the line at Great Harbor
several M36s and the M42 up and down the the 30, 33, 35, 38, 40, 42 and 45. seaman Fox’s skipper was described by the and none of us cared about the hours of
Atlantic seaboard taking them to the vari- Last summer they closed down their British press as “the boy captain”. The crew drizzle down the back of our necks.
ous boat shows Morris attends. boatbuilding operation after more than 30 of FALCON has come to know and love that We always raced with a couple of
Last year, he took delivery of his very years in the business. Over these 30-plus skipper in the last decade of his long life. youngsters on board. One evening, tied to
own Morris M42 and cruised it down to years Arvin and his brothers produced high The world press is writing the story of the American Boat House float in Camden,
Charleston, SC last spring. quality boats, which could take a lot of abuse Olin Stephens, that great yacht designer. Here Olin told us the story about the time he and
Tom enjoyed nothing more than stroll- from the elements and still bring you home is a view from Penobscot Bay where Olin his brother Rod, both teen-agers, set off in
ing through the Morris shop and talking with safe and sound. has been racing and sailing with us in the their family’s day sailor from Larchmont Yacht
the guys, meeting and visiting with owners Arvin was also an avid lobster boat racer Classic Yacht races of the Eggemoggin Reach Club. The boys beat to weather all day in the
and sailing anywhere, any time under any and was consistently in the headlines with Regatta and the New York Yacht Club Maine rain and wind, anchored for the night, and
conditions. His legacy will live on through the SOPWITH CAMEL. During the 1980s he Cruise for the last decade of his long life. His slept under a tarp stretched over the boom.
Morris Yachts and all those that knew and was constantly battling Glenn Holland’s participation has not been casual. Several The next day they headed back in the rain,
loved him. RED BARON. His success on the race course years ago on his way back from the Eight put the boat away, ran to the men’s locker
“For those of us at Morris Yachts Tom was obvious when you stepped into their Meter Class World Championships in Fin- room, and stripped out of their cold and wet
leaves behind a legacy of the love of sailing, office at the shop, as it was full of trophies. I land, Olin missed his Bangor flight in Bos- clothes. Just before they jumped to the hot
boatbuilding and working hard for the sim- am sure that his success on the race course ton. (Olin traveled 50,000 miles a year until showers, another lad burst in and said, “Mr.
plicity of a job well done. He would take no also translated into new boat orders. mid 2007.) A chance encounter in the airport Crane and Mr. Hoyt are about to sea trial Mr.
greater pleasure than to know that the work Arvin was a member of the American with a Maine sailor led to their arrival in Crane’s new six-meter design and they need
he began so many years ago will continue in Legion Post No. 0207, Trenton. Brooklin by car in the wee hours of the next someone to go with them in this blow.” Olin
his absence,” said General Manager Will Arvin is survived by his wife, Laverna morning. After a short night’s sleep he was and Rod put on their wet, cold clothes and
Ratcliff in a message to the crew. (Stevenson) Young of Corea. He was a be- on time for the 8:30 AM skippers meeting at went sailing with Clinton Crane, the leading
And company has a big year ahead. loved father and stepfather. Surviving are Wooden Boat. designer and Sherman Hoyt, the leading racer
Morris will launch the new M52 and M29 in two sons, Barry and his wife, Susan and their Olin, the model of a gentleman and of the time. So began their career in yacht
early 2009. Under construction for a summer children, Natsha and Leo, all of Buxton and sportsman, had a deeply held sense of the
Continued Page 20.
2009 launch are two Ocean Series boats a Clifford and his daughter, Emily, of Corea; concept of shipmates and the closeness they
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