September 2012 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 7. Looking Back - Introducing the Wilbur 38 By Lee S. Wilbur


With Dick Homer’s sketch of the new “38” in hand along with specifications and price lists for a completed “yacht” with options, we headed for the Miami International Boat show in February. High hopes and trepidation in that order. We’d worked on the pricing with what experience we’d had to date; however, there were two problematic items in play, size and fi nish. All of the boats excepting the Newman 32 lobster boats and occasional “picnic” style had wooden superstructures which we soon learned and were “told” later by none other than Raymond Bunker who would never even consider fi nishing off a glass interior that wood was much the easier and less costly to fi nish. And, the only other reference point of size were the Newman 36’s which carried an 11 foot beam done with wooden superstructures as well. Assumption was, with the exterior completely fi nished in shiny white fi berglass the interior would be a snap to fi nish. Throw some prefi nished glass panels on and the interior would be a breeze. There’s something to be said, however, for the fervor and naiveté’ of youthful endeavor. Boat show weather was gorgeous as most were I best recall of those years. We, of course, spent the entire time inside the Mi- ami Beach, Jackie Gleason Coliseum. Show started at 11AM. We’d have to be there by 10:30, and gussey up the booth which meant taking a cab from Miami after a quick break- fast. There were few places to stay on the Beach and those available were borderline. Few years later we fi nally got that problem worked out by renting an apartment at the old Roney Plaza. Show ran until 10:30 or 11 at night leaving little time to enjoy the bright lights of the city. Meals were mostly “Boat Show Heartburns” for the duration of 4 to 5


days. Show was the focus and fi nding a new client our fervent hope.


Attendance was moderately good, see- ing as our booth was tucked way up on the second level where we were paying our dues as newcomers to the scene. Later years and seniority achieved, we would enjoy better locations and when the in-water section was added, had an excellent spot. Days were soon clicking off and nothing of any signifi cance had transpired. We’d had a lot of compliments, along with the numerous questions so prevalent in those early days of “What kind of a boat is that?” Finally on the next to the last day a young captain stopped by and said he’d been sent by his employer to fi nd us. Saying he’d seen the ad we placed in Yachting Magazine and wanted to know more about this new “Downeast” boat. His employers, Richard and Helen Grant, were planning to downsize from their 65’ Broward to a smaller, more easily handled powerboat which they would live on at Ocean Reef in Florida for part of the year as well as their winter cruise to the Bahamas. What we didn’t realize was, they had already contracted with H R. Hinckley, our next door neighbors to build a 51’ “Sou’wester” model sailboat. The Grant’s rationale was that Cap- tain Andy could oversee the construction of both when decision had fi nally been made on our “38”.


After the show, and a subsequent visit to our shop by Captain Andy, contracts were signed, deposits made, and the go-ahead given. We were to have the boat done by the end of September and ready to be shipped by truck to Ft. Lauderdale. Another challenge. Along with a shop full of other orders we’d have to face the learning curve of a new mod- el, do a spectacular job, and have it ready on time. There were numerous sleepless nights;


however, we had a great crew and were able to fi nd new and good employees as well. Boat was about at the half completed stage when the Grants, accompanied by Captain Andy, saw their new “38” for the fi rst time. They had decided to name her “Little Boat” (a comparison to the Broward). This visit, the fi rst time we’d met the Grants, was the beginning of a long and reward- ing association. Helen Grant was an avid Sportfi sherwoman with several impressive records to her name. I remember her saying “I’ve been fi shing my little heart out all my life”. She generally chartered a Rybovich sportfi sh, raising the bar of our workman- ship into that rather heady atmosphere of the world’s fi nest fi nished boats. Mr. Grant simply enjoyed living on the water, and his favorite pastime was sailing. What a fi ne couple and what an opportunity for the Wilbur Company to show what we could produce.


During that particular time there was in place at MDI High School an on-the-job training program for aspiring students who wanted to learn a trade. One of these students (among several others) who came to work


afternoons for us as part of the program was a young man named Kenneth “Kenny” Kelley. Of all the young employees we ever had, Kenny was undoubtedly the one who not only learned the trade the fastest, but could fi gure out the most effi cient methods while doing exquisite work. He had only to see or be told what was to be done and could go ahead and accomplish it as well as some who’d been “making sawdust” for years. Within the nine months of com- pletion of “Little Boat”, Kenny produced most of the extensive joinery work. A fact that is so dis-appointing to me now when the emphasis at the High School had turned to “college for all” and these talents are no longer encouraged.


By the end of September “Little Boat”


had undergone her sea trials, fl ying bridge had been removed for shipping and she was being loaded on Nick Moody’s Southwest Transport boat delivery trailer to be taken to Florida. Speed trials were a bit dis-appoint- ing, a situation remedied on future boats with more horsepower and lighter construc-


Continued on Page 10.


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