Fun Boatyard Visit

[HopCar]

I took a little wooden skiff over to Merrill-Stevens boat yard today to get some woodwork done.

I love Merrill-Stevens. Every time I go there I see an interesting or famous boat. Today was no exception.

The first boat that caught my eye was a small brightly colored boat with no visible signs of propulsion, That is until I spotted the oar locks and sliding seat. I asked John Spencer the yard manager about it. He said it had been rowed across the Atlantic!

I asked John where I should put the little skiff I had brought. He told me to stick it in the big tent. As I was backing it into the tent I saw a stunningly beautiful wooden boat with the name Pilar on it. I know the original Pilar is in Havana so I assumed this was a replica. No, it was the older sister of the famous Pilar. Merrill-Stevens had just repainted it. The paint, Awlgrip Black, was wonderfully glossy but you could tell it was a real wooden boat,

I hope my cell phone pictures post ok.

 

[Off Duty]

Very Cool HOP!~

Thanks for the pics and history.

OD

 

[CPseudonym]

That is a cool visit

I wonder if that Pilar has the same or similar propulsion scheme as the original? I've lusted for that boat or a fiberglass replica for years.

 

[ranger58sb]

As I was backing it into the tent I saw a stunningly beautiful wooden boat with the name Pilar on it. I know the original Pilar is in Havana so I assumed this was a replica. No, it was the older sister of the famous Pilar.

Was it the Pilar-sistership that's been on display at the Outdoor World/Bass Pro in Islamorada? We toured on that one once when we lived down in Miami, very interesting!

-Chris

 

[Capt.Bill11]

Was it the Pilar-sistership that's been on display at the Outdoor World/Bass Pro in Islamorada? We toured on that one once when we lived down in Miami, very interesting!

-Chris

I was going to ask the same thing.

 

[O C Diver]

Wonder why one of the wood boat builders up in Maine of maybe the PNW doesn't offer / custom build an exact replica and simply call it the "Pilar"? Have to think there is enough interest to offer it as a stock design custom build.

Ted

 

[Pack Mule]

Somebody just restored one like it in wood for the new movie coming out with Jon Voight as Hemingway and Andy Garcia .

 

[HopCar]

Bill and Chris, no it's not the one from Bass Pro in the Keys.
The actor Andy Garcia has been talking about making a movie about Hemmingway for some time. He had come by the boat yard to look at the boat.

 

[HopCar]

Marty, you beat me to it.

 

[Pack Mule]

There was an article in Woodenboat about one being restored at Moores Marine for the movie .

 

[CPseudonym]

There was an article in Woodenboat about one being restored at Moores Marine for the movie .

I had started a thread linked to that article back when it came out. They made a number of changes for the movie boat if I recall.