All I know, which isn't much, is his name was Willard Buchanan and his grandson and I worked together for a short time. He told me he used to go to his grandfather's house and he would build boats in his backyard. He said he was making boats up to his death even after selling the boat company.
I think his company was in CostaMesa, CA or close to that city and he helped design boats as well. I don't think he had formal training. Mike is the grandson and he was living in San Pedro, CA.
Here is a story about Willard.
http://www.heritech.com/seawitch/wilbo.htm
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Wilmington Boat Works
I just learned a lot more about him myself.
I used to haul out at the Wilmington Boat Works. The owner recently was a Serbian named Dinko and he was notorious. He either liked you or he hated you. No inbetween. I sent a few people there that went on the hate list. They were launched quick and he wouldn't do work on their boats again.