CAPTAIN CLYDE RECALLS NEWPORTER BOATYARD DAYS

[bob mitchell]

It was at Stowman Shipyards that the Newporter began its East Coast life. Years (and years) ago I ran across an ad in Yachting magazine for the Newporter with a picture of two Newporters heading right at each other. The headline was “East Meets West” and the copy introduced the fact that Stowman was now assembling the Newporters. I say “assembling” because Ack was making up kits and shipping them to Stowman’s for completion. It was not long before Ack closed up shop in Newport Beach, CA and came east himself to oversee the total construction.

Ack was a great man in my book. He was the best of bosses, and in a sense kept us on our toes. Seems we only saw him in the morning as work began. The first thing he would do was tell us what he expected of us for the day. Then he would tell us what we did wrong the day before. After we left for the day he would go into the building shed and take a “look-see.”

As men would be, we had a “secret” signal to spread the word among the Newporter gang that a boss (there were several in the yard) was about the enter our domain. The man seeing the approaching menace would sound out the signal (“Huckleberry Hound”) and everyone would pick up hammers and saws and other instruments of construction and start making like work was being done.

When the planking goes on there is a lot of work being done. Newporters have only four planks, each of ¾ inch plywood about forty feet long, and drills and air hammers were the order of the day. If you have looked carefully at your boat you will note that the planks are curved four ways to Sunday. ‘Tain’t an easy thing to put ‘em on, what with them having a two-way curve (your framing is not of straight line pieces). Well, this is one job that requires several men, and I got in more than one planking job. After the last nail is set we put ladders on her and climb up inside and lean back and take a well deserved rest. Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em. We would settle down and several of the always ready jokers would tell some of their jokes and we would laugh. As the laughter died down a wee we heard a gentle voice saying “Huckleberry Hound!” We turned and looked and there was Ack, looking like Kilroy with his hands hooked over the bulwark, nose at its top, eyes looking full in our faces. Then he said “Good job, boys” and left. We never heard about that again from him, but that really let us know that we can’t keep secrets from ol’ Ack.

Well, those were the day, my friend, I thought they’d never end. (You can quote me on that.) But end they did, and those were the days this old man will never forget.

Oh, yeah. The other (only other) name of the A. J. Meerwald was that with which I will now sign off.

Peace,

Clyde A. Phillips

[Jasper & Karen]

Clyde--

What a great story! Good to know the progress was appropriately celebrated along the line. And now I think that wherever I see a rust spot leaking through that nice white paint on my hull, I'm going to put in a screw while I've got her sanded down, then treat the rusty nail and patch her up. I had no idea that a single sheet of plywood could even be found at 40' of length, much less bent 'four ways to Sunday'. I aim to keep it that way.
Karen

[Justine]

Wow Clyde that was a wonderful story!!! I still say you should be writing a book with these stories.

[jim sherk]

is the picture of Captain Clyde?

[bob mitchell]

.yep - in younger days, no doubt.

jim sherk said:

is the picture of Captain Clyde?