32' Wilbur Schooner (1988) - WILLIAM BASSETT

Growing up around Noank, CT and working as a Merchant Marine, Captain Jack had a lot of opportunity to observe boats around the world and eventually came back to the fisherman style workboats that were so plentiful around Noank, CT when he was growing up.

Not being able to find the type of boat he wanted, Jack began building his own boats. He wanted a boat that was stable, easily handled by one person, had plenty of sail for light air and enough to sail upright, low freeboard for ease of dinghy work and boarding from the water. Jack didn’t worry about museum quality and wasn’t much on sandpaper, the boat was built to sail, not to polish.

Built by Jack Wilbur in his backyard in 1988, the William Bassett (originally named We’re Here) is the 6th boat Jack built from the basic Noank sloop design and favors the lines of the Emma C Berry, which is a very traditional craft with a strong Noank pedigree.

Wilbur’s Noank sloops and smacks, like all traditional craft, require an understanding to sail well, and once that understanding is obtained the William Bassett, has a special liveliness that is a pleasure to sail.

Update: The Noank Schooner is back in her home waters. Now “Heron”, she is being well cared for by Johnny Waters at Bradley & Water Marine Railway in Stony Creek, CT.