Worldwide Classic Boat Show

Saturday, February 27th – A Boatbuilding Icon Talks Past, Present & Future (Steve White)

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A Boatbuilding Icon Talks Past, Present & Future

Saturday, February 27, 2021 – 1900 GMT/UTC

with Steve White (Interviewed by Eric Blake)

Off Center Harbor’s Eric Blake has been wanting to have this conversation with Steve White for a couple decades.  Steve took over Brooklin Boat Yard from his father Joel and built it into one of the world’s leading yards for building boats of wood/composite construction. We all get to sit in to hear the story and where Steve sees wooden boatbuilding going in the future.  Audience Q&A to follow.

Comments

39 responses to “Saturday, February 27th – A Boatbuilding Icon Talks Past, Present & Future (Steve White)”

  1. David Dickmeyer Avatar
    David Dickmeyer

    All I can say is WOW! What an amazing and eye opening video. If only I had stuck around after that class I took at WBS back in 1998! Now I have to finish building my boat for sure. I’m inspired!
    Thanks OCH for everything that you do.

  2. Andrew Norris Avatar
    Andrew Norris

    People, passion, purpose…so good Steve. Thank you. And thank you Eric.

  3. Gary Evers Avatar
    Gary Evers

    Whose design, or what boat is at 45:40? Thanks.

  4. David Tew Avatar
    David Tew

    Steve mentions wishing he could have known Bent Jespersen. Here’s an OCH video that shows Bent speaking about a modified H-28 he built for himself and family, followed by a walk-through with the current owner: https://www.offcenterharbor.com/videos/limfjord-l-francis-herreshoff-h-28/

  5. Richard Vogel Avatar
    Richard Vogel

    This was a truly inspirational interview. As someone who mostly uses and maintains both sailboats and motorboats, (see Patina and Jasmine listings), I found your introduction to all the facets of your business extremely interesting and educational and have spread the word to all my boating friends to be sure to see this video. I also loved the historical intro to Brooklin. I nearly completed Ted Brewers yacht design course when he was in Brooklin in the 70’s when I contemplated a career in your business, but instead spent my career as professor of hydrology at Tufts. I look forward to meeting you both someday soon. Thank you also for this incredible one of a kind forward thinking and beautifully implemented boat show. Well done!!!

  6. Jean Marion Avatar
    Jean Marion

    Very informative and interesting thank you very much

  7. Simon C Richardson Avatar
    Simon C Richardson

    Really good presentation, THANK YOU SO MUCH. What great boats you have built. My wife Penny and I sailed to your yard from England in 1981 we pulled in 30 ft Harrison Butler “Askadil” on an invitation to Wooden Boat. Spoke with Joel who was just aboard a new boat that had not long been launched. Greetings from the Elephant Boatyard on the Hamble River, Southampton England. All the best for the future. Simon Richardson.

  8. Lou Kimball Avatar
    Lou Kimball

    Many thanks, Steve and Eric, a great presentation. Wonderful to hear and see some of the history of the boatyard, and to know that even in today’s world, people are still carrying forward that ideal of craftsmanship and quality first. Like my Dad always said, “Take your time and do it right, so that you can be proud of what you’ve done”.

  9. Karl Schoettle Avatar
    Karl Schoettle

    Thank you Steve and Eric. More than the wooden boat building capital of the world, Brooklin is a magical place. Thank you for including some of that spirit in your presentation, and thank you for allowing the summer people and the little boat people to share in this experience. Congratulations to you and your entire crew for being able to work with cutting-edge technology and not lose the charm and grace that make Center Harbor and Brooklin so special.

  10. Glenn Holland Avatar
    Glenn Holland

    First of all, I greatly admire and appreciate what you guys do. For us small boat guys who have always wondered, knowing, you cannot say names and dollars, will you change some manes and tell us what one of these creations of your’s might go for? For all curious old wood boat builders,
    Glenn

  11. Graydon Newman Avatar
    Graydon Newman

    Hello Steve and Eric. Really enjoyed your presentation.

  12. David Lyman Avatar
    David Lyman

    So glad to have watched this conversation. Well presented and moderated by Eric, Steve was warm, generous within his comments. I learned so much I did not know.
    David Lyman / Camden

  13. Karel Doruyter Avatar
    Karel Doruyter

    Really enjoyed this event. It brought me back to the 80’s and 90’s which was my hay day in designing and building boats on Hornby Island. I look back to those days with great fondness. Listening to Steve and Eric discussing the changes that were happening in the boat building industry certainly brought back a lot of memories. One thing that I would have liked was a little more discussion on the multihull industry. The last boat I built for myself was a 45’ catamaran using epoxy, cedar core and fiberglass. It was the beginning of using computer programs, which I did with some hesitation. I still liked the sit down and draw method the best in those days….didn’t quite trust the programs. I kept the cat for about 20 years and cruised the entire Alaska/BC Coast several times. It was probably the most comfortable boat I ever had. Drawing only 2 ft of water it was amazing where one could go. The cutter rig was great, I powered the vessel with a small diesel operating a pump and used two hydraulic motors, one in each hull. Never had
    a tad of problems. Multihulls have changed incredibly, one has only to look at today’s races. To think that they get to speeds of 60 knots and more are mind boggling. I enjoy looking at them, but that is all !!

    Karel Doruyter

  14. Russell Manheimer Avatar
    Russell Manheimer

    Steve,

    Fine job and body of work Steve. Someone needs to write “Steve White, a Life n Boats”. Nice job OCH folks. Made my day.

    Russ

  15. Bill Page Avatar
    Bill Page

    WONDERFUL Presentation Steve and Eric, and we congratulate all involved at Brooklin Boatyard and at OCH. May you each keep up this great work.

  16. Kaci Cronkhite Avatar
    Kaci Cronkhite

    The integrity of Maine craftsmanship.The boats. The ever-changing beauty. And, all those inlets and harbors. If I weren’t in Port Townsend, Brookline’s where I’d be. Much of what I’ve learned here about wooden boats has lineage back to New England… then east again to Europe and Scandinavia. Thanks, Steve and Eric… all at Brooklin Boatyard and Maine who keeps us inspired.

  17. Robert Scott Avatar
    Robert Scott

    Steve you have had such an influence on us. In about 1984 you told me about a sloop that I had seen in front of the Nevins home on Blue Hill Bay. I proceeded to learn and acquired a sister, Falcon. In about 2014 you invited Pam and me to sail your fathers Herreshoff 12 1/2. It led us to acquire a sister, Alouette. We cherish them both as we do our friendship with you. Your discussion today with Eric Blake was wonderful.
    Bob & Pam Scott

  18. Patricia Nelder Avatar
    Patricia Nelder

    Another great presentation. What a lot of great boats. My Dad kept his boat at the yard in the late seventies, having heard that Joel would be able to repair the split garboard plank, and then deciding he would like to keep the boat there. Was not too far to drive fom New Brunswick. I was lucky enough to be allowed to sail out of Center Harbor. Loved seeing the photos.

  19. Christopher Cournoyer Avatar
    Christopher Cournoyer

    Great listening to two fellows that appear to have been living very lucky lives of their own design. I have been enjoying every day’s programs, and today’s was a wonderful capper on the week. Thank you OCH. What a wonderful first annual Worldwide Classic Boat Show.

  20. Bob Barnett, PE, LFASCE, FACI, FACEC, DFUofA Avatar
    Bob Barnett, PE, LFASCE, FACI, FACEC, DFUofA

    Great interview. Yea Brooklin Boat Yard is sort of a Holly Place.

  21. Pilar Stack Avatar
    Pilar Stack

    Hah…What a coincidence Steve mentioned the “Pilar” from Hemingway. I saw it several years ago in the middle of a sports fishermen store in Florida. I thought to myself that boat should’ve been exhibited permanently in the Smithsonian at least.
    Interesting presentation. Thanks.
    Pilar

  22. Robin Jettinghoff Avatar
    Robin Jettinghoff

    Thanks you so much for this fascinating interview. Great job Eric. Thank you for sharing so much of your self, Steve.

  23. David Wildermuth Avatar
    David Wildermuth

    So nice to meet and get to know you. An awesome career and I am familiar with your grandfather, “Whitey” from the book “Chickens, Gin and a Maine Friendship”.

  24. Ken Colburn Avatar
    Ken Colburn

    Great Presentation Steve – wonderful to hear the family story intertwined with the transition of shipbuilding from plank on frame to CAD designed modern wood techniques.

  25. Doug Bullock Avatar
    Doug Bullock

    Can we talk a little about the Wheeler / the recent powerboat – amazing story

  26. James Sargent Avatar
    James Sargent

    Would love to get Steve’s parting thoughts in writing

    1. James Sargent Avatar
      James Sargent

      I have his grandfather’s inspirational quotes from “The Sea and the Wind That blows” in my shop as I rebuild a Herreshoff.

  27. Douglas Henschen Avatar
    Douglas Henschen

    I’m awestruck by these big, high-tech boats, but I’ve also built a Joel White-designed skiff and can relate to Steve’s comment that “my dad would look at [these sophisticated systems] and shake his head.” Any thoughts about small craft and affordable boats for the middle class that will lead to the customers of tomorrow?

  28. Dave Lathrop Avatar
    Dave Lathrop

    one other question for Joel… when will we see electric auxiliaries and Tesla “house” level batteries fully replacing diesels?

  29. Dave Lathrop Avatar
    Dave Lathrop

    the modern approach is so efficiently seductive… accurate, waste reduced, time shortened, etc… is there any sense of losing traditional skills in doing it this way? i get that lofting is tedious/semi-mindless, but how far can this efficiency go before something of the human touch is lost?

  30. Tod VonMertens Avatar
    Tod VonMertens

    the Harbinger in the background My grandmothers boat

  31. David Tew Avatar
    David Tew

    One of, if not the original, Bangor Packets is now owned by Maynard Bray’s nephew (?) David.

    1. David Tew Avatar
      David Tew

      David’s is the one built for Ted Leonard.

  32. Wes Wheeler Avatar
    Wes Wheeler

    I am loving these old photos of the boat yard, your Dad and you, Steve…really interesting history, too.

    1. Robin Jettinghoff Avatar
      Robin Jettinghoff

      Thank you, Wes, for sharing your Legacy with BBY.

  33. Sandy Lam Avatar
    Sandy Lam

    If you have any questions for Steve White, share them here!

  34. Nate Rooks Avatar
    Nate Rooks

    Hi Ingemar – the tickets will be coming out today, but if you can email your neighbor’s info to crew@classicboatshow.com, I’ll try to get him hooked up before the presentation starts. Thanks!

  35. James Pollowitz Avatar
    James Pollowitz

    I don’t know if this is the correct place to ask a question but I’m contemplating purchasing a 1928 50 foot wood Elco cruiser. Any advise? I’m estimating $30,000 a year?

    1. Philip Ludlow Avatar
      Philip Ludlow

      Hi James. I owned a 50 foot Elco in the 1980s and early 1990s. It really depends on the condition of the boat when you buy her and the condition you would like to maintain her in. Your location and local costs and your own roll will also be a factor. As long as your boat is in reasonable condition your budget should maintain her. If she needs any major upgrades she will need an additional injection. Good luck. They are wonderful boats. Philip

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