Evening star., 1941-01-12
Marine Display Great,
But Work for Navy
Cur5s Exhibitors
Little Builder to Enjoy
Big Yeor os U. S. Keeps
Large Plants Busy
Nv MALCOLM ID. LAMBORNE, Jr.,
star Staf Correspondent

the effects of defense preparations,
the 37th annual National Motor
Boat Show here is on in full force In
the flag -bedecked Grand Central
Palace with its color scheme Of red,
white and blue. -
A bos'un pipe blown by youth in
sailor uniform at exactly 7:03 o'clock
admitted the first of nearly 10000
persons who iammed the palace for
the biggest opening night in history.
By 7:3O o'clock they were Jammlng
the interiors of shining new cruisers
and smart little auxiliary craft in a
frantic effort to see what 1941 has to
offer boatmen of America.
The palace will close at IL O'Clock
tonight and reopen Monday for
week
1t is evident the Nations large
boat manufacturers are providing
the country with pleasure craft as
we'll as working on defense. Several
builders, however, are conspicuous
by their absence. The reason: 100
busy with defense orders.
Even some of the former exhibitors
OF marine engines and gadgets are
not to be seen this year. The Fair
banks-MorSe marine DIESEL, for in
stance, failed to exhibit. They, too,
are turning out their larger models
for the Army and Navy.
To Help the Little Fellow.
Authorities in the marine industry
have little qualms about the trend,
however. They see in it an opportu-
nifty for the little builder, the fellow
who turns out only half dozen
craft a year. 1t will be big year,
and as long as the emergency exists,
for him. This decentralization. au-
thorities say, will pay dividends in
the long run.
When the crisis is over, America
will have just that many more build,
ers and manufacturers in sport
that promises never to die.
A sign displayed at the Wheeler
cruiser exhibit-they are showing
one of their popular 30-foot Play
mates-tells the story. 1t reads:
r Oul uIllOll ldIAlIllCS liOh
engaged in national defense work.
AS a result We will be unable to pro-
duce as many models this year as in
previous years.
200 Builders in Display.
1--WE feel that you are in sympathy
with this program and will under
stand our position. Until such time
As we are again able to turn our
full capacity to our normal pursuit
Of producing pleasure craft We
trust you will bear with US"
One boat builder has S4000,000
contract for constructing mine
tenders; another company. $4,000
900 for mine sweepers; third is
building bomb targets; another Navy
tugs and crash boats; fifth busy
with Navy barges.
It's still the biggest marine
extravaganza of the year, defense
or no defense, and a show not to
be missed.
More than 200 builders and manu-
facturers have on display on the
three floors of the palace the very
newest in models and marine &C
cessories. 1t is every mans show
4 little pram for s25 or bridge
deck cruiser for s10.000-and every
man will find what he is looking
for.
Big Cruiser Lures Crowd.
The queen of the show, at least
10 this goggle-eyed spectator, is the
44-foot double-cabin, inclosed-
bridge cruiser of Chris Craft. A
beautiful streamlined job in white,
she is drawing the crowds like
Gypsy Rose Lee. The builders
promise speeds up to "a miles an
hour. There is one sorrowful note
for the deckhand, though. The
decks are bare of paint or varnish.
That's going to mean holystonlng,
sailor.
Room and more room is the slogan
OF the Richardson line Of smart
cruisers. Flagship is the 37-footer,
powered with Gray engine. Spark
man and Stephens, internationally
known designers of racing sailing
yachts, have designed the hull OF
the Richardson.
The 38-foot de luxe sedan shown
by the Mathews Co. has all the ad-
vantages of a modern duplex apart
ment. Here's what she has: Hot and
cold water, separate shower room,
pressure water system, separate
crew quarters and sleeping room for
eight.
/. Chesapeake Model on Display.
: A Chesapeake Bay boat builder
has a feature spot in the shows flrst
@foor, where sail and power models
.mingle in colorful profusion. 1t is
the Owens Co. of Dundalk. Md,
@which is displaying one OF its 30
: Hooters, a sporty model it claims can
take a beating in a seaway.
= One of the most frequent topics
.of conversation heard among boat
men here is the important role
nodded plywood promises to play in
-both small and big boat construction.
According to John Barnes, head OF
the Skaneateles Boats Co., a COM
-plete hull can be formed in one
operation, and it is stress-free. leak