The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1957-12-06
OUR WIDE WATERS
OFFER UNLIMITED
BOATING INDUSTRY
Area Has So Many Opportunities
For Marine Development.
Visitor Says

A discerning young woman who
knows what she is talking about,
thinks there is wonderful POSSIBLE
ties on Roanoke Island, and other
parts of this area to develop a
pleasure boating business worth
millions. Mrs. Molly Owens War
ner, one Of that great yacht build
ing family of Baltimore, in Manteo
on the week end thinks a great
financial future lies ahead when
facilities have been provided on
our great and beautiful waters, to
make this region more appealing
to the hundreds of thousands Of
yachtsmen, owners of boats of
many sizes in this country.
It was the first visit here of
Mrs. Warner, herself as trim and
attractive as one of her yachts.
With three of her brothers, she
operates the Owens Yacht Co., of
Baltimore, which in a few years
has sakyrocketed into international
prominence as a producer of fine
boats. She knows the business and
knows what a natural Dare County
is for a developing vast industry
for catering to it.
Mrs. Warner is vice-president
of the company. She came as
guest of her cousin, Mrs. Crest A.
Meykar, and Mr.. Meykar of
Greensburg, Pa, owners of prop
erty on Roanoke Island. The Mey-
kars are a couple who sing the
praises of Dare County and
thought a person with the boat
building knowledge Of Mrs. Warner
should see this area.
Mrs. Warner stated Saturday
that she desires very much to re-
turn to Roanoke Island next sum-
mer when she can see a perform
ance of The Lost Colony. Her
itinerary Saturday included a visit
to Fort Raleigh, the Elizabethan
Garden, and Oregon Inlet and
Bodie Island. The party stopped at
Dare Haven Motel, Manteo.
Naturally, since her family
builds pleasure craft, she was in
terested in the regions boating
facilities. The entire boating indus
try, she stated, is promoting the
establishment of boating marinas
to provide launching, docking, and
service facilities for the increasing
number of pleasure boats.
The Owens Yacht Co., Inc,
started as result of her father
taking mp boat building as hobby
following his retirement with
Westinghouse. The business is
now operated by Mrs. Warner, a
widow, along with three of her
brothers, Norman Owens, who is
the president; Charles, also a vice.
president; and John, the secretary
treasurer. The company has ex-
banded so that at present they
employ more than 400 persons.
They manufacture "Speedships"
boats ranging in size from IA to
35 feet in length, including making
their own marine engines. A IA
foot fiberglass boat was a recent
addition to their line, and they
have developed small Flagship"
V-8 marine engine suitable for
small boats and presently the only
such engine on the market.
In the current issue of Motor
Boating, Owens Yacht Co. an
nounces in several pages of adver-
Using, its 1853 line of boats, which
includes craft from IA to IS feet
in length, ranging in price from
1886 to $4,000. 1t is most re-
marixablee circumstance, how this
industry has grown, from its first
start as a hobby in tomato patch,
and has flourished under the ten
der guidance Of a family dedicated
to the development of something
they find now a pleasant task.