WILBER WRIGHT COMMODORE 1938

COMMODORES OF INTERLAKE YACHTING ASSOCIATION

SEE GARWOOD 1935 AND MENTION OF HENRY FORD 1941

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"JAY & JAY"

The sedan cruiser, "Jay & Jay", is truly a unique vessel. She is literally one of a kind. Stanley Wilcox of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, built her over a three-year period. An instructor in industrial arts at the Shaker Heights High School, he followed a design of the famous Canadian naval architect, Ditchburn of Gravenhurst, Ontario. Originally named the "RosalindÓ, the vessel was 49' l0", just two inches short of the 50 feet that would have made her subject to government commandeering in time of war. Her displacement hull was constructed of 1-3/4Ó white cedar planking (most of it intact today) over oak frames, with a mahogany superstruc-ture. She was completed in 1923 or 1924–the dates are some-what uncertain--and launched in Lake Erie near Vermilion, Ohio. It was quite a sight, according to John G. Robinson, former editor of the old POWER BOATING magazine, seeing the "Rosalind" being hauled by special truck through the streets of Cleveland on her way to Vermilion.

The October 1925 issue of POWER BOATING which contained race results of the year recorded that the "Rosalind", owned by Stanley Wilcox, took fifth place in the 1925 Scripps Trophy reliability race from Rocky River to Put-In-Bay and return–a distance of 112 miles. Statistics about the "Rosalind" stated that her length was 49', her beam 12'8", and power was a Scripps motor. Her start time was 9:59:13, arrival at Put–In–Bay was 3:22:15 (a.m.), and arrival back at Rocky River was 8:27:05.

Also in 1925, toward the end of the year, Wilbur J. Wright of Cleveland, a manufacturer's representative and newly-elected commodore of the Lakewood Yacht Club (later renamed the Cleveland Yachting Club) purchased the vessel and re-named her the "Riptide". He made several modifications to the yacht, the principal one being the enclosure of the pilot station, which was originally covered with canvas. As shown in the elaborately-printed program for the 1938 Inter-Lake Regatta at Put-In-Bay–where the "RiptideÓ was featured in a Glidden Paint Co. advertisement--her new pilot house was entirely enclosed by mahogany. Another new addition was a bath tub for the after stateroom. Wilbur Wright was also the Commodore of the Inter-Lake Yacht Association that year and, hence, the "Riptide" was referred to as the "flagship of the I.L.Y.A."

At the end of the Thirties or early Forties, the vessel was sold to Paul Mitchell, Commodore of the Vermilion Yacht Club. Commodore Mitchell kept the "Riptide" on Lake Erie until his death in 1948. His widow then permitted their newly-married son, Dan, to take the yacht down the Mississippi to Miami on his honeymoon. The "Riptide" had been re-powered with a small Chris-Craft motor. Later, this motor was replaced by a large Chrysler Royal.

About 1950, the "Riptide" was purchased by J. C. Bremer, road construction contractor and civil engineer of Hillsboro, Illinois, who renamed her the "Jay & Jay"–these being the initials of Mr. Bremer and his wife. Mr. Bremer brought the "Jay & Jay" to Juste Island in the Miami River and employed a highly skilled shipwright–and former boatyard manager–over a two-year period to rebuild and improve the vessel. Mr. and Mrs. Bremer also spent many hours assisting with the rebuilding and restoration process.

Among the major improvements were:

- Replacing the stern which was badly rotted.

- Adding a wooden overhang to supplant the canvas one (thereby providing protection against the sub-tropical sun).

- Replacing the Chrysler Royal gasoline motor with a 225 h.p. Gray Marine 671 diesel.

- Providing a dry-stack exhaust for the diesel engine and enclosing this with a distinctive smoke stack.

- Installing a pressurized water system, including hot water.

- Replacing one of the three heads (the one amidships) with a shower.

- Refinishing most of the mahogany interior and covering certain portions deemed irreparable (e.g., the head boards in the master stateroom).

- Installing a 3 KW Onan Diesel Generator, thereby pro-viding AC power.

- Fiberglassing the decks, the new overhang, and the forward cabin cover–an action which added many years of life to these parts of the vessel.

-Installing new controls (hydraulic throttle and heavy-duty manual clutch) and a new instrument panel in the pilot house, faced with Phillipine mahogany (the original mahogany was Honduran).

Many other improvements, too numerous to mention, were added by Mr. Bremer, in order to provide modern comforts and at the same time to preserve the dlassic character of the vessel. After almost two years on land, the "Jay & JayÓ was re-launched. She was docked by the Bremers at a number of sites in and around Miami, including Juste Island, Broward Marine (Ft. Lauderdale), the Hollywood Public Marina, and in the Hills-boro Canal across from Boca Raton Country Club.

On one occasion, Wilbur J. Wright, who was living in retirement in Delray Beach, Florida, happened upon the "Jay & Jay" while she was docked at Broward Marine and informed Mr. Bremer of his past ownership of the vessel.

In 1966, Mr. Bremer, who had just acquired another power cruiser, gave the "Jay & Jay" to his son, John, a mgmt. consultant who moved the vessel to his home in Boston, Massachusetts. Several months of intensive preparation were made for this 1,600 mile voyage. In this work, as well as subsequently, John Bremer was assisted by Roger Lussier, interior designer and owner of a wellÑknown Boston picture framing business.

Beginning in the summer of 1967, the "Jay & Jay" has been docked during the boating season at the Charles River Yacht Club, Cambridge, Mass., where John Bremer served as an officer for a number of years.

Over the past thirteen years of John Bremer's ownership, many improvements have been made to the "Jay & Jay", notably the following:

- In the winter of 1967-68, several important structural improvements (main starboard stringer and starboard side of the pilot house) were made by Simms Yacht Yard in Scituate, Mass.

- A new stem and a number of new frames and planking in the bow were installed by Cape Cod Marine (Mac-Dougal's)

- New oak frames, floor timbers and through–bolts were installed for 28' of the length from the bow aft by Falmouth Marine Railways in 1973.

- The mahogany paneling of the master stateroom head, which had been covered over with a composition paneling, was re-exposed and restored to its original condition.

- New dinghy and outboard motor were added in 1974.

- The galley was completely renovated in 1975, using a combination of white formica and mahogany trim. A new stainless steel sink, new Princess stove (with oven), and new refrigerator were installed.

- New electrical switchboxes, with circuit breakers, were installed for both the 12 volt DC and 110 volt AC systems. A Constavolt was also added, as well as new fittings for the 110 shore power connection. Two heavy–duty batteries, in a new enclosure, serve both the main engine and generator, with switching between provided by a large mercury switch operable from the pilot house. A new alternator was installed on the main engine in 1974.

- The 671 Diesel was removed, rebuilt and re-installed by Simms Yacht Yard in 1977. Airguipt oil hoses re-placed the cast steel pipes in 1978.

- A new 7.5 KW Onan diesel generator, with hush-box, was installed in 1978 by D. N. Kelley.

- A new electric Raritan Crown head was installed off the main stateroom in 1978 by D. N. Kelley.

-The Twin Disk Drive clutch and reverse gear was re-built and most of its parts replaced in 1978 by D. N. Kelley yard.

- New mahogony windows replaced the ones installed in the pilot house by Jesse Bremer, who felt the original windows which extended down to the deck made the vessel look too stubby. In addition, most of the mahogany wainscoting which was installed along with the half-length windows has also been replaced, due to deterioration.

Other improvements of a less permanent or major nature (e.g., new carpeting, fitted exactly, which was installed in 1977 and new cushions--foam rubber encased in heavy vinyl–which were installed in 1976) have also been made. For most of her years in Boston, the "Jay & JayÓ had been stored in yards which have performed all necessary work. She has met Coast Guard inspection standards consistently, from year to year.

The "Jay & Jay" has become a familiar sight in New England waters and has frequently visited harbors on Mass-achusetts South Shore, North Shore, Cape Ann, Cape Cod (both on the Bay side and the South Shore), Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Newport, Narragansett Bay, Kennebunkport, etc.

There are several secrets to the "Jay & Jay's" long-evity. First and foremost was good design and construction. Placement of bulkheads has left most frames in the hull relatively exposed to air, with little opportunity for rot. Mechanical aspects of the operation of the vessel have typically been simple and easy to maintain–a factor which has helped to avoid serious accidents and damage, as well as to promote continuing maintenance. Care of the vessel by its five owners has been exceptional. Extensive repairs and enhancements have been undertaken by each of them. In order to provide a new vessel that would be comparable in comfort and seaworthiness, an investment of well over $100,000 would be required.

The layout of the "Jay & Jay" has many advantages: the pilot house can accommodate a large group for entertaining, as well as providing full visibility and protection from the elements for navigation of the vessel. The after stateroom (which is equipped with a head) is fully separated from the forward cabins (which also have a head, as well as a separate shower). The galley is separated from, although contiguous to the dining room which can be used to serve up to 12 persons around a large mahogany table that folds down to a compact size when not in use. Unlike many other classic yachts, the spaces below decks and in the pilot house are light and airy. With her distinctive smoke stack, the graceful sheer of her hull, and her mahogany interior, the "Jay & Jay" is a glamorous vestige of the 1920's, and yet she offers all the comforts and safety of yachts being constructed today.