At the height of the company's production, more than 6,000 employees worked at the yard, including Howard E. Wheeler and his five sons. At its peak, the shipyard was even equipped with a stage and grandstand that could hold several thousand people for entertainment and boat launchings.
The Wheelers – Wes, Marianne, Greg and Erica – restarted the Wheeler Yacht Company in 2011 and have brought back the original look of the 1930s-era Playmate design. Wes and Marianne live in Chapel Hill, N.C., but spend time with Legend in Hilton Head Island.
The Brooklin Boat Yard is responsible for construction of the new Wheeler yachts. Steve and his company have a long history of building classic, cold-molded wood yachts, from sailing vessels to power cruisers and from small skiffs up to 90-foot yachts.
For more information, please visit their website at www.brooklinboatyard.com.
Martha Coolidge Design (MCD) was established 20 years ago. An avid racing sailor, Martha took her vocation and avocation and married them into a studio that is half yacht styling and half architecture, or as her client described: “One hand in the ocean and one on terra firma.”
Martha received her architecture and history of art degrees at the University of California, Berkeley. The relationship with The Wheeler Yacht Company began — as many great things do — at the Brooklin Boatyard. MCD has collaborated with Wheeler on numerous projects there, working alongside some of the yachting world’s finest craftsmen and designers.
In 2017, after racing to Havana, Martha was afforded the opportunity to tour Pilar and Hemingway’s house — gaining inspiration from the providential experience.
To see more of Martha’s work, visit www.marthacoolidgedesign.com.
Bill and his team designed the topsides, machinery and interiors for Legend, and is currently finishing the detailed design of the new 55-foot model.
For more information, please visit their website at www.billprinceyachtdesign.com.
Bruce was responsible for the detailed hull design for Legend. His story is found on this website, The Marek Story.
Captain Doyle has assisted with the delivery of Legend up and down the US Coast, navigating inside and outside the ICW. Ryan has been responsible for at least 2,000 of Legend’s 4,000 miles to date.
For more information, please visit their website at www.doylemm.com.
Mick has taken responsibility for the maintenance of Legend since she pulled into the Harbourtown marina in October 2020. Mick and his team are in constant contact with Legend at Slip No. 1, and continue to be our “eyes and ears” in her home slip.