Moustache Johnny
More than the six-toed cats of Key West and his love of the bottle, Ernest Hemingway will forever be tied to the sea. His ship, The Pilar, was nearly as legendary as the man himself. When he set out to purchase his first and only fishing yacht, he trusted Wheeler Shipyards. For 50 years, the Wheeler family- Father and 5 Sons- built yachts of the highest quality. From 1910 through two World Wars and well into peacetime, Wheeler built over 3,200 Pleasure boats and another 800 military craft.
Wheeler Yacht Company has emerged from that lineage, and they’re returning to the yacht market with the release of the Wheeler 38 Pilar fishing yacht. Every inch of the Wheeler 38 Pilar is reverse engineered from actual measurements of Hemingway’s classic vessel with help from Naval Architect Bill Prince. It will feature a slightly flatter bottomed hull to handle rougher seas and a bit more speed than the standard Wheeler 38. It’s also set to release late this summer.
While she looks like history, the new Wheeler 38 is filled with high tech upgrades under her elegant exterior. This is an heirloom-quality yacht for the ages, from the cold-molded epoxy hull and deck construction to iPad and iPhone controlled automation functions. Air Conditioning, autopilot, Seakeeper, generator, Sub-Zero appliances, and the latest touch marine electronics are neatly tucked away but available instantly. The Wheeler 38 is a truly unique combination of a classic boat with today’s most functional luxuries integrated flawlessly onboard.
Visit wheeleryachts.com for an updated schedule of their debut tour down the east coast from Brooklin, Maine to Ft Lauderdale, Florida. With 12 stops scheduled, there will be plenty of chances to check it out for a trip back in time.
Photos via Wheeler Yachts
