History

After leaving their Long Island home in 1947, Franklin and Ennis Merritt purchased a 10 acre track of land on the Intracoastal Waterway in Pompano Beach, Florida. In 1948 Merritt Boat and Engine Works was born. The boatyard was set up primarily to maintain the Merritt's charter boats, in addition to other charter and drift boats in the area. The yard began building boats in 1955. The Merritt's sons, Buddy and Allen became involved, with buddy running the boat building division and Allen overseeing and administering the business.

Soon after Buddy’s passing in 1971, a third generation Merritt took over the managing of the boatyard. Roy, the son of Allen and Millie Merritt had worked in the yard since his early teens. Today Roy Merritt runs the day-to-day operations at Merritt's.

The 37 Footers

An avid fisherman, Buddy Merritt built what he perceived to be the perfect fishing boat. The first of his 37-footers were totally lacking the luxuries taken for granted today. They were built for one purpose: to raise and catch fish. In all, 13 of these famed 37-footers were built, and 12 survive to this day (one was lost to fire caused by stray fireworks while the boat was out of the water in a boat yard).

The Merritt 37 and the Rybovich 36 pioneered a style that gained popularity in the 1950s and 1960s with an open deckhouse (no bulkhead aft) and a flying bridge. Ryco Marine hull #6 imitated this style in 1991 with its launch of a 38-foot dayboat, Wildcat.

Hull construction was typically strip planked with 1"x2" Yellow Cedar fastened to Mahogany frames and stringers.

Thirteen 37 Merritts Were Built from 1955-1967

• Caliban (USCG #276422, Hull #3) was built in 1955. Her last known name was Merittime, owned by Merrittime Charters, Inc. Over the years other known names include Striper, Meltemi, Sweat, Chips, Hooked II, Papa, Billy B, and Big Bad John.

• Val Jean (USCG #278638, Hull #4) was built in 1957 for Richard Horvath. It is presently run as a charter boat named the Do Stay by Capt. Elbert "Elly" Brown in Jupiter, Florida. The second owner of the boat was a Chevy dealer named Dick Raffo who named the boat Chevy Won. Prior to Brown's ownership as the fourth owner, she was known as Patricia and owned by Jim Cullen. When Elly Brown and wife Viola bought the boat, they renamed her after their two children: "Do" for Douglas and "Stay" for Stacy. Today, the Do Stay fishes out of the Seasport Marina on the Jupiter Inlet. In 1984, Capt. Brown signed up a young New Yorker, Jeff Bicel, as a first mate. He remains aboard the Do Stay today.

• Windsong (USCG #280634, Hull #5) was built in 1957 for Tore Hembe. In later years she was known as Barbara Jo, Caracal, Comparss Rose, Cheetah, Mistress, Thunder, Sportin' Life, Sassy Lady and most recently, Old Lady. In November, 2005 she was sold and moved from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Stuart, Florida to undergo a complete restoration by Gamefisherman.

• Joan E. (USCG #283725, Hull #6) was built in 1960 for Ralph Rau. It was later known as Wildcatter and Infinity before Annali.

• Timid Tuna (USCG #284725, Hull #7) was built in 1962 for Dale Schaefer. Subsequently she was known as Drummond, Dorothy D., Lady B., Easy Rider, Miltwon, Amanda, Lady Jane, Edith Ann and GAF VII. Her most recent owner was Anthony Pope, a noted member of the Italian-American community whose family gained notoriety through its ownership of American Media, publishers of the National Enquirer. While owned by Pope, GAF VII underwent a massive series of upgrades, beyond anything ever done to a boat of this small size, at a cost of more than one million dollars. The installation of enormous 550-horsepower diesel engines necessitated the installation of auxiliary flotation chines to handle the increased displacement.

• Tuna Teaser (USCG #286170, Hull #8) was built in 1961 for Art Appleton. She was later known as Born Free, Sachem, Seaquirt, and most recently Release. Presently the boat is in Costa Rica.

• Caliban (USCG #287912 Hull #9) was built in 1962 for Bill Carpenter. In the 80's was bought by Stewart Campbell and named it "Chunda" Presently the boat is in Venezuela, named Sangria I and has a pink hull

• Finest Kind (USCG #290114, Hull #10) was built in 1963 for Dorothea Dean. She was later named Nefertiti, Ballyhoo, My Way, Jingo, High Roller, Princess Claudia, Live Wire, Cookie Monster, Jolly Roger and Bulldog.

• Sunny Bunch (USCG #293145, Hull #11) was built in 1963 for a Mr. Irwin. Subsequently she was named Ole, Sea Hub, Recipe, Maverick and most recently, Northern Lights. Presently she operates as a charter boat in Kona, Hawaii captained by Kona native Kevin Nakamaru, who is the only captain to have caught both a 1,000 pound ("grander") Black Marlin and a grander Blue Marin in both the Atlantic and the Pacific.

• Alligator (USCG #294956, Hull #12) was built in 1964 for Jack Rounick. Today she is based in Maui, Hawaii as a charter boat named Finest Kind. Finest Kind is a 3rd generation charter company and has been owner operated for over 32 years. Finest Kind Sportfishing boasts a record of having caught the most Marlin on Maui since 1972, and she set the Maui County Record Catch for a 1,118 lb. Blue Marlin on August 3, 2002.

• Windsong (USCG #503211, Hull #14) was built in 1965 for Tore Hembe, and was later known as No Problem and Hoolili.

• Sandra D. (USCG #507428, Hull #15) was built in 1967 for Sam Evert. Later she was named Echoes in the 1980s. She was subsequently owned by Roy & Allen Merritt and named Caliban, and later Cadence, CBM and most recently, Rowdy. She is now located in Bristol, Rhode Island.

• Decoy (Hull #16) was built in 1967 for Richard Freydberg. She was subsequently named Jane Ann, Sea Angler, Renegade, Wild Orange and Lady. She is located in Hawaii.

Merritt Boat Works