Willits Launch
Willits Launch in 2008, before its transfer to the Working Waterfront Museum. Photograph by Larry Roth, courtesy of The Center for Wooden Boats.
Boat Type
Location
Year Built
1929
Beam
5’ 1 7/16”
LOA (Length Overall)
20’ 2 9/16”
Project Sponsors
King County 4Culture
Website Link
Oral History
The Willits Launch is a one-of-a-kind motor boat designed by Earl Willits. He and his brother Floyd ran a successful business making double-planked red cedar canoes out of Tacoma. However the launch was for the brothers’ personal use. In fact, family and friends recall that Earl insisted everyone have clean feet before boarding. Donated to The Center for Wooden Boats in 1982, the Willits Launch is from a time before dimension and design were products of a computer program. The curve of the roof is more reminiscent of an antique automobile than a 1929 boat.
Boat Story
Earl and Floyd Willits spent their working lifetime, 1914-1964, building the finest quality canoes at their shop on Day Island, Tacoma. They created an efficient, ingenious shop where the two of them built 17’ canoes that were double plank western red cedar with a thin skin of muslin saturated with Kuhl’s waterproof glue in between and about 7000 copper clench nail fastenings. Because of the rigidity of the double planking, no frames were needed, so the interior with vertical steam-bent planking was as smooth as the outside of longitudinal planking. The canoe clients of the brothers encouraged them to expand their repertoire, based on the beauty, strength and light weight (75 pounds) of their canoes.
In 1928 the brothers designed and built a 20’ motor launch. It has the same smooth inside and outside hull. The inner planking actually acted as tightly fitted frames. The launch has a straight stem and a curved vertical transom. There was a small pilot house reminiscent of the early horseless carriages with a top made just the same as the laminated hull. The house is strong, lightweight and removable. The launch can carry 6 people-2 in the pilot house and 4 in the cockpit in two athwartship upholstered seats which faced each other. The 1928 gas engine, not included, was handcranked and was placed between the back of the pilot seat and the next seat behind facing aft. An automobile steering wheel is linked to the inboard rudder. The boat was used for outings to the beaches and islands in the Tacoma area.
They never built any other motor boat. Their career focused on the 17’ canoe. They built 25 each year. Eventually they added options to the canoe including a rowing rig and a sailing-rig. The brothers Willits designed and made both. The sails were hand sewn by Earl and Floyd and they cast their own rowlocks. They also made the paddles, back rest, interior carpet, sail and spar duffel and cartop carrier. The launch is a work of classic quality that stands as a memorial to the standards of excellence of the Willits brothers.
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