Pocock Shells

Pocock Shells. . George Pocock and his brother founded Pocock Racing Shells in Seattle, Washington in 1911, after learning the trade from their father who had been head boatbuilder for Elon College in England., The Center for Wooden Boats , The racing shell business was initially sporadic so the brothers started building float plane pontoons for William E. Boeing’s new airplane company. But in 1922 George Pocock returned to boatbuilding and for the next 50 years he built shells for nearly every racing college in the country. His boats won many national and Olympic championships, and his unmatched boatbuilding skills, knowledge of crew racing, and poetic nature made the Pocock name legendary., Captions , (Left) In 1923 the unknown University of Washington rowing team went east and won the national championship in a Pocock boat, inaugerating the influence that Pocock Racing Shells would have on the sport. This photo shows the UW men's team racing against the backdrop of schooners moored in Lake Union circa 1925. , (Right) William Boeing started his airplane company in this hanger on the shore of Lake Union in December 1915. In 1916 he hired the Pocock brothers to build pontoons for his float planes. S ____ _____ the first airplane produced at the small factory. Constructed of Washington State Spruce lumber, steel wire, and linen fabric, this plane made its first successful flight over Lake Union on June 15, 1916. The boatbuilding trade had a growing influence on airplane design and construction during this time.