Miami in Miami-Dade County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Pioneer Boat Builders' Site
— 1947 —
Photographed By Marsha A. Matson, October 2, 2014
1. Pioneer Boat Builders' Site Marker
Inscription.
Pioneer Boat Builders' Site. . For thousands of years most water crafts were built of wood. The first reinforced plastic fiberglass boats in the southeastern United States were conceived and built here in 1947. Two hundred feet north of this marker is the former home and workshop of Troy Wollard, where his shop building still stands. He was an outstanding shipwright who was instrumental in building the durable high-performing crafts with visionary pioneers Arthur H. Siegel (1924-2003) and Dudley Whitman. Challenger Marine Corporation produced its first boats at this location which was the beginning of the boating revolution. This small manufacturing venture changed the yachting world forever. The 18-foot runabout speedboats had inboard engines that could reach up to 50 miles per hour. They had monocoque (egg shape) construction with full-length stringers that supported the hull and engine. An outline of excess resin used to make these boats is still visible on the floor of the shop. This enterprise was one of the first in the nation to use fiberglass successfully and was the forerunner of an important industry eventually leading to the development of large luxury yachts and commercial vessels.
For thousands of years most water crafts were built of wood. The first reinforced plastic fiberglass boats in the southeastern United States were conceived and built here in 1947. Two hundred feet north of this marker is the former home and workshop of Troy Wollard, where his shop building still stands. He was an outstanding shipwright who was instrumental in building the durable high-performing crafts with visionary pioneers Arthur H. Siegel (1924-2003) and Dudley Whitman. Challenger Marine Corporation produced its first boats at this location which was the beginning of the boating revolution. This small manufacturing venture changed the yachting world forever. The 18-foot runabout speedboats had inboard engines that could reach up to 50 miles per hour. They had monocoque (egg shape) construction with full-length stringers that supported the hull and engine. An outline of excess resin used to make these boats is still visible on the floor of the shop. This enterprise was one of the first in the nation to use fiberglass successfully and was the forerunner of an important industry eventually leading to the development of large luxury yachts and commercial vessels.
Erected 2005 by Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-561.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists:
Location. 25° 51.71′ N, 80° 12.78′ W. Marker is in Miami, Florida, in Miami-Dade County. Marker is at the intersection of Northwest 95th Street and Northwest 10th Avenue, on the right when traveling west on Northwest 95th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 975 NW 95th Street, Miami FL 33150, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 2, 2014, by Marsha A. Matson of Palmetto Bay, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,059 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 2, 2014, by Marsha A. Matson of Palmetto Bay, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
