PILAR 150 hp
In April 1934, Ernest Hemingway and his second wife, Pauline, arrived in New York aboard the ocean liner Paris. They were returning to the U.S. from an extended trip abroad, including a safari in Africa. At 35 years old, Hemingway was already a successful writer and international celebrity from his first novels, The Sun Also Rises and A Farewell to Arms.
At some point during his trip, Hemingway made the decision to purchase a 38 foot Wheeler cabin cruiser. Wheeler Shipyard was founded after World War I to build custom wooden motor yachts and motorsailers. However, like many other boat building companies during that era, such as Elco and Consolidated, the company also had a line of production wood boats that ranged from 32 to 42 feet called Playmates.
It stood at 38 feet, stretching gracefully with the sun casting warm glimmers on its mahogany hull. With every fiber of its oak-framed structure, it promised adventures. The salty air caressed its beam of 12.5 feet, whispering tales of the vast oceans it would conquer.
This 1960 Brownell Boat Works was replicated to exact details of Hemingway's Pilar under the vigilance of Walter Schulz, Founder & President of Shannon Boat Company.
The heart of the vessel is fueled by twin Yanmar diesels, new and fierce, installed in 2015. They roared softly, ready to cut through waves at a top speed of 12 knots, while its reservoirs held 97 gallons of diesel.
With water tanks that could quench any sailor's thirst and a Seaward water heater that promised warmth on cold nights, the ship was built to weather the fiercest storms. It held within it the song of the seas, with the soft hum of its electronics, the beep of the Raymarine A65, the chatter from the Icom IC-M424, and the whispering echo from the Hawkeye depth finder.
Every corner of s.o. (Spirit of) PILAR bares the mark of craftsmanship. From the exquisite mahogany transom to the sturdy plywood deck, sheltered under the protection of Dynel. The battery chambers held the pulsating energy of the Four Group 31 AGM batteries, controlled by the Xantrex system.
As one descends into its belly, the warmth of varnished and painted interiors greet you. The old-world charm of brass and bronze, the glow from restored lighting, the comfort of new cushions - every nook narrates a story.
The forward cabin, spacious and welcoming, holds two berths, while the head and galley shine with Corian countertops, showing reflections of the past. A silent elevator stands witness at the companionway, aiding those who need it, while the main salon whispers tales of old sailors and captains of lore.
Walter Schulz and the crew at Shannon Boat Company gave this legend a new lease of life, repairing and restoring its very soul. Its exterior boasts of a resilient shield, and the interior beams are cold-molded epoxied for abrasion and leak resistance.
And now, in the heart of Bristol, RI, s.o. PILAR waits, not as a mere boat but as a living legend, echoing tales of Hemingway and promising new stories with every wave it rides.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS of M/V (s.o. PILAR)
Original Builder: Brownell Boat Works, 1960
Original Designer: Walter McInnis
Refit & Replication: Shannon Yachts
LOA: 38.0 feet
LOD: 36.0 feet
LWL: 34.0 feet
Beam: 12.5 feet
Draft: 3.0 feet
Displacement: 17,000 lbs
Engines: Twin diesels,Yanmar, 4JH-TE (2 - new 2015)
Fuel: Diesel
Horsepower: 75hp each
Propellers: Twin 20"x 21" three-blade propellers
Cruise Speed: 10 knots
Top Speed: 12 knots
Fuel: 97 gallons (two each)
Water: 40 gallons (two each)
Water Heater: Seaward 11 gallons
Holding: 25 gallons
Toilets: Raritan Electric
Hull: Mahogany planking over steamed oak frames
Keel: White oak
Transom: Mahogany
Deck: Plywood with Dynel covering
Bilge pumps: 4 (Rule 2000 GPH)
Batteries: Four Group 31 AGM batteries
Battery charger: Xantrex 60A TrueCharge2
Inverter: Xantrex Pro 1800
LPG: Located in deck locker, (2) 11 lb cylinders
Shore power: 30A
Refrigeration: Norcold
Galley: Princess 2-burner stove (propane), microwave
VHF: Icom IC-M424
Radar & GPS: Raymarine A65
Depth: Hawkeye
Compass: Yes
Horn: Electric
Fire Extinguishers: Handheld in USCG compliance
Anchor: 35 lb CQR on deck anchor roller
HVAC: 8000 BTU reverse cycle heat & air system
Additional details:
All interior details are varnished or painted
Original brass & bronze hardware restored/and or replaced
Original & period lighting fixtures restored and/or replaced
New cushions
Safety equipment meets USCG requirements (flares, PFDs, etc.)
CABIN LAYOUT (FWD to AFT)
Forward Cabin: Two single fixed berths, ample storage with drawers, shelves & starboard and port
hanging lockers. Ability to add two additional pipe berths.
Head: Starboard side, wheelchair accessible with Corian countertop, stainless steel sink, and
shower
Galley: Port side, wheelchair accessible with Corian countertops & a stainless steel sink, stove,
microwave, refrigeration and storage
Elevator lift accompanies companionway steps for wheelchair use.
Main salon includes helm station to starboard with swivel captain's chair & bench seating on
starboard and port sides. Navigation table on port side, folding varnished doors leading to cockpit.
Engine access hatches.
Cockpit features fold-down seating and ample room for fishing installation equipment.
Flybridge includes a replica of Ernest Hemingway's custom-designed upper helm station reached
via port side ladder.
REFIT DETAILS
Walter Schulz, Founder & President of Shannon Yachts, along with the Shannon crew, completed
an extensive refit of s.o. PILAR which included repair & restoration from the keel up.
The hull beneath the waterline to the keel has been cold-molded using two layers of cedar laid in
Sikaflex over the original planking, followed by an epoxy coat and one layer of fiberglass cloth.
The transom was double diagonal planked and covered with one layer of fiberglass cloth using
epoxy resin.
All exterior hull seams have been caulked and painted. All interior stringers and frames have been
replaced with laminated oak frames or sistered with laminated oak frames. The cabin sole was
replaced and is in excellent condition.
s.o. PILAR is uniquely fitted to meet ADA requirements for person with disabilities or limited
mobility.
s.o. PILAR is located in Bristol, RI, USA
CONTACT: Erin Schulz, +1 917 364 0752, erin@cloudyachts.io