Grand Banks history: John Newton, Larry Drake & Bob Dorris

sara newton matthis said:

Hi! My dad is John Newton, the founder of Grand Banks. He is 93y young and we (I am his sixth of six children) are writing a book about the beginnings of the Grand Banks story. We want to cover a lot of territory. So ... do you have specific questions about American Marine / Grand Banks from 1958-1975? We would love to answer as many questions in the book as we can, so fire away. Also, we would love to track down some of dad's favorite marine architects or biographical info of same, specifically Larry Drake and Robert S. Dorris.

Click to expand...

sara newton matthis said:

Hi! My dad is John Newton, the founder of Grand Banks. He is 93y young and we (I am his sixth of six children) are writing a book about the beginnings of the Grand Banks story. We want to cover a lot of territory. So ... do you have specific questions about American Marine / Grand Banks from 1958-1975? We would love to answer as many questions in the book as we can, so fire away. Also, we would love to track down some of dad's favorite marine architects or biographical info of same, specifically Larry Drake and Robert S. Dorris.

Click to expand...

Mark Haigler said:

I was not aware Larry Drake was involved with Grand Banks. I am aware of some of his designs and met him in the 1990's. We enjoyed some good conversations and I learned some stuff from him. In the 1960's I was asked to watch a newly launched 65' sport fisher named "Yelad" while the owners went out for dinner. Quite an honor for a 16-year-old. On another note, my father ordered a GB-32. I think it would have been about 1967 but not sure. It was one of the wood boats and I remember the smell of varnish and teak. We went up to Long Beach to see the boat unloaded from a ship. Did Larry Drake design the Alaskan? I know Art DeFever did the boats in the 1990's but what about the wood boats in the '60's? Will look forward to the book!

Click to expand...

jim.johnson3570 said:

Sara,

It was nice to speak with you today. I spoke with Donna and she is going to have Chuck call you and your dad probably later today.

Click to expand...

sara newton matthis said:

Mark, thanks for the reply! No, Larry Drake wasn't involved with the GBs or American Marine. But in 1976, when my dad started making the Amapala sportfisherman in Central America, Drake was the designer. Do you have any biographical data on him? When he passed, maybe, or the town he lived in? He was a very talented designer that doesn't get enough credit. Bob Dorris designed the Alaskan. In the mid-80s Tony Fleming and Anton Emmerton hired Drake to design the first Fleming yacht.

Click to expand...