ForeverMissed
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This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Glen Witt, 98 years old, born on August 22, 1918, and passed away on June 13, 2017. We will remember him forever.
June 16, 2017
June 16, 2017
May my Zip travelling the majestic Shannon in Ireland be a small tribute to his inspiration to budding boatbuilders throughout the world, the most rewarding boat I have ever built, it is with sadness I will have my Ensign at half mast this weekend, may he rest in peace.
June 16, 2017
June 16, 2017
Very sorry to hear that we lost a legend. 

May he sail eternally in the heavenly fleet.

DM
June 16, 2017
June 16, 2017
Such sad news. My prayers are with the family. He set the standard for this industry.
June 16, 2017
June 16, 2017
Sad news, Gayle. Hold tight and continue his path. You are strong and I am sure, he will be proud of you, watching your success from Heaven!
Wish you patience!
June 16, 2017
June 16, 2017
Gayle and John,

I've never met Glen but did talk with him several times by phone when I started my first boat project back in 1985. He was so helpful and kind to me then. Thank you for carrying on his great legacy. bob r
June 16, 2017
June 16, 2017
God bless you Gayle and your family. I have enjoyed building the latest boat from the plans and products I purchased from you.
June 16, 2017
June 16, 2017
Thank you Glen for all the many years of pleasure in dreaming and building your boat proyects. Rest in peace. Enrique Concha from Chile
June 16, 2017
June 16, 2017
Gayle,So sorry about your dad.Ive built 3 of his boats.
Row me
Piroque
16'pontoon
My next one will be the Cabin Skift.
Will be praying for you and your family
Sincerely,Val Pennington
June 16, 2017
June 16, 2017
Gayle, my prayers are with you and your family. Your Dad was a real
inspiration to me over the years. My Dad and I built your pram kit together over 55 years ago and when I was the location manager in the early days on NCIS he supplied the show with the kit that Mark Harmon built in his basement.All my best wishes, Paul Brinkman,Jr.
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Recent Tributes
March 27, 2023
March 27, 2023
I am currently building one of his boats, the "Saucy Shingle" and I have to give appreciation and love to the man himself. Thanks
August 22, 2022
August 22, 2022
Dear Glen , I know that even if you are not with us physically but spiritually you are, and you still can hear my words , I am so grateful to you for more than 13 years ago i came through your web site and as a crazy fisher man by hobby , i been cought by your way to Inca rage people to build their own boats and since then i am still waiting and looking for a chance to start as i am still living in an apartment with no Garage and I am sure that i will do it soon may be using my son's. i miss you man may God bless your sole . and as for you Gayle you should be always so so proud of you dad as one of the kind, God bless you.
August 22, 2021
August 22, 2021
Caring employer, prolific designer, father figure. You had an incredible influence on the boating world. I wish I had thanked you more often for your kindness and for employing me for 35 years. God's speed, Glen.
Recent stories

Saucy Shingle

February 25, 2020
I built the little 3 point hydroplane while I was stationed at Ft Fisher AFS in NC (1964 to 1967). All I had was a jigsaw, circular saw and drill at the time. I was fortunate to buy a polished and ported Mercury Mark 16H with a neat lower unit.  It would really scream when up on plane. Had to fashion a couple of aluminum skegs on the chines to make it turn. I brought it home to Florida in the trunk of a 1964 Bonneville. Found an old rusty trailer and wire brushed the frame and added Rustoleum primer and paint to match the boat.

A great "thank you" 51 years later, from Greece

June 18, 2017

Strange coincidence today, Gayle. As I was preparing a Facebook post about the 25th anniversary of my father's passing, I saw your email about your farewell to your own father. He was blessed to live until 98 and you are grateful to have had him with you that long. My father, Othon lived from 1922 until 1992.

I have been intending to write you and send you some photos for some time now, but I perceived your message today as a sign from the Universe not to delay any longer.

Both my father and I had been indebted to your father for the long hours of creativity and fun that he offered us, through his design.

But let's rewind back in 1965. My father and myself, I was 15 years old at the time, “met” your dad through an ad in BOATING magazine. We ordered your catalogue and we chose the “Albert. E”.

We were not very happy with the idea of the inboard engine, so we asked your father what he thought of the Evinrude 90 hp Stern drive, instead. His reply was that it should be OK, so we ordered the full-size patterns. The boat was completed during the first 6 months of 1966 in Athens, Greece.

We took it by sea (an 180 nautical miles trip) to Kefalonia, the biggest of the Ionian Islands on the Western parts of Greece. Kefalonia is our place of origin and this is where I am living now. The boat with two people had a top speed of 26 knots and cruised happily at 20-22. We think we did a great job building it and it proved to be a great hull, making the passengers feel very comfortable both as far as the ride was concerned but also space onboard.

Although it was not a deep vee hull, it was extremely seaworthy and fought bravely with the Mediterranean afternoon choppy seas. It was also very robust and sturdy and having two layers of fibreglass and the advantage of the stern drive, she could be easily beached.

Moving the engine aft was a great idea and we regretted not getting the OMC 120 hp 4 Cyl. 4 strokes straight, instead of the 90 hp V-4 2 stroke we opted for. A friend of ours built his “Albert. E” with the bigger engine and this proved to be a better configuration.

The boat was christened “Ketty M.” after my mother's name and we had lots of fun with it for several summers. Years later, in 1977 the engine broke down and it was not worth repairing. Somebody somehow persuaded my father to modify the boat and put a Mercedes inboard diesel engine, following the original design.

The outcome was utmostly disappointing because on one hand the boat lost its spaciousness and on the other, she never managed to exceed 12 knots. Obviously, the engine did not have enough power. My father sold it to somebody who was looking exactly for this kind of performance and got himself, after my advice the British built Center Console Fletcher model Fish “n” Ski, in 1979, which I am still enjoying. I already had my own boat at the time, a Greek made Compass F3 racing hull of Swedish design.

“KETTY. M”, was not our first boat and it was not going to be our last. But, it will always hold a very special place in my heart as long as I live. I was very proud to say that I built this boat with my father following the design of Glen-L. Sharing this story with you makes me feel relieved. Like giving credit to where credit was due.

Another friend built in the early seventies your L-Dorado, here in the island. It was Dr Nikos Troianos a good friend of my parents. Lots of fun and skiing with it...

I have some photos from those days to upload. A bit late after 51 years, but better late than never. My sincere condolences for the loss of your father. May he rest in peace and may you live longer than he did.

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