Untitled Document

IN THE WAKE OF THE

ORIGINAL

STORM KING

Regular "Knappsters" (readers of this websight) will recall that I first discovered J. F. Knapp's custom built motor yacht the Storm King because of an incident in Bimini involving Ernest Hemingway. Following that trail I actually found details about the boat itself and devoted several pages to it and its two successors Storm King Too and Storm King III

Last winter I actually visited the Storm King Too afloat in Freeport Long Island, and as big a thrill as that was finding his 1941 Matthews 47 footer, I've never lost hope for the original Storm King which has always intrigued me because her original homeport was Mastic in 1932 and I know the dock very well. In fact there is a piece of it sitting on top of my computer desk.

I've had the Lloyd's Yacht Registry papers courtesy of The Mystic Seaport Museum Library on all the Storm Kings for some time now and have devoted a reasonable effort to locate it's subsequent owners with limited success. I have been able to trace it all the way from when Dodi Knapp sold her in 1940 up until 1979. I know a little something about who some of owners were and have contacted their families looking for photos of this fine 19 ton 53 foot trunk cabin cruiser. Last week however I may of struck the key to it all. When I read this piece in the archives of The Washington Post.

Now how do I know that we are talking about the same boat? Aren't you glad you asked....

Don't grieve for the Storm King just yet though because like all things Knapp Related there always seems to be more to the story. Lauchlin M. Currie owned the Storm King from as early as 1974 until at least 1977 where it was then homeported in Washington DC. The fire occurred in July of 1975.

Whether or not Doctor Currie repaired the damage I cannot say but he did sell it because in 1979 it was still home ported in Washington DC and its owner was a Robert B. Sprott. It was also repowered with twin Chrysler 8's so we know some work was done after the fire....Doctor Currie you say...Aye Aye Says I...but not your ordinary MD.

Lauchlin M. Currie is not to be confused with Lauchlin Currie of the Roosevelt Administration. Lauchlin M worked on development of the Atom Bomb...whereas Lauchlin with no middle initial Currie and former FDR Presidential Aide has often been accused of giving away the Atom Bomb to the Russians...but

NOT BY ME!

Doctor Currie or should I say Capn' Currie of The Storm King lived until the ripe old age of 85 and died in 1983. In 1955 he attended the first Atoms For Peace convention in Geneva. Born in Chapel Hill NC he was with Union Carbide from 1925-1958.

I tell you some of this...there is a lot more...just because I'd like to convey what it's like to try and do the research on this story and why there is no finished book yet.

So with that said I'd like to cast out some of my notes onto the world wide web about the subsequent owners of the Original Storm King in the sincere hopes I might find her still afloat or at least find out how she wound up...of course photos of her in good or bad shape would always be welcome. You can be sure the insurance company took some of her at hopefully what was her worst moment on July 20 1975 !

ONCE AGAIN IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING.....

CLICK HERE PLEASE

The first registered owner of the Storm King after Joseph F. Knapp sold her in 1940 was

John R Cox of Rocky River, Cleveland Ohio

Then in 1947 - 48 she is registered to:

Edward H. Gulbenkian of Larchmont NY

note; contacting Larchmont Yacht Club has resulted in them remembering Mr. Gulbenkian but I have not been able to contact anyone in his family

in 1955 She is now registered to:

Benjamin F. Bunn also of Larchmont NY

Larchmont has a famous old historical yacht club on the Long Island Sound

In 1973 she is now registered to

Vincent V. Capas of Larchmont, NY