Built by Fellows and Stewart in San Pedro, CA, some 40 Island Clippers were produced after WWII from plans drawn in 1939 by Merle J Davis.

Merle J. Davis was a promising young naval architect who passed away in 1947 at the beginning of his career as an independent designer.  For a number of years, he worked at the Wilmington Boat Works, in Wilmington CA (WILBO) and studied naval architecture under the legendary Hugh Angelman.   It is likely that he was at WILBO during the time the yard built many of the famous boats it is known for, including Serenade, Chubasco and Santana. In 1938, he opened his office in Los Angeles as a yacht designer, and a year later designed the Island Clipper for Fellows & Stewart.

In 1940, Merle Davis joined Lockheed Aircraft as an airplane designer through 1943, when he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Navy, serving until early in 1946.

Merle Davis was an extremely capable designer and marine surveyor, and a popular Pacific Coast sailor, known to be a fine helmsman and an inveterate off- shore sailor.  He took part in two Honolulu Races and innumerable long distance races on the Pacific Coast. He raced a great deal in the Six- and Eight- meter classes. 

Shortly before passing away, he hired a young Bill Lapworth to work at his naval architect and marine survey firm.  Lapworth carried on the business after Merle's death, eventually becoming renowned for his Cal boat designs.

Joe Fellows, Sr. (1865-1942) was a designer of sailboats for racing, sail and motor cruisers, and speed boats. He opened a boat shop on Terminal Island, California, in 1896.  The business grew into a well-known boatbuilding, repair and refurbishing concern until 1967 when the company was sold to Harbor Boatbuilding.

Many of the boats the yard built were designed by Joe Fellows.  In 1917 the company became known as Fellows and Stewart, Inc., incorporating business partner Victor Stewart’s name. Stewart was to stay with the company until 1945. Joe Fellows’ son Richard Joseph Fellows (1912-1962), known as Rusty or Joe, lead the corporation after his father’s retirement in 1937.

Fellows and Stewart dedicated its production capacity to building various small craft, and several larger cruisers for the Navy during WWII.  As the war wound down, it is said that the yard put out a survey to its former customers to gage demand for pleasure craft.  Demand was significant.

Several Island Clippers were built in 1940 prior to the war,  Nirvana is hull #6 (even though her sail number is 9), launched in June of 1946.  Hull #10 (Bolero) was launched in July, suggesting that no less than a half a dozen boats were under construction at a time. 

Fellows and Stewart pleasure craft were built and finished to working boat standards, and were not generally highly polished with finely fitted interiors.  Post War boats in particular often reflect a shortage of finer woods and war effort materials like copper, brass and lead.  For example, Nirvana has only two opening brass ports, the rest are imbedded glass. Notes between Merle Davis on behalf of CW Hooker and the yard concerning Nirvana’s construction suggest that the objective was as simple, practical boat and her current layout and interior outfitting is believed to be close to original. 

The business records, plans, photos and other memorabilia of Fellows and Stewart are archived at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, but no line drawings of the Island Clipper are known to have survived.

NIRVANA SPECIFICATIONS

Port – San Francisco, CA
Original Port – Dana Point, CA
Commissioned – June, 1946
Commissioned For –  CW Hooker
Class Name –  Island Clipper
LOA – 44' Beam – 9.5' Draft – 6.5'
Designer – Merle J. Davis
Builder – Fellows & Stewart

ACCOMODATIONS

Nirvana is currently outfitted for day sailing and simple overnight stays on par with what would be expected of cozy tent camping. She has a V beth forward, a small head, two saloon berths, and simple galley.  Her cockpit floor grates can be elevated to make a queen size sleeping platform when an air mattress is added for sleeping under the stars.

AMENITIES

Nirvana's current layout and outfitting is believed to be close to original - simple and charming.

• 10ft rowing dinghy with sail kit
• AM/FM + CD player
• Cold pressure water
• Electric porta potty
• Ice Box
• Oil lamps
• Electric lights