Robb White- RIP

[holzbt]

I just went to Robb's web site an was completely surprised to read of his passing on the 16th. More info at RobbWhite.com.

[Donn]

:( He was just posting a few days ago. RIP.

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

Awwwwww man :( :( :( :(

RIP

[Uncle Duke]

Crap. That's a disaster.

[StevenBauer]

Oh no. :( What a loss. Sad news.

STeven

[DrakeChristensen]

I sure did like reading what Robb had to say. I will miss that.

[Rick Starr]

That, gentlemen, is a great loss. We corresponded ofline; I intended to visit on my next stateside trip.

Swing low, sweet coastal skiff...

http://www.robbwhite.com/

[Dave Carnell]

Through the years I enjoyed a lengthy correspondence by snail mail with Robb. I introduced him to using propane as refrigerant in auto A/C. He found commercial propane had to be dried to function properly. We covered a lot of subjects back and forth. When I lost my roof last year in Ophelia, he steered me to replacing it with sprayed polyurthane foam used extensively in FL, but practically unknown here. I did locate a contractor new to the area who did a great job, tested by 14" of rain right after installation. He was really innovative; his writings will be missed.

[Tristan]

A couple months ago I sent him a copy of my book, he reciprocated by sending me his, "How to build a tin Canoe," one of the funniest books I ever read. Wrote me a couple long letters/emails. I am so sorry to hear that he has walked on. Old Bingey will be sorely missed.

[Ron Carter]

Truely one of a kind. A solild bastion of common sense in a world much in need of same. Our collective loss.

[Bill Perkins]

I'm saddened to read this . I read Robb's stories and amazing how to articles in Messing About in Boats years before I came here . His spar making ,to take one example , is a step ahead of the now typical birds mouth layup. Truly an important innovator .

I corresponded with him once back then , asking for a more detailed description of his lapstrake planking technique . He graciously replied , though as it turned out the process was beyond my skill level or even ambition --really blew my mind . He delicately suggested that was why he hadn't included the details in MAIB , then went on to enthusiastically recommend strip planking with Spruce to produce a small boat "better than I could buy" .

I hoped to meet him down at the Cedar Key small craft messabout some Spring and see his Rescue Minor . I'll not have the pleasure , but it's good to think he lived to complete and share that boat.

http://www.robbwhite.com/i/rescue.minor.450.shallow.g.jpg

10.5 knots in 6 in. of water.

[hoz]

I've been reading Robbs articles in MAIB for quite some time. He was some character. I always enjoyed his writing. Anyone know what happened? The website doesn't give any details.

He will be missed.

[Alan D. Hyde]

He'll be missed.

A true original.

Alan

[Venchka]

I just learned the sad news from a Yahoo group. May he rest in peace. He was always willing to share his knowledge and wisdom. I'll fondly remember our conversations.

[Russ Manheimer]

A real loss. His articles were the first things I read in MAIB. He was a classic "mechanic" in the sense he could fix just about anything (or convince you he could!). Old Bingey was a master of the digression. I will miss him.

RIP

[Tom Lathrop]

Sad. Never knew here was a problem. I'm 10 years older and find this kind of news disconcerting.

We corresponded a few times and argued about plywood, which he disliked and I like. A shared joy of the instinct to go your own way kept things sane.

Robb was one of a kind and will be missed by all who tire of the pablum of the usual.

[Ross M]

:( :( :(

Shocked, given his monday evening post.

I'll miss him.

[htom]

! A loss to the WBF, the boating comunity at large, and the world. Rest in Peace, Robb, you've made the world a better place.

[John Bell]

So long, Old Bingey (http://www.woodenboat-ubb.com/vbulletin/upload/member.php?u=5846). Glad you were here with us, if too briefly.

[Keith Wilson]

Damn, damn, damn, DAMN!! :( :( Very sad news. Condolences to his wife and family. There won't be any more like him.

[John Bell]

I don't think Norm would mind, but perhaps, for a time, this photo could take the place of Prarie Islander at the top of the page.

http://www.robbwhite.com/i/rescue.minor.800.shallow.g.jpg

[Hal Forsen]

:( :( :(
That is some very sad news.
I've enjoyed Robb's writings so much over the years; this is really tough.
A true original.
RIP old friend.
HF

[hoz]

I called Bob Hicks (MAIB) in Maine about Robb. Robb had a couple of clogged arteries, one deep in the brain. His Docs wanted to insert a stent to open the clog. He and Jane had researched the proceedure and, though dangerous, Robb decided to go ahead rather than wait for the hammer to drop as a major stroke or death was waiting. He told Bob he was ready, "no limbo for me". He died on the x-ray table.

Bob said the June 15 issue of MAIB will have more information.

If you enjoyed the writings of Robb White please send a short note of condolence to his family at PO 561, Thomasville, GA 31799

[Dave Fleming]

Sad news indeed.

[Lew Barrett]

I will miss his articles and his wit. Who of us won't?
Lew

[TomF]

Last line on Robb's website, just above his name:I am gone to the coast and I give you joy of a similar adventure.Amen. Following seas, friend ...

[Ed Strong]

MAIB is diminished by Robb's passing as are we all.

[John Meachen]

I'll miss his writing and the chance to get an insight into the thought processes of a true original.Condolences to his family and friends.

[Tar Devil]

Sad news, indeed.

http://www.robbwhite.com/photos/images/022.jpg

Phil

[landlocked sailor]

I am bereft. His fatuous prolixity is a national treasure. Fair winds Robb, you were an original. Rick

[John B]

....

[nedL]

A true loss. He was one of the most inovative & thought provoking guys in the business. I'll really miss his ideas (fiberglass rod trunnells, hot hull applied resin, etc, etc, etc) :(

[Dave Williams]

No, no, no, NOOO! Very sad!

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Deeply saddened at the news... we wrote just a bit. A character never to be replaced.

[StevenBauer]

I've been in a funk all day. I've always hoped to meet Robb someday. What a loss. I'm glad I had a chance here to tell him how much I've enjoyed his writing.

Steven

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Life is a gift. Fair winds Robb....:(

[paladin]

:( :( :(

[Hughman]

Fair winds Bingey.

[Steve Lansdowne]

This is very sad news and hard to believe. He was a legend even while he was here with us.

[JimD]

Truely a sad loss. Rest in peace, Robb.

[J. Dillon]

I'll especially will miss his "Old Bingey" bit . His advise and wit will be missed here.:(

JD

[L.W. Baxter]

Well shoot. :(

I recall how I liked to scan for his name in the old "On the Waterfront" pages of the magazine, where "our man in Georgia" always had something pungent to say.

I'll certainly miss his point of view, which seemed to be eternally fresh.

[JimConlin]

I went out and bought a couple of copies of "How to Build a Tin Canoe".

[Joe Dupere]

I'm going to miss his articles in MAIB. One of the things I miss about living in NC is the storytelling with all the digressions by the old timers. Robb had that down to a T, and reading his stories was always a treat.

Joe

[Ken Hutchins]

:( He will be missed, fair winds.:(

[katiedobe]

Man what a bummer. I was hoping to build a couple of boats and then try my hand at Rescue Minor. I was kinda counting on asking him questions during the process. That boat is perfect for the shoreline conditions of the lake I live on. So long and fair winds.

[LeoinSA]

Fellow boatbuilders,

As has been expressed throughout this thread, we will all miss Robb’s wit and writing and his contribution to not only this forum and MAIB, but the world is a poorer place with his passing.

I too have lain on that damnable table as a young whippersnapper of a doctor probed around in my cardiac arteries and finally installed a stent. So with some personal experience I respectfully direct you to view Robb’s page (http://www.woodenboat-ubb.com/vbulletin/upload/member.php?u=5846).

Please look on the upper right at “Last Activity”. Like me on the day of my heart surgery, Robb couldn’t sleep and got up early. I had to be at the hospital at 6 am for the 8:30 am procedure. I must assume that Robb’s appointment was similar.

My point? Robb spent some of his last hours perusing the collective wit and wisdom of this forum. So let’s take away from this the knowledge that Robb found some comfort here with friends.

My wife was out last night when I first read about Robb’s passing. After I told her of the circumstances and why it hit so close to home for me, her only comment was “Get your butt out in the garage and get that boat finished.” I think that’s the lesson we should all learn, life is fragile and transient and it is best to grab it with enthusiasm and get the most out of it, for none of us know when our time is up.

Leo

[WOODZOWL]

I have referred to Robb White as the Mother earth news of the marine world. Where can we now go for a few words about our everyday life? Things like playing with an obscure outboard, or some political venue. Robb was a good freind, like we have known each other for a long time: Yet we had never met! I have not met many folks along the way that emulate a good feeling about life like Mr. White has done. I wish our paths would have crossed. A great loss J.M.

[Steve Paskey]

My wife was out last night when I first read about Robb’s passing. After I told her of the circumstances and why it hit so close to home for me, her only comment was “Get your butt out in the garage and get that boat finished.” I think that’s the lesson we should all learn, life is fragile and transient and it is best to grab it with enthusiasm and get the most out of it, for none of us know when our time is up.

Amen to that. Robb really grabbed life in his own way, like those dogs of his going at the Christmas bacon. Like many here, I had hoped to meet him one day (perhaps at Cedar Key), and had occasional fantasies of writing and asking him to build me a little sailboat like his Feluca. Condolences to his family and friends.

[Steve Paskey]

By the way, Leo, my previous post was at 7:13 am eastern, but you'll see that the time listed is 4 hours later. Unless I'm missing something, Robb's last activity on the forum was at 4:19 am the day he died, not 8:19 am. He couldn't sleep, and he was here.

[rbgarr]

Thanks for the reference to his website. The articles on the Sport Boat and Rescue Minor's mechanicals were great! I hope his wife continues to sell the plans.

[Buddy Sharpton]

Truly an American Treasure, a wholly original thinker, well beyond boats in his scope and wisdom. Thank goodness he, and his sister Bailey White of NPR acquaintance, put that brilliance into the written and spoken word to ring true as long as we remember, and introduce others to that energizing, educating and entertaining talent.

I am stunned by this news of such a vital man,, but my bookshelves will ever be full of candles for, and illumination from, this fellow Georgian.

Strength to his family, and hopefully some comfort in that here was a man who did not go through life like a letter through the post office.

[Ken Benson]

Like many of you I feel like I've lost a friend that I never met. I keep remembering a story that he wrote for MAIB that I believe ended with the eating of a sandy "fruit loop" that was stuck on one of his grandchildren's feet. It made me smile. Thanks, Robb. All the best to his immediate and extended family in coping with this loss.

[moTthediesel]

What a shame --

Looking at that great picture of Robb cruising "Rescue Minor" fast over the shallows brings to mind Tennyson's "Crossing the Bar".

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.

[Fitz]

:( I love his stories.

[Mark Van]

I almost met him a few times, since I always stop at Dog Island when I am cruising through the area. He was never ther when I was, though. We E-mailed a few times, however. I anchored near his sailboat many times in Tyson's harbor. I am extremely dissapointed that I will never get a chance to meet him.

[landlocked sailor]

I just read "Atlantic White Cedar" by Robb in the newest MAIB. It was strange and sad realizing that that amazing well of knowledge and wit is no more...Rick

[willmarsh3]

Debbie and I had the pleasure of listening to his stories at the Appalachicola Wooden Boat Festival on April 22. We will sorely miss him. My condolences to his family. We wish him fair winds and following seas.

Will.

[BrianR]

Brings to mind some phrases from a song by a young group of southern musicians called "The Drive By Truckers"

"To love is to have pain - ain't no way around it.... I wish it didn't hurt so much....."

Never met him, never spoke to him, yet I feel a REAL sense of loss. His family, and his grandchildren,.....indeed all of us were better off for reading along, and worse off for having lost him.

He's a little "further along.....", so I still hope to meet him one day......

THANK YOU Robb White....

[rbgarr]

Matt Murphy has reprinted a WB article about Robb White on his Rudderposts blog. Good reading!

http://wbeditor.typepad.com/

[Dave Hadfield]

Ah well....

He had a lot of fun while he was here.

[John Gearing]

Robb's father, also named Robb, was a writer and one of his sea stories really grabbed me about 40 years ago. IIRC his parents lived for awhile on Marina Cay, one of the prettiest little islands I've seen from the air.

I'm hopeful that MAIB will cut an agreement with Robb's estate so as to be able to publish his collected writings from that magazine, assuming that MAIB doesn't have all the rights already.

[JimD]

In the WB article from issue 189 April 2006 regarding the building of this boat Robb is quoted thusly:

"...I have seen enough slab-sided monstrosities to last me for the rapidly dwindling remainder of my life."

http://www.robbwhite.com/i/rescue.minor.450.shallow.g.jpg

Here's to sweet lines, Robb.

[pipefitter]

Reading his articles and seeing his posts on here would bring me right to the bay. It always reminded me of the good folks I have met here in the south ,even though some crazier than I. It also reminded me of what isn't here anymore. How it used to be as he wrote but not just about Dog Island, but anywhere in Florida.His stories of the folks and their ways fits to a tee so the readings always started with a fimiliar sense. I could always relate.

Seeya later Robb White,thought I posted a farewell here and found that I hadn't. At any rate,you know I was thinking it.

I'd still like to have a go at that rescue minor or one of the other Atkin tunnels.

[Nick Scheuer]

For me the Rescue Minor article in WB one of the most interesting of the year, even several years. We who red Messing About In boats had seen a lot about Rescue Minor over a period of a couple of years, but WB put it all together.

I had hoped to write Rob soon asking about the slightly larger Atkin designs he mentioned in the article which also feature "tunneled" props.

That photo if Rescue Minor skimming along very close to shore says it all.

Moby Nick

[Nick Scheuer]

Please excuse.

[Wild Dingo]

Robb and I would often yarn here and there a good bloke a top bloke and will be sadly missed

I am gone to the coast and I give you joy of a similar adventure

If we can all share that joy of a similar adventure we all will have taken life and lived it as well as Robb did

See you just beyond the horizon ol mate :(

Shane Jo and hoons

[Nick Scheuer]

Since there is only one, it sorta illustrates exactly what is wrong with current power boat production.

I once told a Sheriff's Deputy who worked Lake Minnetonka, MN that a Deep-V bottom wasn't the last word in power boat design, that there were other designs that would not only work very well on inland lakes, but kick up a lot less wake in the bargain. The Deputy thought this life-long sailor was just plain nuts.

If I ever give up cruising under sail for motor cruising, it'll have to be a longish, narrowish, light-powered, able to negotiate shallow water, having a very economical engine.

Actually, an example of a motor vessel reflecting most of those virtues was featured in the last issue of WB. Only trouble is, the boat is in New Zealand.

Moby Nick

[PeterSibley]

Damn ...the man could write too ,really a loss to all.

[Old Sailor]

REQUIEM FOR A SAILOR

When my breath gives out and my flesh turns cold
And my mortal self has ceased to be,
Entomb me not in the earth'[s dank mold,
Commit me to the sea

-J.B. Wells

[Wes White]

I just re-read these posts and printed them off for his grandchildren to read someday. On behalf of our family, I would like to thank you all. He used to swear that he would never post anything on the internet. I think that this place and the Atkins group on Yahoo may have been his only exceptions. That probably says better than I could what he thought of you all. Please don't feel obligated to respond to this post. Thank you again. Wes White

[StevenBauer]

Wes, do you have the new issue of ClassicBoat? They had a little piece last month but this months is more extensive. Great pics too. I also saw his latest piece in Maine Boats and Harbors magazine. Hopefully someday all his writings will be collected together in some form.

Steven

[Wes White]

We liked the article in Classic Boat. That Adrian Morgan is a nice man. My father brought him, Turner Matthews, and Larry Page out to my house on the day they took those pictures to show them my proa. They were all nice.

I haven't seen the Maine Boats and Harbors yet, but if it is the story about the swan and the Sunbeam Tiger, I have read it and seen a print of the artwork that they sent my mother. He used to like to tell that story, too. I remember the car. He had to cut the front crossmember out of it to run a new exhaust system and then weld it back in. Anyway, it was a good article, and those pictures caught him real well.

Wes