Victoria 18 Forum
Chat Archive
Updated 03/29/99
Mail Comments/ Data/ Pictures/Suggestions to: The Victoria 18 Forum

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"Celebrate"
Kool and the Gang

Hey All;

We had a real neat chat and a great time with William McVay III, the son of William McVay at the forum Chat on Sunday night.

We are sorry for not giving you a lot of notice, but 5 or so of us were able to make it there and badger William with our questions for a while. He is a current member of the Forum, and hopefully will be around for a while to work with us on defining the history of the Victoria 18 and 26.

The following is a log of the conversation at the Forum. We hope you enjoy reading it and are sure that after reviewing it you will have more questions than answers. In any case, this has been a real neat day for the lot of us! Happy reading!

The Victoria 18 Forum

Forum Log of "Meet George William McVay III"
(Logging at 28-MAR-1999 20:19:45)
Delphi Forums, Victoria 18 Forum

** CRICKET12 just joined
"Meet George William McVay III"
(2 members now) **
As of 20:19:28
AVAILABLE LIST: () = in conf
(CRICKET12/J), (DONALDPEAVEY/JW)
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.Donald> Hope to see you all at 9:00pm !
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GROUP LIST: 20:22:28
57) Meet George William McVay III
CRICKET12, Donald
- idle
AVAILABLE LIST: () = in conf
(CRICKET12/J), (DONALDPEAVEY/JW)
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.Donald> The Forum will open at 9:00 for conversation.
.Donald> It is now 8:30
.Donald> If you wish to chat before 9:00pm there will be a $250,000 service charged to your Visa Card.
.Donald> If the chat stops for a few minutes, just rejoin in about 5 minutes. Sometimes there is a heavy usage, and the system cannot keep up.

** WILLIAMMCVAY just joined "Meet George William McVay III" (3 members now) **

.William McVay> This would explain why your phone is busy. :-)
.William McVay> - signed off -
** .William McVay just joined "Meet George William McVay III" (3 members now) **
CRICKET12> Hi Donald
.William McVay> Hi Don, Cricket.
CRICKET12> Hello William, we spoke earlier this evening. I am Don Peavey's wife.
CRICKET12> I believe Don is on another forum at the moment conversing with his family. He should be with us shortly.
.William McVay> 'Twas a pleasure - I was beginning to wonder if the files I am downloading were interfering with the chat
.William McVay> No hurry

** .Donald just joined "Meet George William McVay III" (3 members now) **

** JBWRENN just joined "Meet George William McVay III" (4 members now) **

.William McVay> So that is why both of your phone lines are busy?
.CRICKET12> yeah. we are real techno-nerds.
.Donald> Hey Jerry hello
.William McVay> Hi JB - Love your site :-)
.jbwrenn> what is up?
.William McVay> Hi Donald
.Donald> Sorry for the phone mix-up William
.William McVay> I'm doing the 2 line thing myself right now but my ISP is giving me flack about the MPPP
.William McVay> No problem - I only called 1 wrong number
.Donald> Better than I could have done, and I know my number

** BUTCHGUI just joined "Meet George William McVay III" (5 members now) **

.jbwrenn> Will, how long in GA?
.Donald> Hey Butch welcome
.jbwrenn> hey Butch
.William McVay> This time or overall?
.William McVay> Hi Butch
.jbwrenn> this time
.Butch Guimond> hi all
.William McVay> I will probably be here for four years but only in Savannah for a few more months - then I will be moving back to Atlanta
.Donald> I thought we could chat for a while, and give a few folks a chance to come on in before we get to the real meat and potatoes
.jbwrenn> okay
.William McVay> I'll be getting my masters from GaTech
.William McVay> No problem here
.William McVay> Hope I'm some help -
.jbwrenn> working on mine from southeaster Oklahoma state
.William McVay> I think what will be most helpful is who I know rather than what I know.
.Donald> I hope most of the folks in the forum got the message that you were going to be here tonight.

** DICKSON1 just joined "Meet George William McVay III" (6 members now) **

.William McVay> I will be in southern OK this summer for about 8 weeks.
.Butch Guimond> I got the message about an hour ago, thanks for letting me know
.jbwrenn> cricket, are you listed on the owners page?
.Donald> Hi Andy Dickson
.jbwrenn> hello Andy
.Butch Guimond> hi Andy
.Andy> Hi, all
.William McVay> Hi Andy
CRICKET12> Jerry, I am Donald's wife.
.Donald> (She claims to be my wife)
.jbwrenn> okay, just curious
.William McVay> Is that generous of her? :-)
CRICKET12> Don actually your boat is your real wife.
.Donald> True
.William McVay> I know the feeling
.Donald> Andy, good to have you here with us tonight
.William McVay> How long have you owned a Vicky Don?
.Donald> 3 years now
.William McVay> I feel like I just got mine again - She was laid up for 4 years
.William McVay> Not a good thing - She didn't come out well
.William McVay> Lot's of work
.Donald> Like?
.William McVay> The worst would have to be the blisters in the gelcoat - I thought I had arranged for an occasional hose off at least but she just sat under a cover and........
.Donald> Wow, gelcoat blister? that is truly a bummer, even when out of the water?
.William McVay> Nothing big - Just annoying - Had to compound the hull today
.Donald> Hey did you keep her in Alaska with you?
.William McVay> Yep - Small ones - The tarp held water
.jbwrenn> will, how did you find our little home in cyberspace?
.William McVay> Unfortunately no - Shipping her would have been prohibitive - The only sailing I was able to do in the Army was in Cuba
.jbwrenn> been there, former Navy myself
.William McVay> Actually I found your site while doing a search JB and it led me to the forum.
.William McVay> Phone call -
.Donald> While will is away, what shall we ask him?
.Donald> What kid of neat-o questions?
.jbwrenn> why they went out of business
.Donald> Good!
.Donald> He was about 7 or so then !
.Donald> He would know all of that !
.William McVay> I was 12 or 13
.Donald> I was 47
.William McVay> Still on the phone
.Donald> You were peeking
.jbwrenn> I am just now 43
CRICKET12> Don's lying, he's only 22
.Donald> Come on Jerry, you watched them build the Statue of Liberty
.Donald> In France!
.Donald> Well Andy, you still there?
.Andy> I'm here, just shy
.jbwrenn> darn, I got dropped
.Andy> Never been in a chat room before
.Donald> You were always like that, I remember in high school
.Donald> It's cool man
.William McVay> Sorry about that - An old friend from college
.Donald> OK,
.jbwrenn> what major?
.Donald> In the army or college
.William McVay> The first one or the one I'm getting now?
.William McVay> College
.jbwrenn> both
.William McVay> My first degree was a BS in International Affairs specializing in Military Security Policy with a minor in Social and Organizational Psychology - I am now working on a BS in Computer Science with a
.William McVay> math minor.
.Donald> Butch, are you still here ?
.Butch Guimond> yes, taking this all in
CRICKET12> - signed off -
.jbwrenn> vocational education, working on school administrator
.Donald> Will, could you explain who you are to everyone, and maybe a little bit about what you remember of Victoria Yachts?
.William McVay> That could drive you nuts - What school level - Tech schools?
.jbwrenn> high school
.William McVay> Sure - Sorry I got sidetracked
.Donald> We all do!
.William McVay> The pics from Randi were definitely a flashback enhancer
.William McVay> The only time I worked in the plant itself was the summer of 1980. I was 10 so they had me climb in the hulls and bolt the decks down.
.Donald> That's perfect!
.William McVay> I very possibly helped to build my boat - Glad I was able to find a 1980
.William McVay> I was a skinny kid and you all know how narrow those berths are.
.Andy> How many V18s were built?
.William McVay> If anybody wants to their hose to smell like a boat plant go open a can of Acetone and set it on the floor. It will be good for the mood :-)
.Donald> Acetone is good for the right job
.William McVay> Exact numbers I can't do Andy - Sorry - But y'alls guess is a bit closer than the Field guide.
.William McVay> We had about three a week for a while but the 26 got us sidetracked.
.William McVay> Anybody know where I can find a 26?
.Donald> I have to tell you Will, that every on of the members here tonight are on the edge of their seat waiting for your answers.
.Donald> We want one too
.jbwrenn> I know of two owners, but they seem to be happy with them
.Donald> Randi Ernst saw one in MN last year
.Butch Guimond> we'd all like a 26 I think
.Donald> Aye to that sailor!
.Donald> Will, serve em up!
.William McVay> Tough to find - We just couldn't get them built fast enough - Plenty of buyers - Their was a waiting list - About 6 - 8 months
.Donald> How many 26's did they attempt to build
.Donald> (they)
.William McVay> oops - wrong there
.jbwrenn> everybody ante up, where are the molds?
.Donald> Aye !
.Donald> Waiting, hold your breath!
.Butch Guimond> My ante is ready
.Donald> Andy ?
.Andy> yup
.William McVay> Michigan or Minnesota last I heard. The people that took over moved them - I thought of trying to get them back - I think the boat would still sell - Maybe modify the deck a little to modernize but
.William McVay> the hull is still a beauty - Heck the deck isn't bad
.Donald> MN eh?
.jbwrenn> we all agree with that
.Donald> Well Randi will start hunting on Monday am!
.Butch Guimond> we would all probably agree with the beauty
.Donald> Who Took Over what?, the company or the plant?
.William McVay> The company
.Donald> Who bought the company, or was it foreclosed on?
.Butch Guimond> Do you have any records of the takeover
.William McVay> Dad only owned 49%. As we all know that is controlling interest as long as you have ANYBODY on your side. Essentially he called the shots.
.William McVay> The way I understand it is this.
.William McVay> Cash flow.
.Donald> The 26 wasted your cash ?
.William McVay> The 26's were coming out too slowly and cutting into the 18 production.
.Donald> You couldn't keep up with production on the 18's that you made the most money on ?
.William McVay> We took a loan from 2 other major stockholders - Not something I recommend.
.Donald> The place was too small to build both ?
.William McVay> Well - The 18's were still making money - That's not the issue -
.William McVay> We were expanding
.William McVay> Sorry I'm typing so slowly - I need a secretary
.Donald> Not a big enough plant
.William McVay> So anyway - These guys put up 750,000 as a loan to the company.
.jbwrenn> I keep getting dropped and have to reload
.William McVay> That sucks
.Donald> At 2 or more per week of the 18's, and a 26 footer every 3 weeks, you couldn't keep up?
.Donald> Couldn't keep the cash flowing?
.William McVay> Well - Production isn't what killed us -
.William McVay> The 2 investors - Who also happened to be stockholders therefore knew exactly when to call the loan.
.Donald> Why would they?
.Donald> (they)
.Donald> Did they know there were problems?
.William McVay> They called it prematurely to force Dad to sell stock to them thereby giving them a controlling interest.
.Donald> That's ok, but what happened next?
.William McVay> Well - with Dad out of the picture - These guys were real @$#$!@ if you know what I mean and simply didn't know how to run a plant.
.Donald> Did they build boats without your dad for '82 and '83?
.jbwrenn> hmmm
.William McVay> Workers started leaving - Supply shortages - They would try to use economies of scale but forget to leave enough money aside for production - Lot's of fiberglass - No paychecks kind of deal.
.Donald> Ouch!
.Donald> Now, did Victoria make a lot of money on their boats?
.Donald> (Money)
.William McVay> The same sort of thing happened to McVay Yachts when the Canadians forced out my grandfather - That was actually the government though if I understand it correctly.
.William McVay> YES - Life was just fine for a while.
.William McVay> Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Cadillac - Get the picture -
.Donald> Except the putty under your nails in the berth's!
.William McVay> New car every 6 months.
.Donald> Yee Haah
.William McVay> And the fiberglass in every pore -
.William McVay> Talk about a bad itch
.Donald> Thank god for the leather seats!
.William McVay> Really
.Donald> Well, so far, you have just about floored everyone here !
.William McVay> You had to take a cold shower then a hot shower then another cold shower every day
.jbwrenn> I know that
.William McVay> Cool - Glad to be of help - Hope to see a lot of you guys.
.William McVay> Fun isn't it JB
.Donald> Was that place booming in DeBary
.Andy> - signed off -
.William McVay> Actually yes - Demand would pull whatever we could produce. I don't remember who the marketing manager was but my dad knew a lot of people in the industry and could move some boats.
.William McVay> I think the only person I ever saw not busy was Vicky
.Donald> It looks like things really picked up in 81, then slowed to 83
.Butch Guimond> Vicky?
.William McVay> Victoria
.William McVay> My Stepmother
.Butch Guimond> ok, i c
/who

GROUP LIST: 21:39:40
57) Meet George William McVay III
William McVay, Donald, jbwrenn, Butch Guimond
- idle
Andy
AVAILABLE LIST: () = in conf
(DICKSON1/J), (DONALDPEAVEY/JW), (BUTCHGUI/J), (JBWRENN/J), (WILLIAMMCVAY/J)
------ [5 in this area]

.William McVay> She was the senior VP in charge of Nail Painting
.William McVay> Fingernails that is
.Butch Guimond> laughing
.Donald> With that early cash flow, I will bet they were beautiful!
.Donald> LOL
.William McVay> It's the truth - She is a gorgeous woman - Just doesn't do much
.Donald> Say, what was the deal with Canada and your Grandfather?
.William McVay> Ok - I'm a little sketchy on this one - but the way I understand it is that business was booming and the Canadian government found out that he was an American citizen
.Donald> Oh No !!
.Donald> Was his family not from Canada?
.William McVay> They hired 8 people to replace him and my grandmother (Sorry I can't verify this with her - She died while I was driving down from Alaska) Nope - Rhode Island and Massachusetts
.William McVay> Dad was born in New Bedford Mass
.Donald> No kidding, Sailing blood in the lot of ya!
.William McVay> 7th generation
.Donald> Wow!
.Donald> Did your grand dad do any design work on the Vic 18?
.jbwrenn> Donald, next time lets borrow the trailer sailor chat room this place is giving me fits having to reload and miss parts
.William McVay> The Buffett song fits me to a T. Son of a son of a son of a son of a son of a son of a sailor.
.Donald> Perfect!
.Donald> JB, I have this all on a log file, and will post it to the web site, and email anyone who wants a copy.
.jbwrenn> I want one
.jbwrenn> want
.William McVay> Anybody know where I can find an 18 that needs some TLC - I like the rescue missions and a buddy of mine wants one - I would actually enjoy the work
.jbwrenn> have the address of one in Ohio and one in PA
.Donald> Check out the Web sites of Jerry and the Forum.
.William McVay> The one in Ohio Mikes?
.William McVay> Sorry - Marks's
.jbwrenn> mark Celsor
.William McVay> It looks like it is in pretty good shape from the pictures - Or is that just good photo editing?
.jbwrenn> David sold his to a guy in St Louis
.William McVay> I found mine like you did JB - Very lonely - She has done me well for 8 years though
.William McVay> It used to belong to a sailing school - Hard miles
.jbwrenn> I have the original paperwork on mine where it was sold in Dallas to a pilot
.jbwrenn> I am the fourth owner
.William McVay> Mine lost the trail but I know the original owner - He will be a good resource - I think he has owned more 18's than anyone in the country.
.Butch Guimond> I've had my Vicky for 2 years - pics available on my web site
.William McVay> Unfortunately Polar.net has removed my web page - I will have to make another.
.Donald> I would have thought that your father would have owned a Vic ?
.jbwrenn> I looked all over for a page, patent, or anything else I could find before I posted my info
.William McVay> Nope - We always had the demo boats
.Donald> I noticed that he sold one or two as a dealer of sorts.
.Donald> Direct from the factory?
.William McVay> Don't sweat it JB - If anyone gives you any flack - Call me
.William McVay> Strictly
.William McVay> Strictly Sail - Sanford Florida
.jbwrenn> glad you found me \, I was sure worried about copyrighted material
.Donald> Yes, a bunch of them !
.William McVay> Anyone want one of their bumper stickers
.Donald> You Bet !
.jbwrenn> duh?
.Donald> Me first, no Jerry first, then Randi, then me!
.William McVay> They are actually pretty plain - They say Sail Naked - Strictly Sail, Sanford, Florida
.Donald> Sold!
.Butch Guimond> add me to the line of takers
.jbwrenn> I can hear the school board now
.William McVay> He did you know
.Donald> No!
.William McVay> Only out of sight of land
.Donald> Hooray for open water !
.William McVay> Not when alone - My stepmother would too - Their own private nudist colony
.jbwrenn> I did one night when we ran aground and I jumped over to push us off and left my shorts hanging on a cleat
.Donald> Damn cleats!
.William McVay> Smooth
.Donald> Not very
.jbwrenn> Myrt laughing and saying that it would get interesting at the ramp
.William McVay> So should I haul Perseverance to Oklahoma this summer?
.William McVay> Is it worthwhile sailing there?
.jbwrenn> check out http://www.bareboating.com
.Donald> I don't know
.William McVay> JB?
.jbwrenn> lake texoma is a great place to sail
.Donald> I guess if you are of unlimited resources . . . anyplace is worthwhile
.William McVay> How far is that from Lawton?
.Butch Guimond> sorry all, I have to run. Sure enjoyed this, wish I could hang around. Will check out Vic 18 Forum to see what I missed. Thanks again for inviting me.
.William McVay> I'm not of unlimited resources - I'm a college student again
.jbwrenn> not far at all about 200 miles
.Donald> Ok
.Donald> Hey Butch see ya later
.William McVay> Thanks for coming Butch
/who

GROUP LIST: 21:59:31
57) Meet George William McVay III
William McVay, Donald, jbwrenn, Butch Guimond
- idle
AVAILABLE LIST: () = in conf
(DONALDPEAVEY/JW), (BUTCHGUI/J), (JBWRENN/J), (WILLIAMMCVAY/J)
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.jbwrenn> well does this work or not
.Butch Guimond> Thank you, you all take care, smooth sailing. Bye
.Donald> Hey William,
.jbwrenn> ok thought I got dropped again
.William McVay> Yeah
.Butch Guimond> - signed off -
.Donald> Did the new owners run the business from 82 to 83?
.jbwrenn> lake texoma is about 200 miles from Lawton
.William McVay> About the last 6 months. They didn't last long - Economics based on theory is great but you need a dose of reality
.William McVay> Maybe I'll just bum a ride from you JB :-)
.William McVay> Does anyone know the guy who is in this area (Savannah)?
.Donald> Hey, if I could ask you to review the historical notes on the Forum site, "Timeline", and give us some pointer as to where we need to correct our history?
.Donald> No, he just joined the forum a few weeks ago
.jbwrenn> I may be moving to the panhandle if this job offer come through
.William McVay> Sure.
.Donald> Thanks
.William McVay> Darn JB - Is that far?
.William McVay> I will be at Ft Sill
.jbwrenn> about the same distance but there is another lake up there. I had to check it out before I threw my name in the hat
.William McVay> Can I do that later this week Donald?
.Donald> Sure, no rush
.jbwrenn> when will you be a ft sill?
.William McVay> Good call - The ocean is why I'm not in Atlanta right now.
.William McVay> Probably June/July
.William McVay> Any of you taken your girls out to the ocean yet?
.jbwrenn> I should still be here or settled on the other side by then
.jbwrenn> not here
.Donald> Well, Ocean no, but lake sailing yes
.Donald> She used to like it, then she got hurt on a landing
.William McVay> I'll stay in touch - Especially if you will let me swing by to check out your Vic - I have a little interest in them for some reason
.jbwrenn> one took his to the Chesapeake bay and a couple of more live and sail there
.William McVay> Cool - I like the whole wave in lap routine
.jbwrenn> Drop me a line and I will give the address when you are ready to visit
.William McVay> Wilco
.Donald> Hey William,
.Donald> thanks for coming by
.William McVay> yeah
.William McVay> A pleasure
.William McVay> Hope to talk to you again soon
.Donald> We all had a great time, and look forward to having your input
.jbwrenn> nice to "meet" you
.Donald> in future sessions, and on the forum
.Donald> Hey guy's I think it sleep time!
.William McVay> Would you guys want to put up a pic of GW2?
.Donald> By all means,
.jbwrenn> try the trailer sailor chat on Wed night at 8:00 pm
.Donald> Email it to both Jerry and I
.William McVay> Sailing or at the plant?
.jbwrenn> both
.Donald> Any shots you have of any activity of any Vic activity
.Donald> would be great
.William McVay> OK - I don't know where they are right now - I've been moving around a lot but as soon as they show up I'll get them out.
.Donald> Hooray!
.jbwrenn> what can beat this?
.Donald> Nothing!
.Donald> Thanks again and I will talk to both of you later
.William McVay> Alright guys - Glad to be a part of your group
.William McVay> Bye
.Donald> Good night all
.jbwrenn> glad to have you aboard
.William McVay> G'night
.William McVay> - signed off -
.jbwrenn> - signed off -
(Logging 22259 bytes in 424 lines at 28-MAR-1999 22:11)
(When done use /NOLOG to send this log via e-mail to <donald_peavey@csi.com>
with subject line "McVay")
/nolog
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