Norman Brooke Dix

The History of the "LONE STAR"
1937 to 1979
by Norman B. Dix

In the fall of 1937, I was told by a friend that a boat was under construction. The boat was being designed and being built by Wilfred Walter for his own pleasure. His plans changed as the financial times were not advantageous. He decided to sell the unfinished boat. I inquired at the yard. After taking one look at the construction of the boat I made the financial arrangements for the completion of the boat.

The order was completed and the boat was delivered by May 1937. She was rigged for off-shore big game fishing. The original tuna tower was a seat on the mast and still exists. She was complete with flying bridge, pulpit, outriggers, fighting chair and all the necessities for big game fishing. The boat was a successful sports fisherman boat that brought in many big game fish: tuna, marlin, swordfish and the like. I named the boat the Lone Star, after my wife who had lived in Texas.

The Lone Star rode out the 1938 hurricane at Montauk with little damage.

Three planks were lost on her port side. The hurricane was one of the most severe that the Island has been hit with. Many homes and lives were lost.

March 1942, when we were engaged in World War II, she entered the Coast Guard. I commanded her on active submarine patrol duty off the south coast of Long Island. The duty was a forty-mile grid patrol out of Shinnecock Inlet. The Lone Star has a Citation and is entitled to display 6 chevrons for service.

The Lone Star returned to private duty in December of 1943. For four years, however, she was a charity boat at Montauk Yacht Club and caught many record fish. The boat also made one trip south to Florida, Cat Key, Bimini and Nassau.

The Lone Star was not only a superior fishing boat but it also brought my family a great deal of pleasure and experience. My family enjoyed swimming and fishing off the boat. We spent several summers exploring the sound visiting Mystic Seaport; Block Island; the Connecticut river; Newport, Rhode Island; Martha's Vineyard; and Nantucket.