Joel White

Joel McCoun White (1930–1997) was a renowned American naval architect and boat designer, born in New York City as the son of author E.B. White and The New Yorker editor Katharine S. White. After graduating from MIT in 1953 with a degree in naval architecture, he founded Brooklin Boat Yard in Maine in 1960, transforming it into a premier center for wooden boat construction and restoration. Guided by the principle that "form follows function," White created over 100 practical yet elegant designs, including the iconic Nutshell Pram, Haven 12½, Bridges Point 24, and the high-performance W-Class racing yachts. His boats, celebrated for their seaworthiness, classic lines, and builder-friendly construction—often using plywood kits or cold-molded wood—remain widely built and admired, with his legacy carried forward by his son John and the enduring reputation of Brooklin Boat Yard.