CHAPTER SEVEN: A NEW LINEUP
“We were producing five or six models,” Wiley
interior. But it was part of the new technology,
Corbett remembers, “a 19, 21–two versions, the
a building block for the Grady-Whites to come.
Chesapeake and the Nassau–a 19 cabin, and an 18.
It was hand laid fiberglass with a reverse chine.
Grady and White had made a 17 tri-hull and when
Both Eddie and Wiley thought it had a nice ride
I first got there we did a 16-foot hull, the first one
and the boat was sold as “…a great performer for
I had anything to do with, and later we made a 17
skiing.” Fishing did not yet significantly enter into
just like it. And then an 18 just like that.”
the conversation.
The 1970 model year 16-footer that was
The 16-foot Sting Ray and the 18-foot
Wiley’s first effort was a very basic runabout that
runabouts that were crafted in that era were
he and Eddie called the Sting Ray. It featured a
exactly what Eddie, Bing Fishman, Pete Fuhrman,
closed bow, a reinforced windshield, and a vinyl
Jim Stoneman and others believed that they could
The 191 Sportsman was introduced in 1970 and stayed in the lineup in one form or another for most of that decade. 35