PILAR HISTORY

A replica of Ernest Hemingway's 38' 1934 sport fishing boat

THE ORIGINAL PILAR HISTORY: 1934 TO PRESENT

In April 1934, Ernest Hemingway and his second wife, Pauline, arrived in New York aboard the ocean liner Paris. They were returning to the U.S. from an extended trip abroad, including a safari in Africa. At 35 years old, Hemingway was already a successful writer and international celebrity from his first novels, The Sun Also Rises and A Farewell to Arms.

At some point during his trip, Hemingway made the decision to purchase a 38 foot Wheeler cabin cruiser. Wheeler Shipyard was founded after World War I to build custom wooden motor yachts and motorsailers. However, like many other boat building companies during that era, such as Elco and Consolidated, the company also had a line of production wood boats that ranged from 32 to 42 feet called “Playmates.”

Shortly after Paris docked in New York City, Hemingway signed a $7,490 contract with the Brooklyn, N.Y. boat building company for a Wheeler Playmate. He had Wheeler make several custom alterations to the boat, including stepping down the deck line to get closer to the water for fishing in the cockpit, and painting the hull black instead of white.

The boat had a 75 hp Chrysler Crown gasoline-powered primary engine and a secondary 40hp Lycoming “trolling” engine. Two months later, the boat was transported by rail car to Miami. After sea trials, it was powered 110 miles to Key West where Hemingway and Pauline had decided to settle. Hemingway named the boat Pilar after a shrine in Spain, and also because it was his secret nickname for Pauline during their affair in Paris in the 1920’s.

Hemingway owned Pilar for 27 years until his death in 1961. During the 1930’s Hemingway made numerous changes and alterations to Pilar, including the installation of a “flying bridge” with full controls in 1937. Much of the work was done by a small boat yard in Miami called Rybovich.

Hemingway and Pilar are credited with making big game fishing a popular sport in the Gulf Stream between Florida and the Bahamas. Hemingway brought Pilar into national prominence with his magazine articles, celebrity status and success in big game fishing.

In 1938 Hemingway left Key West for Cuba, taking Pilar with him. A few years later, he married for the third time to Martha Gellhorn, a famous war correspondent. In the late 1950’s Hemingway’s metal health was deteriorating and in 1960 he abandoned his home and Pilar in Cuba right before Fidel Castro entered Havana during the revolution. After his death, Hemingway’s fourth wife Mary gave Pilar to Gregorio Fuentes, Hemingway’s long time first mate. Pilar hit hard times during this period but was rescued by Fidel Castro, a Hemingway fan, who brought Pilar up to Hemingway’s house. The house and Pilar are now part of an Ernest Hemingway museum. Pilar has been refurbished as a land-based exhibit under a roof where it remains to this day.