Lloyd Robinson, Realtor and Boatbuilder

PAGE 4
TOURIST NEWS, JULY 9–15, 2015
Lloyd Robinson, Realtor and Boatbuilder
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by Nancy McCallum
One way that Lloyd
Robinson expresses his
feelings is in a tangible and
nautical way. Meaning: he
builds wooden boats for his
loved ones.
Last year, at age 81, he
built a 10-foot boat for his
wife Fran. Fran says the
boat is a reminder of the
boating excursions they
made up the Kennebunk
River when they were in
their teens, and, as Fran
says, “courting.” She still
hasn’t decided on a name
for her boat yet, but the
red boat, docked at the
Arundel Yacht Club in
Kennebunkport, is unmistakable.
Robinson has also built
boats for his son Gary, his
daughter Cinda and her
son Jamie. Decades ago,
he also built boats for customers.
Most people know Robinson for the years in between – the 48 years he
devoted to his successful
career as a real estate developer and agent. The
Kennebunk native still
runs an office, Lloyd W.
Robinson Realty, a couple
of miles from his home.
But when Robinson eased
into semi-retirement in his
late 60s, he circled back to
his passion for building
wooden boats.
Pictured above are three of the boats that Lloyd Robinson built for his family: left, son
Gary Robinson with his wife Cathy and their son Ben aboard the Island Striker; Lloyd and
his wife Fran in Luv Bug and daughter Cynda Soderland and her dog Champ in Ms. Cin.
Robinson’s ability to
build boats is a natural
talent he discovered as
a child. Robinson says
his older cousin Dwight
taught him how to make
boats, by helping Lloyd
build his first rowboat
when he was just 12. He
ended up selling that boat,
and then made many more
skiffs, up through his high
school years.
After being drafted at
19 into the Army in 1953
(during the Korean War),
he used his skills off-hours
to build boats for a rental
company.
After two years of ser-
vice, he moved home to
Kennebunk, where he and
Fran bought a home on
Western Avenue in Lower
Village. Robinson enlarged
the garage in order to build
boats.
His customers included
the New York City-based
organization “Fresh Air
Fund,” a non-profit organization that paid for
inner-city children to go
to places such as Maine
for the summer. The organization bought boats
for the children who were
attending summer camps
on Maine lakes.
After three years as a
boat builder, Robinson
turned his focus to building homes in Kennebunk,
and for years oversaw a
crew of five. Fran worked
alongside her husband, as
they created a successful
business. He gave his work
total focus. “When I was
building houses, I didn’t
build boats for years,” Robinson says.
When Robinson stepped
back from that career, he
returned to what he calls
“a hobby” and within a few
years had built a 20-foot-
Robinson
continued on page 5
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TOURIST NEWS, JULY 9–15, 2015
Robinson
continued from page 4
er for his daughter Cinda
Soderlind, a 19-footer for
her son Jamie when he was
just 12, and another 20-footer for Robinson’s son Gary.
Cinda, who remembers
her surprise when her
dad, then 70, gave her a
boat, notes the profound
impact her father has had
on her son.
Robinson’s grandson
Jamie worked with him to
build the boat, called The
S.S. Minnow (in tribute to
the 1960s television show
Gilligan’s Island). Jamie,
now 33 and in the Merchant Marines, pilots 500ton tugboats in New York
City’s harbor.
PAGE 5
“He claims my father
taught him to drive in the
current,” Cinda says with
a note of pride in her voice.
Cinda, longtime owner
of a popular consignment
shop in the Lower Village
(Return to Cinda) spends
lots of time on her boat Ms.
Cin, which is outfitted with
a 90 hp engine.
She says the sight of
her in a wooden boat – an
anomaly these days – (or
maybe it’s her golden retriever in the co-pilot seat,)
have caused lots of people
to snap photos. Her brother
Gary, who lives in Yarmouth, pilots his boat up
the Royal River out to his
cottage on Long Island in
Casco Bay.
Robinson’s boatbuild-
ing process is rather remarkable: He never uses
plans. He just builds
“semi-V bottom boats”
from scratch, bending the
wood using muscles, versus steam. The boats start
in his basement, and as
he constructs the frame,
he moves the parts to the
second bay of his two-car
garage.
He uses wood purchased locally (including
marine plywood, pine and
oak) and gets most of his
supplies from Hamilton
Marine in Portland. That
includes an estimated
$1500 worth of stainless
steel screws in every boat.
Robinson has had a
hand from his brotherin-law Bob, who would
come by regularly every day when Robinson
was building. Other family members also help as
needed; a 20-foot wooden
boat is heavy.
But Cinda notes that
her father would probably
get by alone if he had to –
Bob one day discovered
that Lloyd had rigged up a
contraption in the garage
that allowed him to flip
the boat by himself.
At the moment, Robinson does not have a
boat project underway.
But he is ready to start at
anytime. “I have enough
(materials) for a 16-footlong,” he says.
The pine and oak are
tucked back neatly in the
family room in the cellar
and in the garage – ready
to launch.
Shops
Clothing for women & men
Jewelry • Household goods
Open 10-4 Mon.–Sat.
Lots of great summer clothes
Call ahead to be sure we are taking consignments that day.
Donations & Consignments accepted anytime
207-985-3544
2 Bragdon Lane
Kennebunk
(next to Anchor Fence)
Adopt a cat here
from Safe Haven!
HEARTH & SOUL
Primarily Primitive
Primitive Decor • Rugs • Old Village Paint
Shades • Candles • Pottery • Florals
Our 24th year!
r
Dress fo
Less!
Lloyd pilots the Luv Bug up to the dock. He built the boat last year at the age of 80 for his
wife Fran, in the bow.
Elms Centre Gifts
Est. 1984
R eturn to Cinda
Souvenirs & Gifts
for treasured memories of Maine
Shells • Nautical Decor • Windchimes • Whirligigs
Maine Syrup, Jams & Salt Water Taffy
2181 Post Rd. (Rte. 1 North), Wells
207-646-2171 • Open Daily
Plenty of Free Parking
Resale Clothing for Women
Open Monday – Thursday
9:30 to 5
Friday & Saturday
9:30-5:30
207-967-3800
Christensen Lane, Rte. 35
Kennebunk Lower Village
Ken n ebun kpo r t
Bic yc le C o mpan y
Rentals • Sales • Tours • Service
Clothing, accessories & child trailers
Summer Specials thru 7/15
Overhaul $110 reg. $179.99
Deluxe Tune-up $75 reg. $89.99
Join our Cone Club!
Buy 5 cones and get
a free ticket to:
Brewster’s Market, Open 10-6 every day!
509 Main Street (Rte 1) Ogunquit, next to The Egg and I
with this ad
open Mon.–Sat. 9-6 • Sun. 8–3
Weekly group ride for all levels!
kennebikeport.com • 207-385-4382
Arundel Road, Kennebunkport
D
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fanciful accessories
123 Ocean Avenue
Kennebunkport
207-967-8640