... that Rover Marine was founded by Merritt Walter in 1978, principally as a design firm specializing in passenger schooners?
... that the first Rover passenger schooner, the Norfolk Rover, went to work in the spring of 1982? It was built by Merritt and his sons, Shon and Ward, at their small building yard on Willoughby Spit in Norfolk, Virginia. It took one year (6000 man hours) from the day the keel was laid until the USCG issued the certificate.
... that the USCG issued an internal letter to file in 1968 that instructed personnel to discourage the carrying of passengers for hire under sail?
... and that in 1982 the Norfolk Rover was the only scheduled USCG certificated passenger schooner day sailing under U. S. flag?
... and, further, there are more certificated Rover passenger schooner designs working then any other design?
... that the American Rover was the largest three masted passenger schooner under U. S. flag when she went in service in 1986? She was certificated for 150 passengers.
... that the only design to receive a U. S. grant for sail power was the Norfolk Rebel, the Rover Marine designed Coast Rover?
... that the first design certified by the USCG to carry freight under sail since the great days of sail, was the Phoenix, a Rover Marine design?
... that the only paddle wheeler design to be certificated to carry 150 passengers on ocean route to 20 nm offshore is a Rover Marine design?
... that the radius chine technique for steel boats was used by Rover Marine Lines as far back as 1982 .
... that Rover Marine used computer stability analysis and table of offset fairing long before computers were available to the yacht design trade?
... that Merritt Walter, also known as the ol' man, Captain Merritt or Seaweed, is alive and well living just off the Saint Johns River in Florida with his wife Victoria.
... that 21 May 2015 the first U. S. Government sanctioned sailing vessel allowed into Havana Cuba harbor in 50 years was a Rover design, the Jolly II Rover.
