Peter van Dine

Peter Dow Van Dine (1936–2010) was an American naval architect, boatbuilder, and aviator renowned for his classic-style yacht designs that evoked traditional schooners and full-keel cruisers, blending craftsmanship with seaworthiness for coastal and offshore sailing enthusiasts. Based in Annapolis, Maryland—a hub for yachting—he drew from mid-20th-century influences like the Cruising Club of America rule to create durable, teak-accented vessels, including the Grampian Classic 31 (a heavy-displacement sloop produced by Grampian Marine and later Classic Yachts Canada) and several custom schooners showcased at the inaugural Annapolis Sailboat Show in the 1970s. An avid tinkerer, Van Dine not only designed but hand-built many of his creations, emphasizing encapsulated keels and robust fiberglass construction for longevity; in 1980, he co-founded Merganser Aircraft Corp. with his wife Elizabeth, shifting focus to composite components for medical evacuation helicopters while maintaining his passion for marine projects. A multifaceted artist who also crafted and played guitars, sailed extensively, and supported feral cat rescues, Van Dine was a chorale member and WWII-era-inspired pilot, leaving a legacy of accessible, no-nonsense boats that prioritized family cruising over speed—his work lives on through surviving hulls and owner restorations, as noted in obituaries and sailboat databases.