Jeanne and Joe Merkel had owned eight powerboats of widely varying description before they approached Joel about their ninth, so there was no shortage of experience on the part of the clients. Likewise, Joel had designed and built several wooden power cruisers and lobsterboats, so ample experience also rested with the designer/builder. The result became the lovely Lady Jeanne, now named Woody in the hands of her most recent owner.

The Merkels wanted a more-or-less conventional cruiser, a type of craft known these days as a lobster yacht. She'd be laid out with the forward half of her 42' length devoted to below-deck accommodations, and with a larger than usual fully-enclosed pilothouse having its sole sufficiently high so there'd be no need for an engine box. But the Merkels insisted on a dry-type exhaust (with its exposed muffler and upwards-discharging stack), and two dinettes- both features being somewhat unconventional. A bathtub was also a requirement. Other client ideas included open storage lockers without doors, and shelving with high fiddles that acted as retainers.

Of course, the boat would see lots of cruising, but she’d also be a year-round retirement home for the Merkels. There's a big and airy windowed pilothouse that contains the galley, the steering station, and one of the dinettes where one can enjoy seeing the outside world while taking meals, navigating, or just sitting.

Sleeping takes place below deck where the enclosed toilet room (complete with tub) is located. A second and more private dinette also shows on the drawings and was originally installed below deck-although a subsequent owner has replaced it with a double berth.

WoodenBoat featured an article by this boat's namesake and co-owner, and later Jeanne Merkel wrote a book entitled Nine Boats and Nine Kids in which this design plays a prominent role.

As has happened more often than not with Joel's boats, Woody (ex- Lady Jeanne) returns to the yard that built her each fall for winter storage.

Written by Maynard Bray