By Peter Roos
Charles Eugene Morgan Jr., 93, sail maker and yacht builder, passed early this year just a few hours after his wife, Maureen. Called Charley by his friends (and he had many), he was born in 1929 (Chicago), but raised on Florida’s West Coast and a grad of University of Tampa. Paradise NEWS followed his career and philanthropic efforts with admiration. In a 2016 PN issue, we ran the article “Charley Morgan: Still Spry at 85!”
A lifelong water enthusiast, he took a job at Johnson Sails on the Hillsborough River and in 1952 founded Morgan Racing Sails. Morgan’s first well-known boat was a 40′ fiberglass centerboard yawl Paper Tiger that won the Southern Ocean Racing Conference in 1961 and 1962. Unable to find a builder for Tiger Cub (a smaller version of Paper Tiger), Morgan founded Morgan Yacht Corporation in 1965, and Heritage Yacht Corporation in 1975.
He built yachts 24’-45’ long, many becoming popular and world-famous in their class. His imagination and technical skills were legendary. Charley designed trawlers for Chris Craft, sailboats for Compac, 57 sailboats and a fleet of 100+ watercrafts for Disney World; the largest was 120 feet! Remember him when you see Disney submarines, jungle cruise boats and steamboats.
Although Morgan Yachts are built for comfort, Charley was proud of the Morgan Invasion, an annual rally and race, just for boats he built. It was hosted by the Treasure Island and Davis Island Yacht Clubs, and it later morphed into The Tampa Bay Hospice Cup, becoming a major fundraiser for Suncoast Hospice.
Want to ride on a Morgan Yacht? Captain Dan Peretz’ Dolphin Landings Charter Center has used Morgan yachts for decades. Call 727-360-7411 and have a Dolphin Watch or Sunset Sails in Charley’s memory for just $55. www.dolphinlandings.com