Oscar Lay Lyman Boat Restoration Lecture

Join Lakesiders Bob Grimm and Dwight Davis for an engaging celebration of craftsmanship, history and the enduring legacy of the Oscar Lay Lyman at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 12 in Orchestra Hall.

The Oscar Lay Lyman, a 1930s boat, is the Maritime Museum of Sandusky’s newest boat. It was custom-built for Oscar Lay of Lay Brothers Fishery. Explore its origins, remarkable past and the meticulous efforts dedicated to its restoration.

Witness the challenges and intricacies of reviving this iconic boat’s original charm and discover the passion and commitment behind preserving our nautical history.

Dwight Davis is a renowned antique and classic wooden boat restoration professional and the owner of Classic Marine in Vickery, Ohio. He has restored dozens of Chris Craft, Lyman and Richardson boats back to their original condition.

Davis personally restored Lakeside’s 1937 32-foot Richardson yacht, Amazing Grace, and serves today as ship captain. He is the owner of Miss Muffet, a beautifully restored 1955 38-foot Chris Craft Constellation.

He is a founding member of the Lakeside Wooden Boat Society (LWBS), currently serves on the LWBS Board of Directors and has taught wooden boat restoration workshops for many years at the Maritime Museum of Sandusky.

Davis grew up in Huron, Ohio, and was a swimmer on the men’s intercollegiate teams at West Virginia and Ohio State. He is married to Cathy and the couple have five adult children and two grandchildren. Many of their children are involved in Christian ministries.

Bob Grimm is a retired associate professor of management at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. Prior to Kelley, Grimm spent 25 years in senior human resource positions in well-known retailing, restaurant and manufacturing companies.

He has served on several nonprofit boards, including chairing the Lakeside Board of Directors.

Grimm is a native of Ottawa County and Oak Harbor, Ohio. After graduating from Ohio State, he began his teaching career in the Huron City Schools. In 2000, Grimm and his wife, Cindy, became Lakeside property owners restoring the Dietrich cottage on Vine Ave. Their love of wooden boats led the couple to restore Miss Cindy Lynn, a 1954 18-foot Lyman Islander.

The couple is currently involved with the Maritime Museum of Sandusky and Classic Marine on the period restoration of Oscar Lay’s Lyman Gull. The Grimms have one daughter and two grandchildren.

While in Lakeside, visit the National Museum of the Great Lakes exhibit on the Hotel Lakeside lawn Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and during the Wooden Boat Show 12-4 p.m. Sunday.