"Anna Vee" sails the sea after 41 years

By Ryan Champlin
Posted 8/29/17

By RYAN CHAMPLIN -- In 1953, Arvid Lillquist of Stony Creek, Conn. was sailing with his son Robert near Block Island. They spotted a boat that sported a design they had never seen and decided to further investigate.

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"Anna Vee" sails the sea after 41 years

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In 1953, Arvid Lillquist of Stony Creek, Connecticut was sailing with his son Robert on the waters near Block Island. They spotted a boat that sported a design they had never seen and decided to further investigate. That’s how they met Clarence Bennett, a boat designer and builder based in Apponaug.

Bennett provided them with the design and, from there, the Lillquist family started building. Two and a half years later, the “Anna Vee” was completed. The name originates from Arvid’s wife, Anna Veronica.

When the boat was land docked in 1976 in Stony Creek, Robert’s children, Bob, Lenny and Cathy, didn’t know what to do with it.

“We wanted to work on the boat but we were starting to work, start families, so it just sat,” said Bob Lillquist last Wednesday.

Around that same time, Marguerite Ferrara learned of the boat with Apponaug origins and sought to buy it. Unfortunately for Ferrara, the Lillquists wanted it to remain in the family, so it continued to sit in their yard. That lasted until 2011, when they finally relented.

Ferrara has worked on boats for 32 years. She works at S.A. Boatworks, LCC that is owned and operated by Steven Anderson who has been in the business since 1980.

Ferrara and Anderson worked on the 32-foot cruiser whenever they could for six years. This side project was worked on primarily at Ferrara’s home in Warwick. Family and friends would come to help. They kept the original design, with the hull made with all cedar on oak, and the house was refurbished with fiberglass. The cabin of the ship was redone and the engine replaced. All in all, Ferrara estimates that it took around $25,000 to complete the project.

The original registration of the “Anna Vee” was CT 4904 A. When Ferrara went to register it in Rhode Island, she was surprised to find that the registration RI 4904 A was available.

“I think my grandparents would be so pleased,” said Cathy Lillquist-Schneider, Arvid’s granddaughter. “Marguerite gave so much attention to detail.”

When it was finally finished, Ferrara invited the Lillquist family to celebrate the boat’s revival and its return to water.

“It means a lot for me and the family,” said Ferrara. “We are family now.”

A truck transported the boat from Ferrara’s home to Ponaug Marina on Arnold’s Neck Drive not far from Harrop Avenue, where family and friends gathered to watch the launch. As onlookers watched, the truck backed up and released the boat into the water. Ferrara joined members of the Lillquist family to bring the “Anna Vee” to its dock.

Arvid’s great-grandson, Jeff Lillquist, was at the launch with his son, Declan.

“This is great,” said Jeff. “It hasn’t been in the water in my lifetime.”

The “Anna Vee” is currently docked at Ponaug, giving the wood a chance to swell. Next weekend, Ferrara plans on taking the Lillquist family out for a spin.

“The boat returned to its roots on Harrop Avenue,” said Bob. “We knew it was in good hands.”

As of Monday, the boat is still afloat and has not sprung any leaks. The Lillquists’ cousins from Indiana will arrive this coming weekend to enjoy a ride on the “Anna Vee.”

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