I was tempted to make this heading" Rich Worstell rest in peace". But in Rich's heaven he is not in peace. Rich didn't like being at peace. Rich liked to be busy and kind of agitated. It suited him. So I like to think that in Rich's heaven he is racing about working on a new project. I'll bet he's starting to build another new plane. They must fly in heaven.
Rich owned Valiant Yachts ever since Uniflyte went belly up about 22 years ago. He moved production to his home on Lake Texan in Texoma where Rich owned what I would call an old fashioned "factory town". Rich pretty much owned everything at his end of the lake including a building large enough to build Valiants. Rick brought in some skilled workers he had known at Islander from when he was the Islander dealer and began building the Valiants. He had been the Valiant dealer down there and he had faith in the line and he loved the boat. I'm not sure how many Valiants Rich built but he built a lot. Last year he stopped production. The volume was just not there anymore to justify the work force.
I liked Rich a lot. He was a short, stocky guy with blue eyes and a broken nose and I have no doubt how the nose got broken. But Rich was fair and not close minded. One day we stood on the dock at the Annapolis Boat Show next to a Valiant 40 and I mentioned casually that we could make the boat better if we added a bowsprit, a simple pipe frame sprit. Rich looked at me like I was nuts and asked why. I told him we could improve the helm balance. Now he was pissed. He said, "The balance is perfect!" I tried to explain and finally resorted to telling him, The balance may be perfect for you but it's not perfect for me." I truly thought he was going to throw me in the drink. I was a lot younger than Rich, about 9" taller and 25 lbs. or more heavier but I knew I would be the one going swimming. The next year at the Annapolis Show there sat the newest Valiant 40 with a bowsprit. Rich went on and on about how it has improved the boat. I finally said, "That's what I told you last year but you objected." He said, "I know. You were right."
Rich was generous.
Rich gave really good parties.
Rich built a fabulous sea plane from scratch, a Beaver I think it was. It was a work of art.
I have more Rich stories like the time he wanted to chop my head off. I'll save them for now.
It will be impossible for me to think of Valiants without thinking of Rich.
Stay busy up there Rich and if you need some metal work done look for Spike. You guys would get along great.
