Original Midnight Lace info...

Unfortunately many of the people involved in the original Midnight Lace project have died. I used to work for Rex Yachts, but both Don Canavan and Tom Fexas have died. Don convinced Tom Fexas to build these as production boats. I know we had lots of old Midnight Lace sales information at Rex but the office was closed years ago. There used to be a Cheoy Lee owners website with a Midnight Lace section that you might find, and you might check with the Cheoy Lee yard. Try Fexas Design which might still be open in Stuart, FL.

Midnight Lace

For those not familiar with this Tom Fexas design, see photo:

Great looking boats. Does anyone remember the 63 Lace?

That was a very easily driven hull form. She got up on plane quickly. She had a nice neutral attitude and did not need much if any tab. Carried a small wake. Though she did not have much beam she was a nice small family cruiser and kids loved the bow cockpit.

I want to say in the 500,000 range. Try Joe Collins at Luke Brown in Fort Lauderdale. He was working at Rex back in those days.

Forward Cockpit

In addition to the flybridge and cockpit seating, some boats had a cockpit far forward at the bow. One boat in Seattle also had an addition helm in the forward cockpit.

Yes it was the brazilian boat. Was it a 62, 63 or 65? It was a great looking boat but built like crap.

I wrote a story on TFYD on how the company continued after Tom passed away. During a tour of the studio I was allowed to take photos. Here's the layout for a 60' ML.
Fexas was a legend in the industry, designing for Cheoy Lee, Mickelson, Palmer Johnson, ML line, and others.

I just (2 weeks ago) saw an identical one to that with the Midnight Lace name painted on it...but now I can't rememberif it was in Jacksonville or St. Augustine.

I would be interested too see what the 44 would be like with IPS? Ultra efficient I would think.

Midnight Lace Info

Hi everybody. I am the wife of the late Tom Fexas, I have a lot of info about his work and the Midnight Lace. If i can be at any help let me know.

Thank You! It is nice to know that Tom is still remembered!

Few boats catch the eye like a Midnight Lace!! absolutely gorgeous lines!

there is a 60ish Cheoy Lee here at Dinner Key, you can see right away that it is a Fexas design...

He, along with a handful of others incl. Hargrave, will always be remembered!

If they had a boat builders hall of fame he would certainly be inducted. His monthly editorials in one of the boating publications were the best part of the magazine. I never met the man but, admired his work for years.

This boat docks next to me a few times during the summer. The owner lives here in Greenwich, CT & the boat spends most of the summer out on Shelter Island, NY. The owner is a really nice guy so I'll call my marina & ask for his contact info. I bet he knows quite a bit.

Updated Lace

Back in 2005, Bill Gross in Seattle had Tom Fexas update the Midnight Lace by stretching the beam from a skinny 13' out to 16'6", which made a vast difference inside. He got rid of the early Renault 240hp diesels and put in a pair of Cat C-9s of 500hp, and he squared the stern up so there wasn't as much wasted space. But it still looked like the early Laces, and it was beautifully built. The first one built had a three-stateroom layout with a forward master, and another layout had the master opposite the galley with two cabins plus an office. The forward cockpit was equipped with throttles and shifters plus an autopilot control, so you could run it from the bow, which was great fun. Don't know how many were built, and I suspect it was one of Fexas' last projects, but it was definitely sweet.