Billy Joel owns a patent on a boat hull design and collects royalties for each one built. A NY Times writer spent some time with him on the yachts he helped design. He was inspired by Long Island lobster boats. (One of the quaint, respectable characteristics of the NY Times is its continued use of formal address for Mr. Mrs. and, new in the ’80s and used often now, Ms. Mr. Joel’s daughter, however, gets the first name treatment.)