Although I have told this story a million times there always seem to be something else that I can add about my father’s boat. Daddy got the idea for painting his boat yellow about the time that the highway department gave him a 50 gallon drum of paint. According to this story this gift was the same kind and color of paint that the highway department painted the non-passing lane on the highway. I am sure by looking at my father’s boat this color does look familiar. While my father was painting his boat anything lying on the deck including ropes as well as anchors was painted yellow. Heck, even our dog had yellow paint all over it. If I had stood still long enough I am sure I would have been next. My father suggested that I paint my boat yellow. I respectfully declined!

The rod that is sticking straight up to the sky near the stern of the boat is daddy’s sliver king line. According to my father there were two types of king mackerel in our area. There were those kings that had been here a while and those that just arrived. The kings that have been here a while were sporting a darker outside color so as to blend in with the water. These kings were known as residents. This means that these kings have been here a while. The kings that just arrived migrating in from clearer/bluer water and happened to get on my father’s hook were called “silver kings.” I remember this like it was yesterday.





I most likely took this picture in the mid sixties while we were fishing at the world famous Black Fish Banks. The black fish banks were a small patch of live bottom that was located about 10 miles off Tybee Lighthouse. During this era it took our 10 to 12 knot wooden boats about 11/2 to get to the fishing grounds. Don’t laugh; this was the normal speed of our times. As I can recall these gas engines lasted for over 20,000 hours and broke down less traveling at these slower speeds. Now that I think about it, we are still traveling at least 11/2 hours to get to the fishing grounds. Yes, it’s further offshore and yes we are traveling at twice the speed, and yes things in the mechanical department are much more complicated as well as expensive.




I grabbed this picture off EBay. This vintage ZEBCO reel is offered for sale for $3.99. Back in the old days this was our reel of choice. The reason being is it offered an opportunity for a tangle free casting kind of a fishing situation.
My father is holding a bunch of tangled line now referred to as “professional over ride!” Not a thing has changed in this department fishermen including myself are still getting their lines tangled and I don’t think that will ever change. I bet if ZEBCO came up with a beef up offshore reel that worked you would see much more of them! I used to call this reel an option for more fishing than tangling situation.

Running like it’s on rails!

Right above the water line located at the stern is my father’s rendition of running rails. This is the strip of wood that is located about 4 to 6 inches above the water line. According to dear old dad boats needed running rails. My father’s running rails consisted of ripped 2x4’s hand sanded down round. When the water runs down the bottom of the rails the stern is lifted while offering the same control at the helm.
Where’s the head located?
The lower window is located in the head. It was a pretty neat visit to a 6 year old. Daddy normally opened this window allowing plenty of sea air along with occasional ocean spray. Even if I didn’t have to go I loved just looking out the window. When this picture as taken no one was in the head and as you can see the window was not open. So here’s why, the used to be six years old is now taking this picture. And the fun of watching out the window from the head is over at least for the moment! I don’t have a window in my head on my boat! And after seeing the picture I think it’s time to add one!