OPTIMIST, Belmar, NJ – 1960 Captain Charlie Dodd's "OPTIMIST" from Belmar, NJ circa 1960. She was built in 1941 at Stamford, CT as the World War II U.S. Navy Bomb Target Boat "C-2217". After being refitted for fishing, she joined the Belmar fleet in 1952, first from the Belmar Marine Basin and later from Dodd's Marine Basin on the Shark River at Neptune, NJ. Captain Norm Mordaunt worked for Charlie Dodd and ran the "OPTIMIST" for bottom fishing for several years. In 1965, she was sold to Captain Jack Huntsinger (another Optimist Fleet Captain), who continued to operate her from Belmar, NJ. She was later relocated to Maryland. Photo courtesy of Captain Norm Mordaunt.