Party Fishing Boats Page 11

Mike's Maritime Memorabilia»Party Fishing Boats
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PENNSY, Brielle, NJ – 1955 An overhead view of the "PENNSY" from Brielle, NJ circa 1955. Owned by the Bogan family, she was operated by Captain Roy Skillman at the time. She was one of two converted World War II PT (Patrol Torpedo) boats owned by the Bogan family at the time (the "JERSEY" was the second.) Higgins Industries built the boat in 1944 at New Orleans, LA as the US Navy "PT-457". When she was converted for use as a party boat, US Coast Guard regulations of the day required vessels longer than 65 feet to have an on-board engineer (along with a captain.) Since she was originally 78 feet in length, the Bogan family shortened her to 64-feet 11-inches to circumvent the requirement. Regardless of their length, these Higgins PT Boats had a beautiful shape. The entire below decks section from the pilothouse forward was a giant room for passengers. In 1957, Captain Dave Bogan Sr. took over the helm of the "PENNSY" and it was one of his favorites… "I loved that boat!" The Bogan family later sold her and she became Captain Al Wirth's "FALCON" from Atlantic Highlands, NJ. She was later stored at a Staten Island, NY boatyard for a few years and was finally dismantled in 1991. Photo courtesy of Captain Dave Bogan Sr.  PILOT II, Brooklyn, NY – 1955 Captain Harry Phillips' "PILOT II" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY circa 1955. Harry Phillips was a 'Master' inshore party boat captain who specialized in bottom and wreck fishing, and he did not need to go very fast or very far to fill angler's buckets on the deck of the "PILOT II" with blackfish, sea bass and porgies. Ernest Fiedler of Bergen Beach Boatworks built the "PILOT II" in 1937. (The yard was located at Mill Basin, Brooklyn, NY.) Notice the chevrons painted on the wheelhouse of the "PILOT II". The government appropriated many local party boats during World War II for service as costal patrol boats and each chevron represents a year of military service. Additionally, the "PILOT II" was a member of the Sheepshead Bay Boat Owners Association as indicated by the "S.B.B.O.A." painted on her overhang. Photo courtesy of John Cairns.  SHAMROCK, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ – 1955 Captain 'Jack' Bogan's "SHAMROCK" from Point Pleasant, NJ circa 1955. The Van Sant Boat Yard, Atlantic City, NJ, built her in 1953 and she was the first party boat ever built with a flush deck, that is, her cabins and heads were located on the main deck. In 1971, Captain 'Jack' sold the boat to his mate, Bob Pennington and she became his first "SEA DEVIL". Photo Courtesy of Captain 'Jack' Bogan Sr.  VAMP II, Wildwood, NJ – 1955 The "VAMP II" was built in 1952 by Deagle Boat Works of Deltaville, Virginia for Captain Jim Wilkinson. She replaced his original "VAMP" and sailed from Wildwood, New Jersey. The "VAMP II" was sold in 1959 to Captain Russell Lloyd who continued sailing her from Wildwood, New Jersey. She was again sold in 1976 to Captain George Davidson who relocated her to Delaware. She last sailed as the "ISLAND PRINCESS" on Lake Michigan before being condemned and dismantled in 1997.  WHITESTONE, Brooklyn, NY – 1955 Captain Phillip Basco's "WHITESTONE" from Canarsie, Brooklyn, NY circa 1955. She was built in 1931 at Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY. Originally sailing from Canarsie, Brooklyn, she later relocated to Sheepshead Bay and sailed from Pier 3. 
ALBATROSS II, Barnegat Light, NJ – 1956 The "ALBATROSS II" was built for Captain Harry Livingston in 1955 by Price Boat Yard at Deltaville, Virginia. (The "ALBATROSS II" and the following photo of the "MISS BARNEGAT LIGHT" are among the earliest of many 55-foot party boats built by Price.) In 1960, she was sold to Captain Ted Weeks who continued to sail her from Barnegat Light as his "THUMPER". In 1966, she was sold again and relocated to Portsmouth, New Hampshire and continued to sail under the "THUMPER" name until the mid-1980s. She last sailed as the "VICTORIA" from Malabar, FL and her present fate is uncertain. Photo courtesy of Captain Dave Bogan Sr.  BETTY W, Brooklyn, NY – 1956 Captain Kenny Wright's original "BETTY W" at her Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn, NY mooring circa 1956. She was built 1938 at Brooklyn, NY as the yacht "ALCHAR". In 1959, she was replaced with the 65-foot party boat "BETTY W II". Photo courtesy of Tom Mitchell.  EFFORT, Brooklyn, NY – 1956 Captain Fred Wrege's "EFFORT" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY is shown hauled out at Caddell Dry Dock and Repair Company at Staten Island, NY circa 1956. She was a converted World War II US Navy subchaser built in 1942 at Wickford, RI as the "SC–1300". Photo courtesy of the Captain Fred Wrege and Captain Charles VanDerVoort Families.  EFFORT, Brooklyn, NY – 1956 "Big wheel keep on turning, Proud Mary keep on burning. Rolling, rolling, rolling on the river." -- Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1969 The Proud Mary wasn't the only one turning big wheels! This 1956 stern view of the "EFFORT" hauled out at Caddell Dry Dock and Repair Company at Staten Island, NY shows the impressive 52-inch, five-blade propellers and stern gear of this vessel. Captain Fred Wrege's "EFFORT" sailed from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY and was a converted World War II Subchaser built in 1942 at Wickford, RI as the "SC–1300". Photo courtesy of the Captain Fred Wrege and Captain Charles VanDerVoort Families.  MISS POINT PLEASANT, Point Pleasant, NJ – 1956 The original "MISS POINT PLEASANT" from Point Pleasant, NJ circa 1956. Captain Jack Endean was at the helm. She was built in 1946 at Brooklyn, NY as Captain Henry Hillmann's "DOLPHIN II" from Brielle, NJ. Later, Captain Endean sold her to Captain Jack Kennell and she was renamed the "NORMA-K"; Afterwards, she became the "CATHERINE" from Belmar, NJ and finally, the "MS. HIGHLANDS". Photo courtesy of Captain Jack Endean. 
NANCY JUNE, Brooklyn, NY – 1956 The "NANCY JUNE" was built in 1926 at New York, NY as a gasoline powered motor yacht named "UTILITIE". She was sold and converted to a passenger carrying vessel in 1946. In 1948, Captain John Johnsen purchased the boat, named her the "NANCY JUNE" and began to sail her from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY. She was later owned by Stilluf Stillufsen and then by Captain Joseph Peplowski and after that by his son Raymond. She was dropped from documentation in 1986 and her fate is unknown.  PENNSY, Brielle, NJ – 1956 The "PENNSY" from Brielle, NJ circa 1956. She was owned by the Bogan family and operated by Captain Roy Skillman. The "PENNSY" was a converted World War II PT Boat, "PT-457" built in 1944 by Higgins Industries Inc. New Orleans, LA. US Coast Guard regulations at the time she was converted to party boat fishing required vessels longer than 65-feet to have an on-board engineer (along with a captain.) Since she was originally 78 feet in length, the Bogan family shortened her to 64-feet 11-inches to circumvent the requirement. In 1957, Captain Dave Bogan Sr. took over the helm of the "PENNSY". The Bogan family later sold her and she became Captain Al Wirth's "FALCON" from Atlantic Highlands, NJ. She was later stored at a Staten Island, NY boat yard for a few years and was finally dismantled in 1991. Photo courtesy of Captain Dave Bogan Sr.  TONE B., Brooklyn, NY – 1956 The "TONE B" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY circa 1956. The "TONE B" was built for Captain Anthony Blanken in 1946 by Peterson Boatyard at Great Kills, NY. Later, Captain Charlie Locurto purchased her, but she was sold again to Captain Mike Buonacquista and relocated to Highlands, NJ. She was dismantled in 1992.  TUNA II, Brooklyn, NY – 1956 Captain Emil Eifert and Captain Elie Cantor's "TUNA II" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn circa 1956. She was built in 1931 at Brooklyn, NY and originally sailed as the "CATHERINE M". She was later owned by Captain Carmine Matteria and was one of the last 'old time' charter boats to sail from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY. The "TUNA II" was dismantled in 1995.  RANGER, Belmar, NJ –1956 Captain John Kocsik’s "RANGER" from Belmar Marine Basin, Belmar, NJ circa 1956. The "RANGER" was built in 1938 at Brooklyn, NY and she originally sailed from Perth Amboy, NJ before Captain Kocsik relocated her to Belmar, NJ. : Belmar 
Sister Ships RANGER and RAMBLER – 1956 / 1996 The photos of these two sister ships were taken forty years apart. Both boats were built side-by-side in 1950 at Bordentown, NJ and the only significant difference in the boats is the number of portholes on the forward trunk cabin. At the time the photos were taken, Captain Frank Cline's "RAMBLER" sailed from Belmar, NJ and Captain Jack Sweeney's "RANGER" sailed from Atlantic Highlands, NJ. (The "RANGER" was originally built as Captain Artie Kaser's "CAVALIER" from Perth Amboy, NJ.)  SPORTSMAN, Brooklyn, NY – 1956 The "SPORTSMAN" sailed from King's Plaza in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, NY and was the last vessel owned and operated by Captain Steve Wischerth. She was built in 1915 as a US Coast Guard cutter and was later converted for party boat fishing. She first fished from Montauk, NY before relocating to Flatbush.  VAMP, Wildwood, NJ – 1956 Captain Oscar Wilson's "VAMP" from Wildwood, NJ circa 1956. The "VAMP" was built in 1940 at Amburg, VA.  CALVIN B II, Brooklyn, NY – 1957 Captain Frank LaGrassa's "CALVIN B II" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY circa 1950. She was built in 1947 at Brooklyn, NY for Captain John Bogart who sailed her for one season and then sold her to Captain LaGrassa. She sailed from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn until 1960 when she was lost in a fire.  FLYING D II, Brooklyn, NY – 1957 Captain Frank 'Lupo' Knuth's "FLYING D II" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY circa 1957. She was built in 1934 by Ernest Fiedler of Bergen Beach Boat Works at Brooklyn, NY. She sailed from Sheepshead Bay under the command of Captain Knuth until she was sold in 1975 to Captain Gary Fagan who relocated her to Belmar, New Jersey as his "BLUEFIN". She was later owned by Captain Brian Cade and after that was converted to a commercial lobster boat. She was dismantled in 1988. 
MISS BARNEGAT LIGHT, Barnegat Light, NJ – 1957 Captain John Larson's "MISS BARNEGAT LIGHT" from Barnegat Light, New Jersey circa 1957. Built in 1954 by Price Boat Yard at Deltaville, VA, she sailed from Barnegat Light until 1967 when she was sold and became the "LADY MARCIA ANNE" from Portsmouth, NH. She then returned to New Jersey in 1986 and became Captain Gary Bouchard's "MISTY MORN" from South Amboy, NJ. She last sailed from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY as the "HOLIDAY" before being dropped from documentation in 2003.  ROCKET II, Brooklyn, NY – 1957 Captain Dave 'Laddie' Martin's "ROCKET II" was built in 1942 at Atlantic City, NJ as the 104-foot US Navy Air-Sea Rescue Boat "P-106". She sailed as the "SILVER STAR" before joining the Sheepshead Bay fleet in 1953. She was sold in 1967 to Captain Matthew Hughes and joined his Boston Harbor Cruise Fleet at Boston, MA where she continued to sail as a party fishing boat until relocated to the Bahamas in 1974.  BIG BOLO, Atlantic City, NJ – 1957 The "BIG BOLO" was a converted US Navy Liberty Launch. Built in 1940 at Bremerton, WA, she originally sailed as the "USN-14652". She was owned and operated by Captain Frank Deebold Jr., who sailed her from Starn's Pier at Atlantic City, NJ.  CHIEF, Belmar, NJ – 1957 Captain Ralph Mertineit's "CHIEF" from Belmar, NJ circa 1957. Built in 1930 at Essex, CT, she originally sailed as the "RUBY". Captain Mertineit specialized in Jersey shore Fluke fishing. In 1959, he replaced her with the Price-built "CHIEF II". : Belmar  DIXIE Charter Boat, Brooklyn, NY – 1957 This 1957 photo shows Captain Irving Moss' charter boat "DIXIE" from Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn, NY. Captain Moss became a party boat operator in 1967 when he purchased the "SEA PIGEON II" and relocated to Sheepshead Bay. Photo Courtesy of Captain Ron Moss. 
JAMAICA, Brielle, NJ – 1957 The original "JAMAICA", from Bogan’s Brielle Basin, Brielle, NJ circa 1957. Stowman Shipyards, Dorchester, NJ built this 65 foot boat in 1957 and two GM 110 diesels provided the power. Captain Howard Bogan Sr. initially operated the "JAMAICA" and was later followed by Captain Dave Bogan Sr. This particularly nice picture was taken before a dodger was built around the pilothouse. She later became Captain William Egerter Jr's "DAUNTLESS" and sailed from Broadway Basin, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ. In 1974, she became the "ATLANTIS". Afterwards, she was sold, remodeled, re-powered, relocated to Cape May and renamed the "SEA STAR II". Photo courtesy of Captain Dave Bogan Sr. [This is Mel's favorite picture... What a beauty!]  LITTLE CHAMP, Barnegat Light, NJ – 1957 The "LITTLE CHAMP" was built in 1932 at Dorchester, NJ. She originally operated as a party boat under the command of Captain Horace Davis who sailed her from Fortescue, NJ. She was later sold to Captain Anthony 'Tony' Garbacki who sailed her from Barnegat Light, NJ. After that, Captain Frank Rehm purchased the boat and continued to sail her from that port.  LYNN J., Wildwood, NJ – 1957 Captain Otto Duhrkoff's "LYNN J" sailed from the Ship Ahoy Dock at Rio Grande Bridge at Wildwood, NJ. The dock's location at the foot of the Rio Grande Bridge is where the Wildwood Party Boat fleet continues to sail from today. Built in 1930 at Reeds Beach, NJ, the boat originally sailed as the "SALLIE II".  MAJESTIC, Brooklyn, NY – 1957 The "MAJESTIC" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY circa 1957. Captain Joe Majestic operated the boat and John Majestic built her in 1946 at Brooklyn, NY. Captain Marty Haines Jr. bought the "MAJESTIC" in 1967 and sailed it from Perth Amboy, NJ until 1972. It was on this boat that Captain Marty earned his nickname "Captain Midnight" because of his late night returns from 'Football' Bluefin tuna fishing at the Mud Hole.  PIPER, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ – 1957 Captain George 'Blacky' Walsh's "PIPER" sailing from Spike's Fishery, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ circa 1957. Built in 1942 at Brooklyn, NY as the US Navy Bomb Target Boat "USN C-1997", she was purchased by the Bogan family in 1951 and was converted into a party boat. She sailed as the "DAUNTLESS" from Brielle, NJ before Captain Walsh purchased her. The "PIPER" was one of the first party boats to offer half day fishing as her painted hull advertises. Photo Courtesy of Cathy and 'Blacky' Walsh.