Party Fishing Boats Page 15

Mike's Maritime Memorabilia»Party Fishing Boats
Select All None
DELMAR II, Atlantic Highlands, NJ – 1963 Captain Al Gable's "DELMAR II" from Atlantic Highlands, NJ circa 1963. Built in 1948 at Brooklyn, NY as Captain Anthony 'Tony' Sapio's "TRADE WINDS III", she originally sailed from Forked River, NJ. Captain Gable replaced the boat in 1965 with the Price-built "DELMAR III". The new owners relocated the boat to Connecticut where she continued to sail under the same name. Photo courtesy of Ray Soyka.  DIANA, Brielle, NJ – 1963 The "DIANA" from Brielle, NJ and skippered by Captain Bob Zeigler circa 1963. She was built in 1931 on the banks of the Raritan River in New Brunswick, NJ using full-length planking that ran from the stem to the stern in one piece. The US Navy requisitioned her during World War II (starting July 1943) and used her as a coastal patrol boat (the "YP-323"). She later became the "ODIN" from Captree, NY. Photo courtesy of Ed Keefe Jr.  DOROTHY B. and ROCKET II, Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY – 1963 Shown here at Sheepshead Bay's Pier 7 are Captain Frank Bradshaw's "DOROTHY B." and Captain Dave 'Laddie' Martin's "ROCKET II". The "DOROTHY B." was built in 1943 at New 1781 and first operated as a party boat in 1959 when she became Captain Fred Mullen's "BUDDY II" from Elizabeth, NJ. In 1962, she became the "DOROTHY B." and sailed from Sheepshead Bay until replaced by a newer vessel in 1971. The "ROCKET II" was built in 1942 at Atlantic City, NJ as the 104-foot US Navy Air-Sea Rescue Boat "P-106" and first 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 moved to the Bahamas in 1974.  EFFORT, Brooklyn, NY – 1963 The "EFFORT" from Pier 8, Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY circa 1963. She was operated by Captain Fred Wrege, but when he passed away in 1961, his son-in-law, Charlie VanDerVoort, took over the operation of the "EFFORT". The "EFFORT" was a converted World War II sub chaser built in 1942 at Wickford, RI as the "SC–1300". She was finally dismantled in 1970.  ELMAR, Brooklyn, NY – 1963 The "ELMAR" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY circa 1963. This neat picture shows her just starting to move to another fishing spot after picking up her anchor (notice a puff of smoke from the stack, the prop wash at the stern and the water and mud dripping from the anchor.) The "ELMAR" was a converted World War II sub chaser built in 1943 at Dorchester, MA as the "SC-1329". Originally owned by Captain Frank Rau, she was later sold to Captains Sal Dragonetti and Harold Wrege. She was sold again and relocated to Florida; she sank on the St John's River, FL in November 1979. 
GLORY, Brooklyn, NY – 1963 The "GLORY" from Pier 7, Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY circa 1963. The "GLORY" was skippered by Captain Jacob "Chubby" Martin who was the son of Captain Jake Martin from the "SACHEM". She was built in 1896 at Weymouth, MA as the yacht "INDOLENT". She was one of the last old-time boats with direct reverse gearing, meaning you had to stop and restart the engine so it spins in the other direction to get reverse thrust. Obviously, you had to be an "ace boatman" to dock these vessels! In the summer of 1923, the "GLORY" was enlarged, but in a very unusual way. The boatyard built a larger hull that surrounded the old one and then cut holes in the inner one so the space between the two hulls could breathe. In 1971, Captain Martin sold the "GLORY" to Captain John O'Leary. She ran aground at Sea Bright, NJ on a foggy day in June 1975 and her wreck is still fished today.  ISLAND QUEEN, Great Kills, Staten Island, NY – 1963 Captain Ed Persichetty and Stacey Sandberg are shown at the helm of their "ISLAND QUEEN" at Great Kills Harbor, Staten Island, NY circa 1963. She was built in 1955 by Van Dyke Boat Yard at Cornersville, MD. The "ISLAND QUEEN" sailed from Great Kills until 1971 when she was sold and relocated to Delaware as the "PHYLLIS KAY III" and after that, sailed as the first "STACEY LEE" from Wilmington, DE. She last sailed as Captain Richard Brindle's party fishing boat "INDIAN" from Kennebunkport, ME before being dropped from documentation in 2007. Her present fate is unknown.  MISS REGNILLES II, Point Pleasant, NJ – 1963 The "MISS REGNILLES II" from Point Pleasant, NJ circa 1963. The fare for codfishing trips was a whopping $6 (bait included.) She was built in 1961 by Gillikin Boat Works, Harkers Island, NC and was owned and operated by Captain Ed Sellinger (spell his name backwards and you have "Regnilles"). She specialized in bluefishing during the summer months. Later on, she became the "SPEEDY VII", the "RANGER", the "MISS SEA ISLE II", the "CHALLENGER" and is now sailing as the "CAPT. COLLET" from Atlantic City, NJ.  MOHAWK I, Brooklyn, NJ – 1963 Captain John Bebevento's "MOHAWK I" from Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn, NY circa 1963. Peterson Boatyard built her in 1946 at Great Kills, Staten Island, NY as Captain Walter Stuker's "BABE" from Belmar, NJ. She later relocated to Montauk, NY and then to Elizabeth, NJ as Captain Fred Mullen's "BUDDY". Sold again, she made her way back to Great Kills, Staten Island, NY as Captain Cliff Stonier's "SEA KING", and she later sailed for one season as the "TEAL II" from the same port. She was then sold to Captain Joe Burns and became the "MOHAWK I" from Brielle, NJ. After that, she was purchased by Captain John Bebevento and sailed as the "MOHAWK I" from Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn, NY. Captain Tony 'Mo' Barbato purchased the "MOHAWK I" in 1965 and relocated her to Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY. Captain Barbato then sold the boat in 1974 and she became the "HI-BALL" from Island Beach, NY. In 1978, she returned to Sheepshead Bay as the charter boat "HIGH BALL" and she is presently sailing from Milford, CT as the commercial fishing vessel "MOHAWK". Photo courtesy of Captain Tony 'Mo' Barbato.  NORMA-K, Point Pleasant, NJ – 1963 Captain Jack Kennell's "NORMA-K" from Point Pleasant, NJ circa 1963. Built in 1946 at Brooklyn, NY as Captain Henry Hillmann's "DOLPHIN II" from Brielle, NJ, she was later sold to Captain Jack Endean who sailed her as the original "MISS POINT PLEASANT" from Point Pleasant Beach, NJ. In 1957, Captain Jack Kennell purchased the boat and she became his "NORMA-K". Sold again in 1975, she became the "CATHERINE" from Belmar, NJ and she last sailed as the "MS. HIGHLANDS" from Highlands, NJ. Photo courtesy Norma and Captain Ken Keller. 
QUEEN MARY, Point Pleasant, NJ – 1963 The "QUEEN MARY" from Point Pleasant, NJ and skippered by Captain Frank Green circa 1963. She was built in 1961 by Gillikin Boat Works, Harkers Island, NC. Captain Green passed away in 1963 and Captain Harvey Brown purchased the boat. He didn't change her name, but he relocated the "QUEEN MARY" to Spike's Fishery Dock, Point Pleasant, NJ. In 1974, Captain 'Blacky' Walsh bought the boat and renamed her the "PIPER". A few years later, the boat was sold again, renamed the "SPRAY II" and moved to Belmar, NJ. In 1982, she was sold to Captain Hal Hagaman and sailed as the "SEA TIGER" from Atlantic Highlands, NJ until the spring of 2004 when she became Captain Richie Moore's "MISS MOORE" from Atlantic Highlands, NJ. The boat is presently sailing as Captain Stewart Cash's "OSPREY IV" from Port Jefferson, NY.  RANGER III, Brooklyn, NY – 1963 The "RANGER III" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY and skippered by Captain Mike Scarpati circa 1963. She was built in 1963 and with a length of 90 feet (plus two GM 12-71 diesel engines), she was the largest party boat made by Gillikin Boat Works, Harkers Island, NC. After leaving Sheepshead Bay she was relocated to Provincetown, MA and later became the "BIG FLAMINGO II" from Wildwood, NJ. Photo courtesy of Ed Keefe Jr.  SEA JET, Neptune, NJ – 1963 The "SEA JET" from Neptune Basin, Neptune, NJ and skippered by Captain Alvin Shinn circa 1963. She was a converted 63-foot World War II air-sea rescue boat. The "SEA JET" was later sold to Captain Joe Galluccio and became his "SEA RANGER" from Belmar, NJ.  SEA KING, Great Kills, NY – 1963 Captain Cliff Stonier’s "SEA KING" from Shoals Dock, Great Kills, Staten Island, NY circa 1963. The 65-foot "SEA KING" was built in 1961 by Stevenson Boat Works, Staten Island, NY at a cost of $22,000 and was a sister ship to the "SEA PIGEON III" from Perth Amboy, NJ. In 1970, Captain Joe Galluccio bought the boat and moved her to Belmar, NJ. Captain Galluccio ran the boat from Belmar until 1988 and then sold the boat and business to Captain Bill Hauck. The "SEA KING" operated from Belmar for a few more years; she was then sold to a buyer in South America. While on the way to Florida (for eventual shipping to South America), the "SEA KING" stopped at Little Creek, VA to get fuel. A Navy vessel struck her and she sank at the fuel dock. Photo courtesy of Ken Ekberg.  CAPT. JOE II, Belmar, NJ – 1964 Nice and clean! The "CAPT. JOE II" on the very day (April 17, 1964) she arrived at Belmar, NJ from Gillikin Boatworks, Harkers Island, NC. The hull was built of long-leaf yellow pine framing with two-inch mahogany planking and a two-inch cut select edge-grain fir deck. The boat was white over-all with green trim and varnished mahogany transom. Captain Joe Vassallo skippered her and later, his son Captain Mickey Vassallo took over the business. Captain Mickey was the first in the New Jersey/New York party boat fleet to introduce winter "Magic Hours" fishing (4:00 PM to 9:00 PM) for Whiting (Silver Hake). Captain Mickey passed away in 2007 and the boat later sailed as the "VIKING KING", the "STARFISH", and the "SEAHORSE" and is now sailing as the "CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY. : Belmar 
FISHERMEN, Atlantic Highlands, NJ – 1964 The "FISHERMEN" from Atlantic Highlands, NJ circa 1964. She was operated by Captain Ron Santee Sr. The "FISHERMEN" was a converted World War II 63-foot air-sea rescue boat and was previously named the “MISS MOORE” from Great Kills, NY. She later became the "PECONIC STAR" from Greenport, NY. Photo Courtesy Ken Ekberg.  HURRICANE, Neptune, NJ – 1964 The "HURRICANE" from Neptune, NJ and skippered by Captain Joe Galluccio circa 1964. She was built in 1945 at Portsmouth, VA as a US Navy Liberty Launch. She previously sailed as Captain Ralph Pennel’s "COCK ROBIN" from Point Pleasant, NJ. Captain Galluccio purchased her in the spring of 1964 and renamed her the "HURRICANE". In the fall of the same year, Captain Frank Kirchner bought her and she sailed as his "KING NEPTUNE" from Highlands, NJ. Photo courtesy of Captain Joe Galluccio.  MISS MOORE, Great Kills, NY – 1964 The "MISS MOORE" from Shoals Dock, Great Kills, Staten Island, NY circa 1964. She is shown Porgy fishing on the Sea Bright Grounds with Captain Charlie Dodd's "OPTIMIST" (skippered by Captain Norman Mordaunt.) She was built in 1963 by Gillikin Boat Works, Harkers Island, NC and later became the "SEA WOLF" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY. Photo courtesy of Ed Keefe Jr.  OPTIMIST QUEEN, Neptune, NJ – 1964 Captain Charlie Dodd's "OPTIMIST QUEEN" prepares to depart from Dodd's Basin on the Shark River in Neptune, NJ circa 1964. The "OPTIMIST QUEEN" was built in 1959 by Stowman Shipyards at Dorchester, NJ. During her career, she sailed as the "OPTIMIST QUEEN", the "SUNSHINE", the "OPTIMIST SPORT", the "MOHAWK IV", the "MISS BELMAR II", the "BANDIT", the "CYNTHIA ANN", and she continues to sail from City Island, NY as the "ISLAND CURRENT IV". She is one of only a handful of Stowman-built vessels that are still in operation today.  ROCKET II, Brooklyn, NY – 1964 Captain 'Laddie' Martin's "ROCKET II" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY circa 1964. Built in 1942 as the 104-foot US Navy Air–Sea Rescue Boat "P-106", she was converted for party boat fishing after the end of World War II. She sailed as the "SILVER STAR" before becoming the "ROCKET II". Captain 'Laddie' was the son of Captain Dave Martin (the owner and operator of the "GIRALDA".) Photo courtesy of Captain Tony 'Mo' Barbato. 
SANDPIPER, Brooklyn, NY – 1964 Captain Joseph Finale's "SANDPIPER" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY circa 1964. Stevenson's Boat Works, Great Kills, Staten Island, NY built her in 1962. In 1967, Captain Arnold "Speedy" Hubert bought the boat and she became the "SPEEDY III" from Point Lookout, NY. She later sailed as the "NORTH STAR" from New York, NY and spent a few years sailing from Belmar, NJ as Captain Dom Vitolo’s "SKIPPER". She was later moved to Hilton Head, SC and was dismantled in 2001. Photo courtesy of Captain Frank Dorio.  TEAL, Great Kills, NY – 1964 "TEAL" Staten Island, NY 1965The "TEAL" from Shoals Dock, Great Kills, Staten Island, NY circa 1964. Gillikin Boat Works built her in 1961 at Harkers Island, NC. She was admired by many as one of the nicest looking party boats to sail in the New York / New Jersey fleet. Captain Freddie Moore operated the "TEAL" and he was one of the pioneers of open boat tuna fishing on the East Coast. Photo courtesy of Ken Ekberg.  VIKING II, Great Kills, NY – 1964 The "VIKING II" from Shoals Dock, Great Kills, NY circa 1964. She was operated by Captain Andy Kondracki, Originally a World War II 63-foot air-sea rescue boat, she was built in 1943 at Miami, FL for the US Navy as "ARB-9460". Before becoming the "VIKING II", she sailed from Wildwood, NJ as the “MAROLYN”. Photo Courtesy Ken Ekberg.  WILDWOOD II, Wildwood Crest, NJ – 1964 Captain John 'Jack' Blake's "WILDWOOD II" from Wildwood Crest, NJ circa 1964. Built in 1952 by Stowman Shipyards at Dorchester, NJ, she later sailed as the "CAPT. GARY II", and finally as Mike Vegessi's "LAZY BONES II" from Montauk, NY. : 2015, Mel Deak, Mike Daniewicz, Mike's Maritime Memorabilia  CAPT. BEN LITWIN, Captree, NY – 1965 The "CAPT. BEN LITWIN" from Captree, NY circa 1965. Owned and operated by her namesake, Captain Ben Litwin, she was built in 1961 by Gillikin Boat Works at Harkers Island, NC. She later sailed as Captain Carl Passero's "MISS CAPTREE" and the "JAMES JOSEPH" from Captree, NY. She is currently sailing as Captain James Hubert's "JR. EXPRESS" from Captree, NY. Photo courtesy of Ed Keefe Jr. 
CAPT. JOSEPH, Captree, NY – 1965 The "CAPT. JOSEPH" from Captree, NY circa 1965. This 65-footer was built in 1962 for the Joseph family (Captain Bill Joseph and his sons, Captains Bobby and Stanley) by Gillikin Boat Works, Harkers Island, NC and had three GM 6-71 diesel engines. She later became Captain Bill Huntley's "JULIE C" from Pt. Judith, RI and the "MISS FRANCES" from Point Judith, RI. She has since been remodeled and again sails from Captree as Captain Anthony Gregory's "CAPT. GREGORY". Photo courtesy of Ed Keefe Jr.  CAPT. JOSEPH II, Captree, NY – 1965 The "CAPT. JOSEPH II" from Captree, NY and skippered by Captain Stan Joseph circa 1965. This 72-footer was built in 1964 by Gillikin Boat Works, Harkers Island, NC and had four GM 6-71 diesel engines turning three propellers (two engines were connected in tandem to the center propeller shaft.) The boat was an expanded edition of the "CAPT. JOSEPH" and the "CAPT. JOSEPH IV" and all of them had the polish of private yachts. She had a lot of electronics which included a $15,000 German-made Elac white line recorder with an auxiliary fish scope. This scanner had a rotating transducer mounted on the bottom of the hull that could detect fish and wrecks within a radius of 1.5 miles. Captain Joseph stated “Our Fire Island grounds are studded with wrecks. Now we are in a position to find them and fish them.” In her day, she was the premier codfish party boat at Captree. She later became Captain Tommy Marconi's "PILOT II" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY. Sadly, the boat burned to the waterline during a Flounder fishing trip in the fall of 1982. Photo courtesy of Ed Keefe Jr.  CAPT. ROD, Captree, NY – 1965 The original "CAPT. ROD" from Captree, NY and skippered by Captain Rod Westerlind circa 1965. Built by Gillikin Boat Works, Harkers Island, NC in 1961, this 60-footer specialized in Bay Flounder fishing during her Long Island fishing career. In 1968, she was replaced with a larger Gillikin vessel and sold. Her new owner relocated her to Key Largo, FL and after remodeling, she sailed as the "CAPTAIN'S LADY". Photo courtesy of Ed Keefe Jr.  COCK ROBIN, Point Pleasant, NJ – 1965 Captain Ralph Pennel's "COCK ROBIN" from Point Pleasant, NJ circa 1965. Built in 1962 by Stevenson Boat Works at Great Kills, Staten Island, NY, she was Captain Pennel's second vessel to sail under the "COCK ROBIN" name. She was replaced by a Lydia-built vessel in 1975 and sold. Purchased by Captain Bill Sellinger, she then sailed as the "BIG-2" from Point Pleasant, NJ and later sailed as the "SEA RANGER II" from Freeport, NY. She last sailed as Captain George Aswad's "SEA QUEEN" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY and in 1994, fell victim to a pier fire that destroyed the boat.  GAMBLER, Point Pleasant, NJ – 1965 The "GAMBLER" from Point Pleasant, NJ and skippered by Captain Bob Bogan circa 1965. She was built in 1960 by Gillikin Boat Works, Harkers Island, NC and launched as the "VIKING" from Barnegat Light, NJ.