Party Fishing Boats Page 21

1 APACHE II, Brooklyn, NY – 1983 The "APACHE II" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY circa 1983. Built in 1940 by Peterson Boatyard, Staten Island, NY, she originally sailed as Captain Felix Rando's "ADVANCE" from Great Kills, Staten Island. She later became the "APACHE II" and then finished her fishing career sailing as the "WHITECHIN". She was dismantled in 1989.	2 LENNY, Belmar, NJ – 1983 Captain Hank Leonard's "LENNY" is shown passing the Shark River railroad bridge on her way out for a day of bluefishing in 1983. The "LENNY" sailed from Belmar, NJ and was the third vessel owned and operated by Captains Hank Leonard Sr. and Jr. Deebold Boat Works at Atlantic City, NJ built her in 1962 as the "BIG-DAY". In 1986, Captain Hank replaced the "LENNY" with the Lydia-built "GOLDEN EAGLE" and sold the "LENNY" to Captain John Connell Sr. Captain Connell relocated the boat to Keyport, NJ where she sailed as his original "CAPTAIN JOHN". The boat last sailed as Captain's Joe and Bruce Cash's "PORT JEFF ACE" from Port Jefferson, NY. She was demolished in December 2009 after 47 years of operation. Photo courtesy of Captain Greg Markert.	3 MISS CHRIS II, Cape May, NJ – 1983 The "MISS CHRIS II" from Cape May, New Jersey circa 1983. East Bay Boat Works built the boat in 1977 at Harkers Island, NC for Captain Frank Spiegel. Captain Fred Ascoli later purchased the boat and he continues to operate her from Cape May, NJ. Photo Courtesy of Captain Jeff Stewart Jr.	4 RANGER VII, Brooklyn, NY – 1983 Captain Mike Scarpati's "RANGER VII" may have been the prettiest party boat to sail from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY. Lydia Yachts built the "RANGER VII" at Stuart, FL in 1982. She was sold in 1988 and became Captain Ray Etle's "WHITE STAR IV" from Barnegat Light, NJ. She later became Captain Arnold 'Speedy' Hubert's "SUPER SPEEDY EXPRESS" from Captree, NY and then headed south to Virginia Beach, VA and sailed as the "SUPER SPORT II". The boat returned to Captree, NY and resumed sailing as the "SUPER SPEEDY EXPRESS", where she continues to sail today.	5 ATOMIC III, Brooklyn, NY – 1984 Captain Joe Miller's "ATOMIC III" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY circa 1984. The boat was built in 1978 by Yank Boat Works at Tuckahoe, NJ as Captain Gerry Nappi's "TRAVELER". She was originally designed to be 75 feet in length, but a berth of that size was unavailable at the time and she was built shorter at 65 feet. The boat later became the "CAPT. BOB JOSEPH" from Captree, NY, Captain Joe Miller's "ATOMIC III" from Sheepshead Bay, Captain Al Coley's "BETTY W" from Sheepshead Bay, Captain Patrick Gillen's "CAPT. GILLEN III" from Captree, NY, and Captain Charlie Buser's "CAPTREE STAR II" from Captree and is currently sailing as Captain Des O'Sullivan's "CELTIC QUEST IV" from Port Jefferson, NY.
6 BETTY W III, Brooklyn, NY – 1984 Taking a page from the Captree fleet's protocol of fine varnish work is Captain Al Coley's "BETTY W III" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn NY. She was built in 1975 by East Bay Boat Works at Harkers Island, NC as Captain Ron Robbins' "HOLIDAY" and sailed from Cape May, NJ. She later became Captain Jack Endean's "HOLIDAY" from Point Pleasant, NJ before becoming the "BETTY W III" from Sheepshead Bay. In 1986, Captain Coley sold her to Captain Marty Haines Jr. and she became the "SEA PIGEON IV" from Perth Amboy, NJ. In 2007, she became Captains Tim and Lauren Griffith's "MIDDLEBANK II" and now sails from Bridgeport, CT.	7 CAPT. JOSEPH, Captree, NY – 1984 Due to her unique and modern design, the "CAPT. JOSEPH" was referred to as the 'Star Wars' boat when she debuted at Captree, NY in 1981. She was built in 1980 at Ft. Lauderdale, FL by a small boatyard owned by the Joseph family. Powered by three turbocharged GM 12-92 engines, she was a very fast vessel, but her fuel consumption was considerable. She was later leased and began operating as a commuter vessel between Cape Cod and Nantucket Island. She returned to party boat fishing in 1986 when she was purchased by Captain AL Coley and began sailing as his "BETTY W IV" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY. She later sailed as the "OPTIMIST SHOOTING STAR" from Belmar, NJ and then returned to Sheepshead Bay as the "SUNSHINE". Photo courtesy of Dana Chapman.	8 FRIENDSHIP II, Brooklyn, NY – 1984 Captain Mark Brent's "FRIENDSHIP II" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY circa 1984. She was built in 1958 by Stowman Shipyards, Dorchester, NJ as the Bogan family's "PARAMOUNT" and sailed from Brielle, NJ. She later became the "DUTCHESS" from Point Pleasant, NJ and also sailed briefly from that same port as the “HOLIDAY”. She caught fire at her pier in 1986 and was a total loss.	9 HOLIDAY, Point Pleasant, NJ – 1984 The "HOLIDAY" from Point Pleasant, NJ circa 1984. Captain Mark Campbell operated her. Stowman Shipyards, Dorchester, NJ built her in 1958 as the "PARAMOUNT". She later became the "DUTCHESS" from Point Pleasant, NJ and after that, sailed from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY as the "FRIENDSHIP II". Photo courtesy of Captain Jack Endean.	10 MISS MOORE, Staten Island, NY – 1984 Captain Everett 'Eve' Moore's "MISS MOORE" from Great Kills, Staten Island NY circa 1984. This was the last photo of the "MISS MOORE" while berthed at Shoal's Dock. The owners of the property sold the land and it became part of a condominium development, and the "MISS MOORE" moved Port Atlantic Marina at Tottenville, Staten Island, NY. Gillikin Boat Works, Harkers Island, NC, built the "MISS MOORE" in 1963. Sold in 1987, she operated from Gerritsen Beach, NY as a charter boat for one season under the command of Captain Tommy Paladino. Sold the following year, she became Captain Ed Moraski's "SEA WOLF" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY. Photo courtesy of Captain Jeff Gutman.
11 SHAMROCK, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ – 1984 Lydia Yachts of Stuart, Florida built the "SHAMROCK" in 1984 and in this photo, she was brand new and on her way from Florida to Point Pleasant Beach. She was owned and operated by Captain John Bogan Jr. (who is known by his fellow boatmen as 'Shammy John', and by a select few, as the infamous 'Shamola'.) Captain John sailed the "SHAMROCK" from Point Pleasant Beach, NJ specializing in summer 'Jersey Shore' Fluke fishing during the day and Bluefish during the evening. The boat was later sold and became Captain Russell Benn's "SEVEN B'S V" from Point Judith, RI. Photo courtesy of Captain John Bogan, Jr.	12 ZEPHYR, Brooklyn, NY – 1984 Captain 'Butch' Rafi's "ZEPHYR" circa 1984. She sailed from Pier 1, Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY. She was built in 1958 by Gillikin Brothers Boat works, Harkers Island, NC as the "BLUE SEA II" from Riviera Beach, FL. She later became Captain Nick Cannisi’s "BLUE SEA II" (same name, different owner.) Captain Cannisi then remodeled her and removed many of her Gillikin features. Captain 'Butch' purchased the "BLUE SEA II" in 1976 and renamed her the "ZEPHYR". When he replaced her with the new "ZEPHYR V" in 1988, her new owners moved the boat to Minneapolis, MN and remodeled her again. She then sailed as a dinner cruise boat (on the Mississippi River) until she was dismantled in 1996.	13 ALOMA II, Freeport, NY – 1985 Captain George Schmidt's "ALOMA II" from Freeport, NY circa 1985. The "ALOMA II" was built in 1971 at Freeport, NY by Captain Harry Nunnenkamp as his "ANN". She later sailed as Captain Jake Nessel's "MARLIN V" from Montauk, New York and is presently sailing as the "EBB TIDE" in the Marlin Fleet at Montauk, New York. Photo courtesy of Captain Paul Schmidt.	14 BETTY W III, Brooklyn, NY – 1985 The "BETTY W III" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY and skippered by Captain Al Coley circa 1985. She was built in 1975 by East Bay Boat Works, Harkers Island, NC as Captain Ron Robbins' "HOLIDAY" and sailed from Cape May, NJ. She later became Captain Jack Endean's "HOLIDAY" from Point Pleasant, NJ before becoming the "BETTY W III". In 1986, Captain Coley sold her to Captain Marty Haines Jr. and she became the "SEA PIGEON IV" from Perth Amboy, NJ. In 2007, she became Captains Tim and Lauren Griffith's MIDDLEBANK II and now sails from Bridgeport, CT.	15 BLUE SEA III, Brooklyn, NY – 1985 The "BLUE SEA III" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY circa 1982. She was operated by Captain Nick Cannisi. She was built in 1966 by Covacevich Shipyard, Biloxi, MS. She came to Sheepshead Bay in 1976 and sailed as the "BLUE SEA III" until 1987 when she was sold to Captain Tommy Marconi and became one of the many vessels that were named "PILOT II". Photo courtesy of Captain Andrew Nazzaruolo.
16 CAPT. MIKE II, Howard Beach, NY – 1985 This photo of the "CAPT. MIKE II" was taken in 1985 from a New York Daily News helicopter. The "CAPTAIN MIKE II" was owned and operated by Captain Mike Abbaticchio. She was built in 1944 at Bristol, RI as the US Navy Air-Sea Rescue vessel "C-77463". She previously sailed as Captain Frank Palsgraf's "YANKEE" from Sheepshead Bay and then as the "RAIDER". She later returned to Sheepshead Bay and sailed as the "RAINBOW". Photo courtesy of Captain Mike Abbaticchio.	17 FISHERMEN, Atlantic Highlands, NJ – 1985 With pennants flying, a brand new "FISHERMEN" arrives at Atlantic Highlands Marina in 1985 after a journey up the coast from Lydia Yachts at Stuart, FL where she was built. The "FISHERMEN" still sails from Atlantic Highlands today and is an example of the family operated small business that adds so much to the local community. Photo courtesy of Captain Ron Santee Jr.	18 LARK III, Brooklyn, NY – 1985 The "LARK III" from Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn, NY and operated by Captain George Koch circa 1985. She was built in 1980 by Yank Boat Works at Tuckahoe, NJ and is currently sailing as the "SEA SPIRIT II" from Ponce Inlet, FL.	19 PILOT II, Brooklyn, NY – 1985 Captain Tommy Marconi's "PILOT II" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY circa 1983. She was built in 1964 by Gillikin Boat Works at Harkers Island, NC as Captain Stanley Joseph's "CAPT. JOSEPH II". She was originally powered by four GM 6-71 diesel engines turning three propellers (two engines were connected in tandem to the center propeller shaft), and was later modified to operate with three engines. During her tenure at Sheepshead Bay, she was considered THE Blackfish party boat. This photo was taken on March 5, 1985 by Sheepshead Bay photographer Harry Ostrow as the PILOT II returned from her annual trip to the shipyard. Sadly, there was an electrical fire during a Flounder fishing trip on the very next day and the "PILOT II" burned to the waterline and was beached at Sandy Hook. As a result, this is the very last photo taken of this boat.	20 SEA PIGEON III, Perth Amboy, NJ – 1985 The "SEA PIGEON III" returning to it's berth in Perth Amboy, NJ after a day of Raritan Bay fluke fishing in 1985.
21 SUNSHINE III, Brooklyn, NY – 1985 The "SUNSHINE III" was built in 1959 at Scott McBurney's Boat Yard, Brooklyn, NY as Captain Ken Wright’s "BETTY W II". Captain Wright's First Mate, Al Coley, later purchased the boat and business and continued to operate this vessel from Sheepshead Bay until he replaced her with the "BETTY W III" in 1984. She then became the "SUNSHINE III" and in 1987, she went aground off Rockaway Beach, NY and was later dismantled.	22 CAPTAIN MIKE III, Howard Beach, NY – 1986 Captain Mike Abbaticcio's "CAPT. MIKE" from Howard Beach, NY circa 1986. She was built in 1963 and formerly sailed as Captain Mike Dannon's "CAPT. DOUG II" from Freeport, NY. Captain Mike Abbaticcio later sold her to Captain Tony Maio who renamed her "MISS FREEPORT". She was sold once again and remodeled and is presently sailing as the "SPECTRUM" from Captree, NY. Photo courtesy of John Abbaticchio.	23 CAPT. RICHIE, Captree, NY – 1986 Captain Richie Westerlind’s "CAPT. RICHIE" from Captree, NY circa 1986. She was one of several beautiful Gillikin party boats owned by the Westerlind Family. Gillikin Boat Works built her in 1961 at Harkers Island, NC and she originally sailed as the "CAPT. GEORGE". Later sold and renamed the "DULCINEA", she is currently operating as a launch for a yacht club in Boardman, OR. Photo courtesy of Lee Westerlind.	24 FRIENDSHIP III, Brooklyn, NY – 1986 Captain Mark Brent's FRIENDSHIP III from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY circa 1986. She was built in 1974 by Gulf Craft at Patterson, LA and originally sailed as the "CAPT. APPLEGATE" from Atlantic City, NJ. Captain Brent sailed her from Sheepshead Bay for a few years and later relocated with the vessel to Massachusetts where he began a new venture doing whale watching tours. She later returned to her party boat status when she became the "MOHAWK EXPLORER" from Belmar, NJ. She again changed owners and names when she became Captain Bob Elsey's "NIGHT HAWK" from Belmar, NJ. Alas, she was sold in 2005 and relocated to Monterey, CA, where she is again running whale watching tours as the "MONTEREY PRINCESS".	25 MARY IV, Brooklyn, NY – 1986 Captain Murphy Cannisi's "MARY IV" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY circa 1986. The "MARY IV" was a converted WW II Air-Sea Rescue Boat. She previously sailed from Sheepshead Bay as Captain Dominic Palermo's "CAPT. DOM".
26 MISS BELMAR II, Belmar, NJ – 1986 The "MISS BELMAR II" from Belmar, NJ circa 1986. She was built in 1978 by Lydia Yachts, Stuart, FL as Captain Pete Pearson's "KLONDIKE VII" from New Rochelle, NY and later sailed for many years as the "FREDDY C" from Leonardo, NJ. She is now sailing as the "CAPTREE STAR III" from Captree, NY.	27 OL SALTY II, Belmar, NJ – 1986 Captain Barry 'Mojo' Goldman's "OL SALTY II" from Belmar, NJ circa 1986. She specialized in offshore tuna fishing.	28 RAINBOW, Brooklyn, NY – 1986 Captain Phil Spadaro's "RAINBOW" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY circa 1986. She was a converted World War II 63-foot air/sea rescue boat built for the US Navy in 1944 at Bristol, RI as the "AVR-C-77463"; three GM 6-71 diesels supplied the power. Before becoming the "RAINBOW", she originally sailed from Sheepshead Bay as the "YANKEE" and then as the "RAIDER"; she later sailed as Captain Mike Abbaticchio's "CAPT. MIKE". Photo Courtesy of Steve Kawalek.	29 SEA PIGEON, Perth Amboy, NJ – 1986 Captain Marty Haines' "SEA PIGEON" from Perth Amboy, NJ circa 1986. The "SEA PIGEON" was built in 1961 at Stevenson Boat Works, Staten Island, NY and specialized in Raritan Bay Fluke and Flounder fishing. In 1986, Captain Haines replaced her with the "SEA PIGEON IV" (Captain Al Coley's "BETTY W III" from Sheepshead Bay, NY.) Later in 1986, the "SEA PIGEON" was sold to Captain Al Hilliard and became the party boat "PROWLER" from Atlantic Highlands, NJ. In 1990, the "PROWLER" relocated to Oregon where she sailed as the "WINDWALKER". She foundered during a storm in 1992 and was a total loss.	30 SHAMROCK, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ – 1986 Captain John Bogan's Lydia-built "SHAMROCK" during her annual haulout in March 1986. Photo Courtesy of Captain John Bogan Jr.