Roosters, Alligators, & Sharks

[Kickin' Chicken]

I have an unusual fishing boat named Rapid Rooster which is a double entendre in that it is indeed rapid, and it can go in rapids since it has no prop, is flat-bottomed for shallow draft, and is r-u-g-g-e-d (a US Army hull).

Well, anywho, I have been meaning to change the name to my father's (rip) nickname which was Gator Bait. The reason for his nickname is a whole other story but suffice to say, my daddy was a hillbilly from Dothan, AL and by northern standards, he was nuts. Very! He and I had a boat together, Gator Bait, then I had a runabout Gator Bait 2, and now this one, just renamed complete w/updated design.

A friend of mine painted her up and I went to another buddy, Flash, to get the registration numbers put back on.

Flash is a bit of a curmudgeon who looks a little like Yosemite Sam which I don't think is by accident. He is obsessed with cartoons, Yosemite, Bugs Bunny, Road Runner and Rat Fink are definite favorites.

I knew he'd get a kick out of the new boat motif and he was the one who found and made up the rooster decals used on the original design.

When I arrived at Flash Sign, as usual, I felt like I was walking into toontown. There were 6' tall stuffed bugs bunnys, a life sized betty boop, comic books, posters, supermen, a Volkswagen dune buggy with a blower & cartoon characters painted all over it, hot wheels, match box.. Well you get the idea.

So after catching up for a bit we went into his office where the vinyl cutting machine was and he input my reg numbers. I was scanning all of the interesting laying about when my eyes locked on a very fun looking pool table light, a model I never saw before. Didn't look expensive but definitely whimsical like pretty much everything there. :smile:

It says Sharkies Billiards and has a Shark holding a cue.

There it is, below, along with a couple of the gator bait 3 with my buddy, Eric, the artist.

Has anyone seen this light before with the shark holding a cue?

best,
brian kc <---going fishing...

 

[ENGLISH!]

Damn Brian,

I thought you were making a gumbo.:wink:

All the best,
Rick

PS The boat looks awesome.

PSS There was a night club in the Fat City area back in the day named Shark'y Reef with a huge aquarium but I've never see the light.

 

[CreeDo]

Nice boat ^^ found a ton of places online called sharkies billiards, and a ton of logos with a shark holding a cue... but not that exact one. The sign shop might have made that light for a pool hall that went out of business, or else just made it up from scratch as an example of what they're capable of. I'd call the shop.

 

[berko]

Between your humor and style, Brian, you have a winning combination.

 

[Kickin' Chicken]

Between your humor and style, Brian, you have a winning combination.

does this mean we may have a 2nd date?

best,
brian kc

 

[Kickin' Chicken]

thx creedo & English!...

by the time I saw the light in his office and between him working on my stuff and taking other calls, all I got from him was that he had it hanging in his rec room at home but had to remove the table, light, etc., due to a child moving back home.

never asked if he made the topper.

best,
brian kc

 

[Dead Money]

Now THAT my friend is a fishing boat!

 

[berko]

Thinking of getting out there in the fall. Will keep you posted.

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

Nice trolling motor you have there Brian. Let me give you a little fishing tip.

You're supposed to sneak up on the fish, not blow them outta the water with straight pipes.

 

[Tramp Steamer]

We had a pool room here in Springfield, named Sharky's, Brian.
I hope the same thing that happened to our Sharky's, doesn't happen to your boat. They went under.
Sail on, my friend.

 

[3RAILKICK]

Nice trolling motor you have there Brian. Let me give you a little fishing tip.

You're supposed to sneak up on the fish, not blow them outta the water with straight pipes.

This setup is perfect for chasing down fast fish.

Brian-couple questions-

The rear rod holders are for freshwater trolling? With trolling motor? Is there a trolling speed possible with that engine/jacuzzi?

Handrails on outside-was this a recon boat? Or a fast extraction boat set up?

Either way-cool setup.

 

[Kickin' Chicken]

This setup is perfect for chasing down fast fish.

Brian-couple questions-

The rear rod holders are for freshwater trolling? With trolling motor? Is there a trolling speed possible with that engine/jacuzzi?

Handrails on outside-was this a recon boat? Or a fast extraction boat set up?

Either way-cool setup.

Thank you and how have you been?

In it's military life it was a corps of engineers "pontoon-half" bridge boat.

when we used to watch the old army movies and a bridge was blown up, these hulls were what was brought in. They were bare hulls, no interiors, no engines, nada.

imagine two of these hulls pinned together transom to transom (back to back). That made what they referred to as a full pontoon.

then they would place as many of these full pontoons as needed, side by side, to span the waterway.

Then a road surface was installed and voila, a bridge was born.

They are so rugged and stable that everything up to and including tanks went over with ease.

The handrail were so that a few solders per side could carry them off of the transport trucks and place them in water. All aluminum, it still has the corps of engineers info plate inside stating the weight at 680 lbs. Pretty light for a 19.5' long HD boat.

I'm a big guy and when we're out fishing and I'm jumping around the boxes and front deck, this boat doesn't move. It's like you're standing on the dock.

The motor is a 455 Olds with quite a few Mondello (CA) race mods and the Berkeley jet is a 12JC model which has also been modified.

We have measured the roostertail and, to date, the longest one was 220 feet. People say they like how it looks going down the lake. :wink:

You can be doing 55-60 mph down the lake on a flat water day and cut the steering wheel all the way and juice it and she'll do pirouettes while spraying. Quite a sight.

You can troll with the main engine but not real practical. The bow seat and MinnKota troller are the hot ticket for trolling.

Those rod holders are for carp fishing mostly fresh water lakes and occasionally brackish waters on the CT River. At anchor using a long rod (11-12') and a baitrunner, good weight to the bottom with a hair-rig and corn, boilies, tiger nuts, etc. You can also troll for trout around here.

If you ever find yourself back east, let me know. We'll see about hitting some balls and, if time allows, we'll try to catch a fish.

best,
brian kc