Duchess turns 50!

[Mike36c]

The Duchess, a 1967 50c is owned by Billy Black who has been on the boat the last 45yrs. This boat was the Walker’s Cay primary offshore charter vessel for decades. After the hurricanes of 04 shut down the island she was brought back stateside for a refit. Billy rode out the hurricane at night in the bridge with the engines running trying to keep her off a sea wall, the Duchess II (45c Hatt) sunk. The original 871n’s which had 60,000hrs on 5 rebuilds were replaced with a pair of 903 Cummins, new 20kw NL genny, paint, and entire interior scraped sanded and re-varnished. She’s docked a mile from me here in Stuart and Billy decided to throw a party for her this weekend. The Duchess is a piece of history and I heard she’s caught 1000+ blue marlin. I’ve attached a few pics but can’t get them to post correctly.

 

[Mike36c]

Few more, sorry they’re sideways

 

[Mike36c]

Next to the Duchess is the Funny Feelin Too which also rode out the same storm and nearly sunk. She spent many years at Walkers and was also re-fit with M11’s.

 

[SEVEN]

What a beauty. You must be very proud. Happy Birthday.

 

[Spellbound]

Spent many a day fishing alongside both these boats at Walkers and Boca Grande. Years ago participated in Walkers "winter dockage", keep boat just down from Duchess next to Duchess II, got to know Billy, Jerome (Capt of Duchess II) and learned that Billy's mother lived in same area I did that being Siesta Key a neighborhood of Sarasota. Funny Feeling is Clark's boat and we would fish many a night beside each other in Boca Grande pass for Tarpon. Good folks and both boats with a lot of history.

 

[Bernhard]

Those are great stories. My 41C turned 50 this year, but probably never rode out any of these gulf coast hurricanes offshore. She did, however, once belong to Kenny Stabler. That would have been some fun times. Seems like there is some magic in these old girls when it comes to raising fish. Plenty of blood on that teak.Happy birthday.

 

[Mike36c]

Ready for another 50...