Advertisement

History of Sportfishing Boats

The origins of the offshore tournament boat feature early designs crafted by Rybovich, Whiticar and Merritt. Read more here.
  • Updated: February 14, 2012

rybovich-hull-1—miss-chevy-ii—running-shot.jpg

Rybovich’s 34-foot Miss Chevy II was designed to fish the Cat Cay Tuna Tournament — she would be a teak and mahogany jewel box.

rybovich-hull-27—frances-h-at-old-boatyard.jpg

Rybovich hull no. 27, Frances II, at the Rybovich & Sons boatyard.

tommy-rybovich-working-w-mr-johnson—pop-brothers-watch.jpg

Tommy Rybovich, bottom left, with Charley Johnson (who commissioned Rybovich hull No. 1). Behind Mr. Johnson, standing, is John Rybovich. To the right, Emil Rybovich stands behind Pops Rybovich. (Ca. 1956.)

rybovich-hull-36—cosa—flipping-hull-july-15,-1954.jpg

Flipping Rybovich hull no. 36, Cosa. (Ca. July 15, 1964.)

rybovich-hull-53—rybovich-family-on-tralee-kate.jpg

Rybovich family on hull no. 53, Tralee Kate.

the-rybovich-men-.jpg

Rybovich family.

13-hull—bimini-babe-feb-1960-sports-afield.jpg

Hull no. 13, Bimini Babe, featured on the cover of Sports Afield (February, 1960).

1964-cat-cay.jpg

A fleet of Rybovich boats at Cat Cay. (Ca. 1964.)

bimini-tournament-1965.jpg

A fleet of Rybovich boats heads out looking for the fish during a 1965 tournament in Bimini, Bahamas.

1966-bimini—three-rybos-docked.jpg

Three Rybovich boats docked. (Ca. 1966.)

dad-shearwater-transom.jpg

Curt Whiticar designed and built around 60 boats, but his favorite is the 33-foot Shearwater he built for himself in 1937. “We commercial-fished her with short riggers and used kites and longer bamboo riggers for sailfish. It wasn’t so complicated. … The fish were everywhere!”

shearwater-hull-7.jpg

Shearwater, built in 1937, was Whiticar’s seventh hull.

shearwater-under-construction.jpg

Shearwater under construction. (Ca. 1937.)

shearwater-plaque.jpg

shearwater-profile.jpg

Shearwater running

fleet-fishing.jpg

A fleet of Whiticar yachts head out to the fishing grounds.

gannet.jpg

Whiticar’s Gannet II running.

gannet-ii-cockpit.jpg

Cockpit of Whiticar’s Gannet II.

p1040561.jpg

Whiticar’s most recent builds are state-of-the-art tournament designs with cold-molded hulls and cored fiberglass superstructures.

allen-buddy-.jpg

Brothers Allen and Buddy Merritt began building boats in 1955 at their family’s service yard 20 miles south of Rybovich’s in Pompano Beach.

1-buddy-merritt-enlarged-almost-8×10-very-digital.jpg

Buddy Merritt

allen-merritt-catch.jpg

Allen Merritt

atlantic-marine-basin,-nj,-allen-buddy-.jpg

Allen and Buddy Merritt at the Atlantic Marine Basin, N.J.

caliban.jpg

The Merritt 42 Caliban is still one good-looking gal.

calibanrunning.jpg

Caliban running

37-merritt-tuna-teaser.jpg

Tuna Teaser, a 37′ Merritt.

72-merritt-running.jpg

72′ Merritt running

merritt-enclosed-bridge.jpg

Merritt enclosed bridge

merritt-boat-2000-aerial-roy.jpg

Merritt’s boatyard. (Ca. 2000.)
Advertisement
  • More Yachts
Advertisement

Read More

SUBSCRIPTIONS
ABOUT US
FOLLOW US
FIRECROWN BRANDS
Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Yachting may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Copyright © 2024 Yachting Firecrown. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.