Views of the Neighborhood

January 29, 2017 · by John W. Howell · in Views of the Neighborhood · 55 Comments

Today we are visiting an absorbing place. I have mentioned the Farley Boat Works in a couple of posts and have featured the Farley Boat planters sponsored by the garden club. Today though we are going to the mother ship. The actual Farley Boat Works and Museum.

Farley Boats set the standard along the Gulf Coast for fishing and sport from 1915 to the mid-1970s. Three generations of the Farley family designed and built the Farley Boat in the back of their home in Port Aransas, Texas.

Here is a shot of works taken in the sixties.

Farley Boats

No Farley Boats were made from the late seventies until The Port Aransas Preservation, and Historical Association (PAPHA) opened the restored Farley Boat Works building to the public on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. Boat building lessons for the general public commenced the same day.

Here is how the building looks today

Farley Boat Works

The Boat Works Manager Frank Coletta supervises the activities which include, boat building lessons, restoration,, and fundraising. Behind Frank is a partial view of the workspace.

Farley Boat Works

Above where Frank is standing is a sign that captures the essence of the boat works.

Farley Boat Works

The next photo shows a bench with every kind of clamp needed to hold pieces of wood together.

Farley Boat Works

The next shot is a skiff under construction

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I mentioned earlier that Frank supervises fundraising for the boat works. A man project is the construction of a handmade kayak which is sold at auction. The last one sold for thousands. Here is the next one being made.

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One project of the boat works is the design, fabrication, and launch of the first Texas Schooner in over one hundred years. The sign below welcomes donations for spars and sails on the finished craft.

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Here is the schooner being built under a tent outdoors. You can see the rudder laying on its side on the concrete blocks

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There are other exhibits on the grounds. Here are two. This room gives you a history of the works and contains an example of an outboard motor powered boat.

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This room has a more classic Farley Boat.

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There is plenty more to see including a collection of old outboard motors and other artifacts. If you are in Port Aransas a visit to the Farley Boat Works is a must. The museum and boat works is located at 716 W. Avenue C, Port Aransas, TX 78373

Tags: author, books, Farley Boat Works and Museum, Farley Boats, fiction favorites, His Revenge, John W. Howell Author, My GRL, Our Justice, thriller fiction, Views of the Neighborhood

55 comments

patriciaruthsusan · January 29, 2017 - 4:20 am ·

Great pictures and explanations, John. Those are beautiful boats. 🙂 — Suzanne

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1. John W. Howell · January 29, 2017 - 7:58 am ·
  
  Thank you, Suzanne. I enjoyed my time there. Frank is a very nice man. 🙂
  
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Gwen Plano · January 29, 2017 - 4:20 am ·

Wonderful tour, John. There are a number of wood artisans in the Ozark area. Walking through the Farley exhibit, I felt the same pride of workmanship – of which I am in awe. Thank you! 🙂

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1. John W. Howell · January 29, 2017 - 7:57 am ·
  
  Thank you, Gwen. These folks do have a lot of pride and they are volunteers to boot. 🙂
  
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GP Cox · January 29, 2017 - 5:04 am ·

It’s almost a lost art and nothing cuts through the water better than a wooden boat!!

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1. John W. Howell · January 29, 2017 - 7:56 am ·
  
  Thanks, GP. These ere especially crafted for the rough seas of the Gulf. Very stable too. 🙂
  
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Jill Weatherholt · January 29, 2017 - 6:15 am ·

What a great tour, John! The boats are fabulous and so beautiful. Thanks for sharing this with us. Happy Sunday!

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1. John W. Howell · January 29, 2017 - 7:55 am ·
  
  Thank you , Jill. Happy Sunday to you. 🙂
  
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Teagan Geneviene · January 29, 2017 - 7:04 am ·

My favorite is the “classic Farley boat” — love it. The Texas Schooner project sounds great. I hope you can keep us updated on their progress. I’d love to see the finished product.
Thanks for another fun stroll around the neighborhood, John. Have a sublime Sunday. Mega hugs.

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1. John W. Howell · January 29, 2017 - 7:54 am ·
  
  I think it would be fun to take a sail and some photos after it ti launched. Thanks for the idea, Teagan. Hugs.
  
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  1. Teagan Geneviene · January 29, 2017 - 8:22 am ·
    
    Oooh yes, that sounds like huge fun!
    Applesauce, too bad there aren’t more jobs in that area. LOL. But then I’d still freak at every storm, worried about a hurricane. Oh well.
    
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    1. John W. Howell · January 29, 2017 - 8:32 am ·
      
      Naw. You get used to the possibility of a hurricane and don’t forget there is a five day warning period. You just have to be resolved that your life’s treasures have to fit in a to go container. 😀
      
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The Hook · January 29, 2017 - 7:21 am ·

I love virtual time travel…
Thanks, John.

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1. John W. Howell · January 29, 2017 - 7:53 am ·
  
  Always a first class seat waiting for you, Hook. Here, have a cookie.
  
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coldhandboyack · January 29, 2017 - 8:57 am ·

Very cool. I hope Sue Coletta finds this today. Maybe they have a distant relative somewhere.

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John Fioravanti · January 29, 2017 - 9:09 am ·

My son, Dominic has his own sailboat in a marina in Bayfield, Ontario – along Georgian Bay. He would absolutely love a tour of that Boatworks! Great pictures, John!

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1. John W. Howell · January 29, 2017 - 9:44 am ·
  
  Thanks, John. I’ll bet he would like to see there wooden boats for sure.
  
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rijanjks · January 29, 2017 - 10:21 am ·

Very interesting!

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1. John W. Howell · January 29, 2017 - 1:08 pm ·
  
  Yes it is. 🙂
  
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Let's CUT the Crap! · January 29, 2017 - 10:31 am ·

Interesting post. Who knew I’d give a fig about boats. These days, I’m interested in everything–must be to make up for lost time during my eye-rolling youth.
Superb photos, John. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

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1. John W. Howell · January 29, 2017 - 1:07 pm ·
  
  Thank you , Tess.:-)
  
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  1. Let's CUT the Crap! · January 29, 2017 - 5:00 pm ·
    
    You are more than welcome, John. Thank YOU.
    
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Julian Froment · January 29, 2017 - 11:14 am ·

Great pictures, John. I love the old cars in the first picture. A nice view of bygone times and how things have changed.

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1. John W. Howell · January 29, 2017 - 1:06 pm ·
  
  Thank you, Julian. I hope all is well with you and Ionia. Bless you both.
  
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Dan Antion · January 29, 2017 - 12:45 pm ·

I’d love to tour the museum (and the shop). Beautiful work. Thanks for this one, John.

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1. John W. Howell · January 29, 2017 - 1:04 pm ·
  
  Thanks for the visit. You could also work in the shop. They take volunteers and you would be a gem.
  
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  1. Dan Antion · January 29, 2017 - 2:18 pm ·
    
    I might never leave. We have a air museum and a trolley museum around here that take volunteers. I’ve been giving that some thought.
    
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    1. John W. Howell · January 29, 2017 - 7:54 pm ·
      
      Here though you actually BUILD boats not repair stuff.
      
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    2. Dan Antion · January 30, 2017 - 1:00 pm ·
      
      That would be cool
      
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    3. John W. Howell · January 30, 2017 - 2:00 pm ·
      
      I agree.
      
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Debbie · January 29, 2017 - 1:48 pm ·

Thanks for the info, John. Something tells me I’d have to be crazy to take a ride in a kayak like that, though. It’s pretty enough, but oh my, it doesn’t look sea-worthy, ha!

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1. John W. Howell · January 29, 2017 - 7:55 pm ·
  
  It is good for the bay. That is all you need.
  
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tpolen · January 29, 2017 - 2:04 pm ·

Thanks for the tour, John – I’m learning so much about boats from your blog!

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1. John W. Howell · January 29, 2017 - 7:55 pm ·
  
  You are welcome Teri. BTW I’m scheduled on Rebecca’s blog.
  
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  1. tpolen · January 30, 2017 - 7:11 am ·
    
    Good – look forward to reading your interview!
    
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    1. John W. Howell · January 30, 2017 - 8:00 am ·
      
      🙂
      
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S.K. Nicholls · January 29, 2017 - 2:25 pm ·

Grand to see the old boat-making techniques haven’t died off completely. Fiberglass was the best thing that ever happened in boating maintenance. They’re beautiful crafts, but I wouldn’t want to own one…unless I had it on display in my million dollar museum…after I win the lottery.

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1. John W. Howell · January 29, 2017 - 7:53 pm ·
  
  There you go. When you win come on down and we’ll set you up with a boatbuilding crew.
  
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  1. S.K. Nicholls · January 29, 2017 - 10:26 pm ·
    
    Great! I want a 72 foot Hatteras with a 12 man crew (okay, really 13) but I’ll take what I can get.
    
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    1. John W. Howell · January 30, 2017 - 8:09 am ·
      
      On order. 2.5 million
      
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Lesley at Lola Rugula · January 29, 2017 - 5:27 pm ·

Amazing craftsmanship….ship…see what I did there? 🙂 Sorry, bad pun, but seriously beautiful work.

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1. John W. Howell · January 29, 2017 - 7:51 pm ·
  
  I liked it. Thanks for the stop.
  
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circadianreflections · January 30, 2017 - 9:43 am ·

…and you found the guy to build the boat! 🙂 Great tour, and pretty little boats too!

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1. John W. Howell · January 30, 2017 - 2:02 pm ·
  
  Yup. He’s right here.
  
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Don Massenzio · January 30, 2017 - 3:40 pm ·

Not many craftsmen like that around any more. Thanks for sharing.

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macjam47 · January 30, 2017 - 7:18 pm ·

Thanks, John, for sharing this fascinating tour and history of the Farley Boat Works.

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1. John W. Howell · January 30, 2017 - 7:22 pm ·
  
  You are so welcome, Michelle. Thank you for coming along. 🙂
  
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  1. macjam47 · January 30, 2017 - 7:35 pm ·
    
    🙂
    
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    1. John W. Howell · January 30, 2017 - 7:37 pm ·
      
      🙂
      
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Audrey Dawn - Oldest Daughter Redheaded Sister · January 30, 2017 - 7:38 pm ·

I’d spend hours talking to Frank. We’ll take a few beers with us. He’s livin’ the dream.

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1. John W. Howell · January 30, 2017 - 7:55 pm ·
  
  I think he could throw back a few beers ole Frank
  
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  1. Audrey Dawn - Oldest Daughter Redheaded Sister · January 31, 2017 - 4:45 pm ·
    
    I know his breed. 🤓
    
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    1. John W. Howell · January 31, 2017 - 5:13 pm ·
      
      Yup.
      
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~Mar · January 31, 2017 - 2:43 pm ·

I absolutely love this post… the pics, the history, the boats. I’m fascinated and so wish I could plan a trip to Texas just for this!! (I’m an admirer of boats and wood-projects, thanks to my family.) Thanks so much for sharing, John!!

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1. John W. Howell · January 31, 2017 - 3:41 pm ·
  
  Thank you, Mar. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. 😀
  
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