The Story of Our MFG: 42 years of memories in a 15-foot boat
While only 15 feet, our beloved MFG is long on thrills and memories. It all began in December of 1975 when I purchased the aqua-blue tri-hull with a 65-hp Johnson sitting atop a Cox trailer. After a short but cold test drive, I was sold. Having had a Boston Whaler that tended to pound and kick up spray, this tri-hull rode on a cushion of air and kept us dry and stable.
Over the next 40-plus years, our MFG has filled many a photo album and given us countless stories. It has traveled from the Florida Keys to Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. The beauty of a 15-foot boat is that it is a breeze to trailer, offers enough space for two or three passengers, and is economical to run.
One memorable trip to Islamorada stands out. It was early afternoon, and my son Martin and I were busy catching jacks in one of the many channels that crisscrossed the Keys. The boat next to us attracted a school of ballyhoo into its chum slick. Having filled his live well with a couple dozen ballyhoo, the captain announced that they were going to head offshore for sailfish.
After the boat departed, the school of ballyhoo relocated behind our boat. While we didn’t have a cast net, we did have a few hair hooks and managed to catch enough ballyhoo to give sail fishing a try. We pulled anchor and ran the short distance across the reef to the drop-off, where we set out our baits into the cobalt-blue water. We were fishing about three miles off of the Cheeca Lodge in Islamorada, FL. After about half an hour, suddenly one of our three rods started to zing. “Fish on!” we screamed.
I couldn’t believe it, but my 15-year-old son had hooked his first sailfish. The fish’s initial run nearly spooled the reel, but we were able to soon gain line on the fish and witness its breathtaking acrobatic show. After a 20-minute battle on a 20-pound class rod, we got the fish to the leader. It was a 51-pound sailfish that kicked off a lifelong love of fishing for my son. It also started a worldwide adventure of billfishing that took my son and me to such far reaches as Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Two short years later, we returned to Islamorada. This time, however, our adventure took us to the Hump, a seamount rising out of the ocean floor about 12 miles offshore. The Hump is a natural fish attractor. We were rigged for blackfin tuna and amberjack. Not long after we put our lines out, a charter captain yelled out, “Blue marlin!” Thirty feet behind our MFG, a 250-300 pound blue marlin had just engulfed our two baits. While it is an image that will stick in our minds forever, the mighty fish soon broke our lines and swam away.
Living in the Washington, DC, area, we started taking trips to Lake Anna, VA, to try some bass fishing. It didn’t take long to realize that our aqua blue MFG wasn’t exactly a sleek, low profile, sparkly bass boat. Thinking my son and I would enjoy bass fishing, I traded the MFG for a metal flake bass boat. However, very soon after, we realized we made a big mistake. The bass boat just didn’t feel right.
With the bass boat in tow, I headed back to the dealer I had purchased it from, hoping to find our beloved MFG. Low and behold, it was still there. I was able to negotiate its purchase all over again. We were both so happy to have our true blue friend back. Over the years, we have waterskied, cruised, and fished on the MFG around the Chesapeake Bay, Ocean City, and several lakes. I even trailered the MFG to Atlanta, GA, when visiting my son at college for a few wonderful days at Lake Lanier.
Over the years, the motor has been upgraded to an 88-hp Evinrude, the trailer has been replaced, and the interior and electronics have been refitted several times over the course of its 42-year life. While the boat doesn’t get used as much these days, every time I look at it I recall these special memories.
by Lloyd Needle
Friday, September 23, 2016 - 08:30
The Story of Our MFG: 42 years of memories in a 15-foot boat
While only 15 feet, our beloved MFG is long on thrills and memories. It all began in December of 1975 when I purchased the aqua-blue tri-hull with a 65-hp Johnson sitting atop a Cox trailer. After a short but cold test drive, I was sold. Having had a Boston Whaler that tended to pound and kick up spray, this tri-hull rode on a cushion of air and kept us dry and stable.
Over the next 40-plus years, our MFG has filled many a photo album and given us countless stories. It has traveled from the Florida Keys to Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. The beauty of a 15-foot boat is that it is a breeze to trailer, offers enough space for two or three passengers, and is economical to run.
One memorable trip to Islamorada stands out. It was early afternoon, and my son Martin and I were busy catching jacks in one of the many channels that crisscrossed the Keys. The boat next to us attracted a school of ballyhoo into its chum slick. Having filled his live well with a couple dozen ballyhoo, the captain announced that they were going to head offshore for sailfish.
After the boat departed, the school of ballyhoo relocated behind our boat. While we didn’t have a cast net, we did have a few hair hooks and managed to catch enough ballyhoo to give sail fishing a try. We pulled anchor and ran the short distance across the reef to the drop-off, where we set out our baits into the cobalt-blue water. We were fishing about three miles off of the Cheeca Lodge in Islamorada, FL. After about half an hour, suddenly one of our three rods started to zing. “Fish on!” we screamed.
I couldn’t believe it, but my 15-year-old son had hooked his first sailfish. The fish’s initial run nearly spooled the reel, but we were able to soon gain line on the fish and witness its breathtaking acrobatic show. After a 20-minute battle on a 20-pound class rod, we got the fish to the leader. It was a 51-pound sailfish that kicked off a lifelong love of fishing for my son. It also started a worldwide adventure of billfishing that took my son and me to such far reaches as Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Two short years later, we returned to Islamorada. This time, however, our adventure took us to the Hump, a seamount rising out of the ocean floor about 12 miles offshore. The Hump is a natural fish attractor. We were rigged for blackfin tuna and amberjack. Not long after we put our lines out, a charter captain yelled out, “Blue marlin!” Thirty feet behind our MFG, a 250-300 pound blue marlin had just engulfed our two baits. While it is an image that will stick in our minds forever, the mighty fish soon broke our lines and swam away.
Living in the Washington, DC, area, we started taking trips to Lake Anna, VA, to try some bass fishing. It didn’t take long to realize that our aqua blue MFG wasn’t exactly a sleek, low profile, sparkly bass boat. Thinking my son and I would enjoy bass fishing, I traded the MFG for a metal flake bass boat. However, very soon after, we realized we made a big mistake. The bass boat just didn’t feel right.
With the bass boat in tow, I headed back to the dealer I had purchased it from, hoping to find our beloved MFG. Low and behold, it was still there. I was able to negotiate its purchase all over again. We were both so happy to have our true blue friend back. Over the years, we have waterskied, cruised, and fished on the MFG around the Chesapeake Bay, Ocean City, and several lakes. I even trailered the MFG to Atlanta, GA, when visiting my son at college for a few wonderful days at Lake Lanier.
Over the years, the motor has been upgraded to an 88-hp Evinrude, the trailer has been replaced, and the interior and electronics have been refitted several times over the course of its 42-year life. While the boat doesn’t get used as much these days, every time I look at it I recall these special memories.
by Lloyd Needle