Florida Keys' Watercolor by Bob Kranich

Florida Keys' Watercolor - Bob Kranich Stories

Excerpt from Bob Kranich's second full-length book, Florida Keys’ Watercolor Kapers. Composed of 336 pages and 12 stories running from 6 pages to as many as 72 pages, fully illustrated with 88 watercolors and sketches. The watercolors were made roaming around Key West after Kranich finished a 750 mile hike from Georgia to Key West.

As you read these stories you will experience Key West, the Keys and the Caribbean. The stories span the time of the early 1800’s to 1969. bkranich.wixsite.com/bobkranich

Stowaway is a cute fictional story about a mischievous little girl who is not happy because her grandfather is called to work on Saturday and can’t take her fishing like he promised. She takes matters into her own hands:

Just then a loud siren went off behind them in the street. A police car with lights flashing went by. When the captain looked down again Robin was nowhere to be seen. She was out on the deck next to the couple. It is possible that even though they were middle-aged they could have been newlyweds on a honeymoon. They did not seem to notice a little girl hanging around them.

This boat they were on was named Full Catch. It was pretty impressive! From front to rear a total of 57 feet, with dual 750 HP each Caterpillar diesel inboard engines, and a flying bridge topping the boat off.

Tall, large, and muscular, Captain Jack had lived in Key West all his life. His parents together with 10-year-old Jack were moved there in 1935 by the U S Navy. His dad, a captain in his own right, commanded many different types of ships to include one of the submarine tender support ships. He was efficient and had all the right connections, so that he served in Key West until after the War, then retired in Key West.

After graduation from high school, Jack worked on many local fishing boats. He was a very thrifty fella and saved up enough money for a down payment on his dream boat and business, Captain Jack’s Deep Sea Fishing. He had been at this the last 10 years and loved every minute of it. Another couple of years and he would own this boat and all the profit would then be his.

Captain Jack climbed up to the flying bridge. He caught one of his two mate’s eyes, nodded and commanded, “Cast off, John.”
Both John and the other helper, Chuck, unwound the ropes holding the boat to the pier and then coiled them back in place. Jack flipped the starters for both engines. Without hesitation they both blasted on with a tremendous roar!

You could hear that hollow echo from the pipes against the water. He carefully eased the boat away from its mooring, slowly turned it around, and gave the two engines a little throttle. Soon they were out of the Garrison Bight and into the channel. To keep in the center of the channel he had to keep the correct channel markers to his port and starboard (left and right).

The Full Catch had to swing out and around the western end of Key West. He had to keep a watch out for fishermen and an occasional Navy ship out from the submarine basin from the U S Naval Station.

Jack’s two crew members moved among their 12 customers showing them chairs to sit in, conversing and tending to the ship’s needs. From his perch high up on the flying bridge Jack could see that all his customers were getting settled.

Jack pushed both throttles forward. The bow of the ship came up and then, from the powerful surge of the two engines, it proceeded to come back down as the rear of the ship came up. The entire ship was leveled out. It was now planing,* moving at a fast clip and cutting the waves smoothly. Jack sure loved this action. He could feel the surge of power. He felt it through his entire body, from his fingers on the throttles to the vibration in the soles of his feet. He felt free...free as a bird, an albatross* to be exact.

With this action it was only about 45 minutes until they were past the Navy yard and on just the Atlantic side of Key West. Captain Jack pulled back on the throttles. The boat slowed and dropped in the water.

Jack came down the ladder, off the bridge.

He announced, “Now folks gather round. We’ve got more than enough fishing rigs for everyone. One per person. My mates, John and Chuck will help you get baited up. Then, we will ease out into the Gulf, and you will let your lines out, and we’ll troll. Try not to get tangled up with anyone. If the person next to you gets a strike, please ease slightly away from them with your rig. Remember every day we get something. It may be good eating such as Mahi-mahi or even a trophy! If you don’t get anything, I give you back half of your money. You will see that Captain Jack and his boys know where the fish are! Now, let the fun begin!”

Jack could see that all the customers were spread out on the sides and rear of the boat, lines out. There was one little problem. It looked like John was having a time outfitting a little girl with a rod and reel. Jack went over to them. Then he remembered...this was the little girl he had seen during loading!

“John, go up on the bridge, take the helm and start a slow troll, I’ll take over here.”

“Aye aye, Cap’n,” John snapped to...and headed for the bridge.

“Now little girl, what’s your name?”

“Robin, Sir,” she looking up at a towering giant.

“Robin, shouldn't you be over with your parents?”

“They're not my parents, Sir,” she said sheepishly, looking down.

“Well, then, just who are you with?” he demanded in a thundering voice.

“No one, Sir...Captain.”

“So we have a stowaway!”

“What’s a stowaway, Sir?”

“Leave the rod and reel here, and come with me.”

“But Sir, I need to fish! My grandpa said that he would take me fishing, but they called him in to the Navy Base to work!”

“Just come with me, we’ll talk about that later.”

They proceeded to climb up to the bridge.

“Just keep it going John, we’ve got a stowaway.”