Advertisement

Charles Frederick “Fred” Farley

Advertisement

Charles Frederick “Fred” Farley

Birth
Comanche County, Texas, USA
Death
18 Dec 1936 (aged 58)
Nueces County, Texas, USA
Burial
Port Aransas, Nueces County, Texas, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
In the early 1900s, tarpon fishing had begun to attract anglers from all across America to Port Aransas, Texas. However, because of the choppy waters, access to the Gulf Coast was severely restricted. The boats of the day were not designed or built to handle the rough Gulf Coast waters and storms in the early 1900s wiped out the existing charter fleet. The local guides and fishermen were desperate for boats.

Charles Frederick ("Fred") Farley, a master craftsman, was living in Birmingham, Alabama, when he learned from his brother, Barney, that the guides of Port Aransas needed boats to satisfy the great demand for tarpon fishing. Fred traveled to the Gulf Coast with his three brothers where they designed and built utility boats, lighthouses, and ornate bars. Eventually, Fred settled down in Port Aransas, Texas, with his son and began designing and building boats. They established Farley and Son, Boat Builders, in 1915.

The all wood boats that Farley and his sons, Jim and Fred, Jr. produced became the icon of the grand tarpon fishing era. 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.

Fred Farley's sons, Fred Farley Jr. and Jim Farley grew up building boats with their father and continued with the family business after Fred's death. After World War II, the boat works was moved to Mercer Street in Port Aransas, where it remained until around 1968 then moved to Avenue C. The Farley family designed and built Farley Boats until 1975.


In the early 1900s, tarpon fishing had begun to attract anglers from all across America to Port Aransas, Texas. However, because of the choppy waters, access to the Gulf Coast was severely restricted. The boats of the day were not designed or built to handle the rough Gulf Coast waters and storms in the early 1900s wiped out the existing charter fleet. The local guides and fishermen were desperate for boats.

Charles Frederick ("Fred") Farley, a master craftsman, was living in Birmingham, Alabama, when he learned from his brother, Barney, that the guides of Port Aransas needed boats to satisfy the great demand for tarpon fishing. Fred traveled to the Gulf Coast with his three brothers where they designed and built utility boats, lighthouses, and ornate bars. Eventually, Fred settled down in Port Aransas, Texas, with his son and began designing and building boats. They established Farley and Son, Boat Builders, in 1915.

The all wood boats that Farley and his sons, Jim and Fred, Jr. produced became the icon of the grand tarpon fishing era. 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.

Fred Farley's sons, Fred Farley Jr. and Jim Farley grew up building boats with their father and continued with the family business after Fred's death. After World War II, the boat works was moved to Mercer Street in Port Aransas, where it remained until around 1968 then moved to Avenue C. The Farley family designed and built Farley Boats until 1975.




Sponsored by Ancestry

Advertisement