| MrRobalo |
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My Favorite Links: |
| Florida Sportsman |
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I am known throughout the marine industry as Sammy Joe and to my forum friends you know me as MrRobalo. I am one of the owners of an original 1969 model ROBALO MARINE 19' and 5th off the line. I am on my 6th pair of motors and 4th generation of anglers. I have been around and /or worked for Robalo with a close friend, the late Judd Garvin, who started Robalo. I was with the company until U.S. Marine (Bayliner) purchased Robalo, around 1992 when they relocated the plant to their Bayliner facility in north FL. In 1989 I had the pleasure of meeting Eric at my father's home on Grant Farm Island, yes an island in the ICW in Grant, Fl. Florida Sportsman had its 20th year anniversary as well as the 20th anniversary for Robalo. The photo shoot went well and the boat was present in the Miami Boat Show as well. It's hard to begin to share the pleasurable and the miserable moments of our legacy the �Dottie Q�. The ole girl was named after my mother who never swam a lick but was right there fishing/catching in the deep blue. Our one last big tourney before my mom passed was a few years back when my dad/mom and I were itching to fish the last Robalo's Owners Tourney in Ft. Lauderdale. The seas were calling for small craft warnings and the deep blue was not where we should have been. Just imagine a lil 19 footer swallowed in 6-8 ft. seas, between the swells of white water to the highest peak of the roller. I knew then what respect the seas of the deep blue waters meant. Crazy, young and stupid, with this the blue shows us the wisdom as we grow to love and respect. We lived to talk about it and share the fear felt to teach from this now lil wiser old man. I love to custom rig boats and even after 40 years with the old girl I am as excited now about a new makeover for her as the first time I rigged her. This next one will have a few more modern conveniences but I will keep her original as possible. As I get to teach yet another generation, my grandson Kingston the legends of... �DOTTIE Q� The Ultimate Fishing Machine ! ! ! |
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Any Robalo Inquires from 1969~1991 |
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