It all began with the crazy idea that perhaps an old boat hull could be transformed into a pirate ship parade float. We searched for several months before locating a 1971 fiberglass Pipestone Mariner on a functional trailer on Ebay. We put in a bid of $103 dollars, fully expecting to be outbid in the final seconds of the auction- But much to our amazement, we plundered the boat and trailer for the tidy sum of $27.51 !! We brought the humble little craft home and have affectionately named her "The Land Shark". Check back weekly to see how work on the Land Shark is progressing. Then join us for her official launching on December 7th in the San Jose Holiday Parade! Click here to see a video clip from the TV coverage of us in the parade.
The Land Shark
The Land Shark as we first saw her on Ebay
The concept sketch and the 3D concept model
Hooking up the Land Shark in Rancho Cordova, near Sacramento and putting on a new set of tires for the trip home
The stripped-down hull with the aft cabin partially installed
The most difficult part, the bow, is put in place and Bob expressing himself
One of the side panels goes on the bow
A pair of ornate cherubs for the stern, before and after painting.
The rear cabin, fully enclosed with a hinged door, and the foredeck completed, with the crows nest and the bowsprit lantern sitting on top
The aft plaques which go on the sides of the aft cabin
The figurehead of the tall ship Royaliste is removed for casting. Captain Gary climbs out on the bowsprit, gives Lady Liberte a kiss for luck,
and begins to loosen her bolts. I'm below in the dingy, ready to ease her down gently and make sure she doesn't fall in the water!
Larry and Pam with Lady Liberte, Pam carefully making the casting
At last the painting begins and Land Shark slowly begins to show her piratical colors!
The first of the railings goes on...
The ship's wheel and the letters for the stern
The first of the trim has been painted, a few details and a plaque mounted on one side
Pam and Larry donate a mermaid figurehead, Ryann MacGregor donates a ship's log and Charlies helps with construction!
The Land Shark nearly complete, just awaiting the arrival of her figurehead so that we can set the bowsprit!
The cherubs and letters have been mounted on ship's stern and electric "candle" lanterns hang on the aft cabin...
The cannons have been tested with the fog machine and mounted on the port and starboard sides...
The Latest Update:
The Land Shark is finished, however we're always maintaining and improving her. Currently, we're working to replace the metallic fringe skirting we used in our first parade with blue foam 'wave' panel skirting, for her next 'sail' in the Dublin St. Patrick's Day Parade!
Land Shark Patrons
Special thanks go out to the following people for their support in this project:
Kirsten and Paul GjeldeBennett
For their donation of the Land Shark's 'wave' skirting
Gary Bergman
For offering the original hand-carved figurehead of the tall ship "Royaliste" to be reproduced for the Land Shark.
Larry and Pam Impson
For offering to make the casting of the figurehead, then donating a figurehead when the casting didn't work!
Ryann MacGregor
For donating the ship's log.
Charlie Gebetsberger
For helping with the construction
Joni Brown
For creating fast-loading thumbnails for the SJ Holiday Parade photo page
Dany aka "Lucky Penny Hawkings"
For helping with the late-night set up
Paul Dougherty
For helping with the late-night set up
Sasha Govorova
For providing dinner for the late-night set up crew