Wally Taylor
Jr. Member
- Jan 3, 2017
- 64
- 93
- Detector(s) used
- White's Coinmaster, White's Bullseye II Pinpointer
- Primary Interest:
- Relic Hunting
I was a craps dealer on a gaming ship out of Key West in the 80's. The ship was a converted Norwegian Hydrofoil. She was named "The Princess of the Waves". They pulled the skis and added a keel. It was all aluminum, so it floated like a duck, but every day I'd go down to Mallory Dock and do some painting or wipe her down. They needed a guy to cast and tie off the bow lines, because they were just short handed. The first day we went out, there was no one one the dock. So, in my tux, I was on the dock, and threw the lines back to the ship. Then, they sailed away, and I jumped on the Pilot Ship, and on the way out of the channel, we pulled along the Princess as we were doing nine knots, and I had to jump five feet out and six feet down to get onto the gangway to the ship. All of the crew and guests were watching from the top deck. They all called me James Bond that day.
The crew was Captain Daniel Lee, The First and Second Mates, Justin and TJ from Norway, and two Engineers from the Phillipines, so we were about three guys short. I was Third Mate and second Craps Dealer!
Captain Dan bacame fast friends with Mel Fisher, and Mel sold him three Four Reale Cobs for Justin, TJ, and me. I had been talking to Dan about my interest in buying some Atocha coins as an,investment vehicle. Dan must havenremembered my interest. As This was a "no-paperwork" deal, I don't know if they are just some that Mel found on the beach over the years, if they were in a cluster from the Atocha, 1715 Fleet, or what. Dan was very wealthy, so I suspect that they are from the Atocha hoard.
I didn't get any extra money for working the bow lines, but it was so cool, riding back in to Mallory Dock after we closed the gaming rooms and headed in. I'd take off my Tux, put on my Shorts and T Shirt, grab a few beers, and ride out on the bow, watching the Porpoises escorting us in every night. I was in heaven.
The fact that Captain Dan bought them for us as a thank you make it priceless to me, paperwork or not. I'll choose carefully who I leave it to when I'm checking out.
The crew was Captain Daniel Lee, The First and Second Mates, Justin and TJ from Norway, and two Engineers from the Phillipines, so we were about three guys short. I was Third Mate and second Craps Dealer!
Captain Dan bacame fast friends with Mel Fisher, and Mel sold him three Four Reale Cobs for Justin, TJ, and me. I had been talking to Dan about my interest in buying some Atocha coins as an,investment vehicle. Dan must havenremembered my interest. As This was a "no-paperwork" deal, I don't know if they are just some that Mel found on the beach over the years, if they were in a cluster from the Atocha, 1715 Fleet, or what. Dan was very wealthy, so I suspect that they are from the Atocha hoard.
I didn't get any extra money for working the bow lines, but it was so cool, riding back in to Mallory Dock after we closed the gaming rooms and headed in. I'd take off my Tux, put on my Shorts and T Shirt, grab a few beers, and ride out on the bow, watching the Porpoises escorting us in every night. I was in heaven.
The fact that Captain Dan bought them for us as a thank you make it priceless to me, paperwork or not. I'll choose carefully who I leave it to when I'm checking out.
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