JS-38 Punk

Former Owner:  Tom Donley, Sr.

E-Mail:  skiff3839@starpower.net

Year Built:  I believe 1965

Hull Design: Pop Russell (wood)

Power:  Chevy 283

Resided In:  Annapolis, MD on the South River

(Tommy and Jerry on the wooden Punk on the South River in Maryland)

History: 

The following information is a result of an interview with Tom Donley Jr. on November 20, 2002.

A wooden Jersey Speed Skiff was purchased by my father in March 1967 from John DeVito who lived in Red Bank, N.J. for $1,900.00.  Weighing in at a stocky 2,200 lbs., we called her "Punk" JS-38. 

I was the designated driver (taking a break from Ski boats) and the riding mechanic was either Jerry (my brother) or Jeanine (my sister).  Frequently, Jeanine would badly bruise her arms from hanging on for dear life.  Since they took turns as the rider, Pop felt one life jacket with both Jerry and Jeanine names on it was sufficient.   

This was the first Jersey Speed Skiff (JSS) that left New Jersey and raced out of Maryland.  Often, we were not welcomed at any of the race sites because we were not locals; but this changed as time went on.  In 1972, I won the Region 4 High Points - but was denied the honor because I was the only JSS in Region 4.

In 1972, Offshore Racing Champion Art Lilly and I made a mold from the wooden "Punk" (pictured above).  From this mold a second Punk JS38 was created (pictured at the left).  Although fiberglass, we kept the deck a light brown vinyl  and a  fiberglass transom, the boat was yellow .  The new "Punk" was powered by a 283 engine put together by Carl Gardello, a famous engine builder back in those days. 

The fiberglass Punk was stolen and lost for a few years.  When the boat was found by the insurance company they offered Tom Sr. the opportunity to purchase the boat as salvage.  The only thing left was the hull - the engine and the running gear had all been removed, and we bought it anyway.  The hull along with the mold (from the original wooden Punk) was sold to Skip Gillam and it sat for quite some time.  Recently, Skip modified the fiberglass hull by adding a top board to it, in an attempt to duplicate 'Sir Alter Ego' JS-11, as an original wooden Darby/Russell Jersey Speed Skiff.  Today's 'Sir Alter Ego' JS-11 is a replica of of a boat from yesteryear. 

The original wood Punk, was sold to Jose Desires, who at that time worked for Sears, renamed it 'Cold Duck' and painted it yellow.  He used it as a river boat for a while, then sold it (person unknown).  This new owner painted it barn red with a grey deck and was last seen in a storage house/garage at the end of the Baltimore/Washington Airport runway, some years ago.

The following photo was provided by Gene Darnell: