Byron Fisher spends most weekends exploring around Tiki Island in his 1983 Boston Whaler Stryker Edition. Photo by Stuart Villanueva

Tiki Island boater spends weekends exploring the waters

Byron Fisher has never officially named his boat. It’s just “The Whaler.”

“I don’t know, is it bad luck not to name your boat?” he asked. “I don’t think so.”

While lacking the narrative power that some boat names carry, Fisher’s unofficial name for his 15-foot Boston Whaler is descriptive in its own way because few boats are more iconic than the classic Boston Whaler.

“I’ve always liked Whalers,” Fisher said. “They’re just safe, all-around boats. I always saw myself owning one. That opportunity just came earlier than I thought.”

Fisher’s opportunity came when a neighbor on Tiki Island put the boat up for sale at a superb price. Fisher raided his savings to buy it, he said.

The Stryker Edition was built in 1983, Fisher said.

Richard Fisher, no known relation to Byron, founded the Boston Whaler more than 60 years ago by sawing one of the boats in half to prove its durability, according to the company’s website.

The company claims someone could still sail the half with the engine on it.

Byron Fisher guides his boat through channels in Tiki Island with his brother Brady. Photo by Stuart Villanueva

The company takes the Boston part of its name because it was founded in Massachusetts, although it’s now headquartered in Florida.

Fisher, a Tiki Island resident, works at Pelican Rest Marina and Fuel Dock and is familiar with all things marine, he said. But the Whaler is the first boat he has ever owned.

“While this is my first, I have a long history with boats,” he said. “My family was always around them.”

Before moving to Galveston, Fisher lived in Dallas and his family often would ride boats around Lake Texoma, near the Oklahoma border, he said.

Now, Fisher spends most weekends during the summer exploring around the island and surrounding area aboard his Whaler, he said.

“Coming here was basically a dream come true,” he said.

Fisher takes the boat out on the water at least once a week during the summer to fish in the marshes of the bay, or relax at the sandbar in Offatts Bayou, he said.

“I have a lot of buddies with boats, and we’ll meet up and ride around,” he said.

Fisher has even been known to take his boat to work during the summer, he said.

Cruises become more seldom during the winter months, although Fisher makes a point to at least turn on the engine and drive around about once a week, he said.

“I just really love it,” Fisher said.