Fatty Knees Tenders

[Fatty Knees]

I would like to suggest that if you are looking for a classic rowing or sailing tender for your Tug, you visit the web site of the Fatty Knees Boat Co. There are over 2000 Fatty Knees built and they are a beautiful little yacht that reflects the quality of your Tug. Take a few minutes and visit www.fattyknees.com you will not be disapointed.

 

[Nellie Too]

Nice looking sailing dingy. The best of all worlds.
Bob

 

[Kamalani]

I will echo your enthusiasm for these wonderful boats. When our son turned 16, we gave him his first boat. It was a 9' Fatty Knees in green with tanbark sail. That boat was his pride & joy, and later served as tender for his 26' Excalibur. Sadly, the hull was stolen off of the marina dinghy rack and never found. He still has the sailing rig and all the wood accessories, and will probably have a new hull built some day.

I am very interested to see that the Website you posted seems to be a new source for Fatty Knees. We ordered his from Edy & Duff, also in MA. I guess I will have to check into this further. But the important point is that these are beautiful and solid little boats with a fine heritage.

 

[forfun1960]

Where to find pricing?

 

[colleysails]

You might also look at the Trinka, www.trinka.com, available in 8', 10', and 12'. I had a 10' made for my Island Packet using a matching gelcoat. With the teak trim it was a striking combination. They row beautifully - so well in fact that I sold the 2 hp Honda I planned to use on it.

Sanford

 

[thataway]

My guess is that "Fatty Knees" is the producer of the Fatty Knees line of dinghies. Since I own one of the original "Fatty Knees", (a 9 footer) which was a Hess family personal boat, do you know the origin of the name "Fatty Knees"?

 

[Kamalani]

There was an anecdote on the original Edey & Duff website as to how Lyle Hess came up with the name "Fatty Knees". Had to do with his grandparent's comments when he was a tot about the pudginess of his lower joints. There was a play on words here as "knees" also refer to the wood corner supports employed by boat builders.

 

[thataway]

Close,
The comment was made by the mother (Grandmother of Mike) of John Hess, Lyle's nephew, who made a number of the first boats. The person who the comment was made about was Mike Hess, one of John's sons. I purchased (actually traded an inflatable) for my boat from Mike. John Hess was a close friend--and of course I knew Lyle.

They are great and versitile boats, but I will not corrupt mine with a motor. I am glad to see that they are being produced currently. One disadvantage is that they are heavy--my 9' is about 120 lbs. I carried it on the fore deck of a 40 footer, but on a Ranger tug, the only practical way would be davits on the stern. I would not tow one at any speed.

 

[Fatty Knees]

To answer a few questions, yes I am the new owner of the Fatty Knees molds and yes I acquired them from Edey & Duff when Kathy made the painful decision to close this 75 year old company. I am looking forward to meeting many of the owners who have contaced me since then. We have been at the Cape Cod and Maine Boatbuilders shows and are looking forward to showing for the first time in many years at the Anapolis Sailboat show. It is an honor to have the chance to carry on the Fatty Knees tradition of quality boat building.

If any of you have any questions I can be reached at dfoynes@fattyknees.com or 781-307-2466.

I thank so many of you for your kind comments about this beautiful litttle boat.

Dave F