‘Rock The Boat’ Is Rockin'

A Good Time Was Had By All!

A radio show, a filming session, lunch, and elbow grease all came together on Oct. 27 at Dan Turner’s Sun Valley Fiberglas in Mesa, Ariz.

This was the first work party of the “Rock the Boat” project, and a meaningful, educational gathering of volunteers, sponsors, radio personnel, Superstition Search and Rescue members, and The Art Institute of Phoenix film crew and students.

With lunch and drinks provided by Scott Samuelson of Swim Platforms, the group began early by participating with Darla Bardelli as she did her “Outdoors Arizona” radio show from 7-9 a.m. on site. Bardelli interviewed as many sponsors and participants as time allowed, and the AIP film crew rolled their cameras throughout the entire gathering.

Work, under the direction of Turner, has now begun on the 21-foot Chris-Craft Scorpion donated by Ed Hale of Hale’s Marine. This cuddy cabin, when refurbished, will be decorated with logos of all the project sponsors and will tour Arizona lakes and probably make trips to Southern California as well. It will be a public relations boat and, with supervision, be made available to various charitable and kids’ groups upon request.

Besides the Scorpion, another boat — a 43-foot, 1952 Chris-Craft bullnose — will be refurbished, then auctioned, with proceeds going to Superstition Search and Rescue.

As time passes, more and more volunteers and sponsors get on board. And, all the while, students and faculty of The Art Institute of Phoenix are involved, not only in the filming, but also in the designing, and the promoting of the project. Their hope is to eventually have at least one TV show that wraps the entire project from beginning to end in an estimated two-year time frame.

Want to get on board this fun and educational project? Contact AZBW publisher Jim Allen at (480) 947-6219 or at jim@azbw.com. Two Web sites will also keep readers up-to-date on the project: www.rtb.com and www.azbw.com.