R.I.P. “Sharky” 1967-2011

“Sharky” to be Decommissioned

CSULB’s “Sharky”
unknown, ?? 1967 – April 6, 2011

Dearly Beloved,

Today we mourn the passing of a true friend, Sharky (HID#: 22152, CF 0594XS), who served 44 years of daily extremities, always tirelessly performing the duties of its master. Manufactured by Fisher Pierce (not Fisher Price!) in 1967, Sharky’s early days were spent in the waters of Newport Harbor at the duties of the UC Irvine Rowing. In 1989, Sharky made its debut in Alamitos Bay at the Pete Archer Rowing Center, where it was christened with its decor. Since then, CSU Long Beach tenderly cared its soul. One-by-one each fix took its toll on the poor soul: wiring flaws, steering problems, leak after leak, and a rotting hull.

At approximately 6:45 AM on Wednesday, April 6, Sharky chewed his own pull string. With every coach skeptical of its use, except for one veteran (Daniel Harris), she was taken out for her last. Not knowing it would suddenly end at the sound of a broken “In-sinkerator” with smoke and a bang, she was paddled to safety (within 100 feet) and laid to rest.

Sharky is survived by three brothers of the fleet, “The Marshall Prindle”, “Titanic”, and “The Utility Boat”, all undergoing replacement as part of Beach Crew’s chase boat conversion plan now underway.

You can visit Sharky in the Spinnaker Bay Mortuary through the end of the season. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Beach Crew Alumni Association.

Thank you,
The Beach Crew Alumni Assoc.