JONESPORT – There are a number of names that come to mind when a discussion takes place on who had a major influence on Maine lobster boat racing over the years. Names such as Gus Alley; Benny Beal; Calvin Beal, Jr.; Isaac Beal; Merle Beal; Jim Clemons; Glen Crawford; Richard Duffy; Sid Eaton; Andrew Gove; Bill Hallinan; Corliss and Glenn Holland; Andy Johnson; Steve Johnson; Freddy Lenfesty; Alfred Osgood; Jim Preston; Lewis Stuart; and the Young Brothers (Arvin, Arvid and Colby) to name a few. In recent years one name that has been talked about the most is Galen Alley. He came on the racing scene in 2005 in LORNA R. and two years later introduced us to the aptly-named FOOLISH PLEASURE, in which he dominated the racing scene from 2006 to 2015. Unfortunately, on his way home from dragging off Rockland and within just miles of his home he hit black ice just north of Wayne Beal’s Boat Shop in Jonesport and lost control of his vehicle. The vehicle rolled over and Galen sustained injuries that cost him his life on 16 January.
Galen was born 21 May 1961 to Dick and Lorna Alley. He leaves behind his mother, Lorna; his wife and soulmate, Trisha; his children, Austin, Madison, Caleb, Osmond and fiancé Logan, and Lexi; his brother, Rocky and wife, Carmen, their children, Corey and wife, Farrah, Jamie, Kayley and fiancé, Mike; a special cousin, Archie; and too many family members and friends to name. A celebration of his life was held at the Beals Elementary School Gymnasium on 26 January, which was attended by more than 500 people.
I used to visit Galen at his home or down on the dock where he operated his business Great Wass Lobster, but I did not know him like Jeremy Chandler did. Jeremy is Galen’s cousin and worked with him at Great Wass Lobster for a time and on the race boats. He fondly remembered working for Galen, saying, “I think it was my senior year of high school, that was in ’04, he says, “Be to work tomorrow, I have got a bunch of stuff I have got to do.” I went to school that day and I was supposed to go back over after school and I didn’t go after school, I went and hung out with my friends. Well, the next day I went over and he says, “Where were you yesterday?” “Well, I was out and about,” and he said, “Guess what? You’re fired.” I said, “Good enough see you later.” I walked up the wharf and it wasn’t a half an hour later, he called back and he said, “Any chance you could come back and work for me?” I said, “Yeah, I will be right there.” He never had a bad word to say about me and I never had anything bad to say about him. I mean we were always good with each other.”
Jeremy was not sure when Galen saw or was in his first race, but he remembered a great story. He said, “He was with his father when he was pretty young, they were actually racing out here in the Reach. That was back when every boat builder had a boat and they would race. They got beat and he looked up and he told his father, “that’s a bitcher.” He said, “Yeah, you win some and you lose some, no big deal.” Racing was in his blood, like anybody.”
“Back in like ’04, or ’05,” continued Jeremy, “he tracked his father’s boat down and brought it back. He did a lot of work: peeled the glass off it, sanded her down, got her smooth, got her back to an actual wooden boat. That is when the big power started coming around again.”
Most everyone had heard that someone was putting a race boat together with big power and when she went over she made news when she was running of Beals Island during her first sea trials, lost a plank and sank. Jeremy added, “He said, “I am going to put her in the water tomorrow.” I said, “I ain’t going to be around. I got to go on the boat.” Well, it was like 6:30 in the morning he put her in the water and his brother Rocky told him not go out and run her until he got home. Just let her have time to soak, make sure she is good. He said, “Yeah I will.” Well, he couldn’t help himself he jumped right in. I was actually on my way to the marina and I heard the boat. I was like that has got to be him out there. So he went out, he had two other people with him and he blew the plank off and he sunk it and by the time I got out to the marina there she was bobbing in the water. She was stove all to pieces, ripped the stern pretty darn near right out of the boat. They hauled her out, and a lot of the older guys looked her all over and some of them were saying burn it, it’s junk. He was bummed right out. It was just like he had lost his best friend. He talked to Calvin, Jr. and he said, “You can fix that, no problem.” So they hauled her out and got her down to Albert Carver’s put her in the shop and two weeks and two days, she was back together and in the water. He made it to the first boat race that year, I think it was Boothbay. They put like 2200 screws in her, 6 or 7 sharp-risers (floor timbers), re-timbered her pretty much right from the bulkhead right back. I mean that was a lot of work, and the whole family basically jumped in on it.”
“I think it was 3 or 4 years later he wanted to take a one-off of her,” said Jeremy, “and FOOLISH PLEASURE was born. I guess that is when speed went from 50/60 to damn near 80 mph. I mean he’s still got the speed record 77.2.”
Well, that is not the official record that Galen set in FOOLISH PLEASURE. In her debut in 2008 at Boothbay she did 53 mph in the Fastest Lobster Boat Race. At the next race in Rockland he pushed that to 61.6 mph setting a new record. At Friendship he set the record again with a speed of 64.1 mph. The following year at Stonington he set the record again with a speed of 64.5 mph. In 2010 he broke the record once again with a speed of 68.1 at Rockland and at the Merritt Bracket races in Pemaquid set it again at 68.9 mph. The following year (2011) he set the record once again, this time at Moosabec Reach with a speed of 72 mph and in the following race at Stonington he would set the record that still stands today with a speed of 72.8 mph. Now that said, these speeds come off the official radar gun, but as we know most boats have a GPS and that will give you speeds too. At several races we know that the radar gun had not caught the true speed and once I remember at Pemaquid, Galen saying that he had almost hit 80. On the back of his truck he had a decal that said 77.2 mph, and though it is not the official record, I am sure that he did reach that speed.
The Maine lobster boat hull was not designed to reach speeds over 40 mph. It is designated as a semi-displacement hull, but that changes when you put an obscene amount of power in them turning them into a planing hull. So when I asked Jeremey, what it was like racing in FOOLISH PLEASURE he said, “That was an interesting boat. Definitely a wild boat. She don’t weigh much, probably weighs 2200 or 2300 pounds with everything in it. She was ticklish, but back a few years ago we had her in the boat shop, we put a straight edge underneath of her and found out on the starboard side she had a hog that was almost 4 feet wide and 8 feet long and 2 inches deep. I think that was a lot of his problem when he was running down here in Jonesport when she rolled up and almost rolled on her side.”
Galen and Jeremy, and a number of others, spent countless hours getting FOOLISH PLEASURE to the races. Jeremy said, “I mean if it was change an engine out, blown gear, had to change the reduction gear, had to modify the bottom of the boat, we did it. I’d have just so much time to get it back together and get it back in the boat. I turned a lot of wrenches in that boat.”
FOOLISH PLEASURE has had a number of different engines and it was not easy to keep track of them. Jeremy thought the first engine was the 632 Chevy with twin carbs. He added, “After he ran the 632 then he had a 638 those were all Dart blocks I think. Then he came out with the blower motor a few years after that, I can’t remember what year, probably ’10 or ’11. He was going from 1000-1100-hp to, I would guess, probably 2000-hp. Then he ended up with the Ford. That was powerful, but she had a lot of issues. You couldn’t keep her together; she just kept blowing burst plates in the blower. If that engine had held up, she would have gone pretty well with it.”
Jeremy remembered a race at Winter Harbor when they lost the first race to Shawn Alley’s LITTLE GIRLS. “He forgot to put his bungee cord on the shifter and she popped herself out,” explained Jeremy. “Well, the next ride, there was one guy with him and he said, “I am not going, I am scared to death,” and I said, “What makes you think I want to do it.” I jumped in and he just looked at me and said “We are going to one of two things, we are either going to win or we are going to roll over,” and I said, “Oh, boy thanks.” So he was on her and the ground swells through Winter Harbor were awful, I mean we was hitting one swell skipping the next and hitting the third, I mean water was flying 30, 40 feet in the air every time we would come down. It was just unbelievable, but we won.”
That was scary, but not the scariest. Jeremy added, “I wasn’t scared at the time but one race, I think it was Pemaquid, I went with him and we got down to the end of the track and he looked at me and he says, “You know, I just run that whole race with no steering.” I looked right at him, and I said, “What?” He says, “Yeah, I ain’t got no steering. There is air in the line; we must have a leak or something.” I said, “You have got to be kidding me. We just ran up through Pemaquid with no steering doing 70+ mph?” He said, “Yeah we did.” I said, “Okay; don’t ever tell me that again. Just keep that stuff to yourself.”
My best story took place at the Maine Fisherman’s Forum a number of years ago when Galen was dominating the racing scene. Bruce Engert, Sr. and Jr. got into a conversation with Galen during the meeting about who had the fastest boat. Galen was in the 60s and they were not quite as fast but claimed they would be. Well, the conversation got louder and louder until they were yelling back and forth. Well apparently this sounded like a violent confrontation from the room next door and they had security called. By the time security arrived the dust was settling and everything would be answered out on the race course. After the meeting I was told that this was the first time that security had been called to any meeting. Yes, it was and still is, a proud moment in lobster boat racing history!
The big question is what will happen to both LORNA R. and FOOLISH PLEASURE. LORNA R. is over at Dennis Welding & Marine Repair on Beals Island. Jeremy said that she needs work, but could be saved. As for FOOLISH PLEASURE she is sitting out behind Wayne Beal Boat Shop in Jonesport. Jeremy, who works at Wayne Beal Boat Shop, says it is hard to go out back and see her sitting there.
It is sad to have lost Galen as he had done so much to add spice to the Maine lobster boat racing scene and while during it he made history. He certainly made a statement and that statement translated into more boats coming out to race and more people come to watch the boats race. Jeremy said, “It was tragic what happened to him, but like his brother Rocky said the other day, “To be honest with you, I never thought I’d lose my brother to an automobile accident, I figured for sure it would be in that damn boat.” That is where we all thought he was going to meet his maker right there in that damn boat.”
LORNA R.
Designer: Riley Beal
Boatbuilder: Riley and Adrian Beal, Beals Island, ME (1973)
Dimensions: 30′
Construction: Wood
Engine(s): Gasoline: 632 Chevrolet, 8 cylinder
Owner(s): Galen Alley, Beals Island, ME
Year’s Raced: 2005; 2006; 2007; 2011; 2013; 2015
Racing Class: Gasoline Class C
Results:
2005: MOOSABEC: 1st Gasoline Class B.
2006: BOOTHBAY: 1st Gasoline Class D; 1st Wooden Boat Race (46.8 mph); 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (38 mph); 1st Fastest Lobster Boat Race (45 mph). MOOSABEC: 1st Wooden Boat Race. 1st Gasoline Class D (45.3 mph). 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (44.3 mph). 1st Fastest Lobster Boat (53.6 mph). FRIENDSHIP: 1st Gasoline Class D. 1st Wooden Boat Race. HARPSWELL: 1st Wooden Boat Race (44.8 mph). 1st Gasoline Class D (47.8 mph). 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (43.5 mph). WINTER HARBOR: 1st Gasoline Class D. SEARSPORT: 1st Gasoline Class D, 1st WoodenBoat Race, DNF Gasoline Free-for-All
2007: BOOTHBAY: 1st Gasoline Class D (46 mph); 1st Woodenboat Race (49 mph); 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (41 mph); 1st Fastest Lobster Boat Race (49 mph). ROCKLAND: 1st Gasoline Class D (40 mph); 1st Wooden Boats (49 mph); 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (42 mph); 1st Fastest Lobster Boat (47 mph). MOOSABEC: 1st Wooden Boat (48.9 mph), 1st Gasoline Class D (48.7 mph), 2nd Fastest Lobster Boat. SEARSPORT: DNS Wooden Boat Race, DNS Gasoline Class D, 3rd Gasoline Free-for-All. FRIENDSHIP: 1st Wooden Boat Race (48 mph); 1st Gasoline Class D (40 mph). HARPSWELL: 1st Wooden Boat Race, 1 Gasoline Class D. WINTER HARBOR: 1st Gasoline Class D, 1st Gasoline Free-for-All, 1st Fastest Lobster Boat. PEMAQUID: 1st Gasoline any cubic inch and under, 24 feet and over, 1st Wooden Boats, diesel or gasoline, 24 feet and over, 1st Gasoline Free-for-All, 24 feet and over, 1st Fastest Lobster Boat Afloat.
2011: ROCKLAND: 1st Gasoline Class C (46.8 mph). MOOSABEC: 1st Wooden Boat Class (44 mph), 1st Gasoline Class C (44 mph), 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (35 mph). SEARSPORT: 1st Gasoline Class C, 1st Wooden Boat Class, 1st Gasoline Free-for-All. STONINGTON: DNF Gasoline Class C. WINTER HARBOR: 1st Gasoline Class C (31.9 mph), 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (32.2 mph), 1st Woodenboat Race (36.7 mph), 4th Fastest Lobster Boat.
2013: MOOSABEC: 3rd Wooden Boat Race; 2nd Gasoline Class C; 3rd Gasoline Free-for-All; 2nd World’s Fastest Recreational Lobster Boat. WINTER HARBOR: DNS Gasoline Class C.PEMAQUID: 2nd Gas V8 any cubic inch, 24 feet and over; 3rd Gasoline Free-for-All; 5th Fastest Lobster Boat Afloat. PORTLAND: 1st Gasoline Class C (32.4 mph); 1st Wooden Boat Race (26.7 mph); 4th Gasoline Free-for-All; 7th Fastest Lobster Boat.
2015: MOOSABEC: DNS Gasoline Class D.
FOOLISH PLEASURE
Designer: Riley Beal, splashed from LORNA R.
Boatbuilder: Ernest Libby Jr., Beals Island, ME (2008)
Dimensions: 30′
Construction: Fiberglass
Engine(s): Gasoline: 632 Chevrolet < 712 ci Ford<632 cid Merlin, 1471 injection
Owner(s): Galen Alley, Beals Island, ME
Year’s Raced: 2008; 2009; 2010; 2011; 2012; 2013; 2014; 2015
Racing Class: Gasoline Class E
Results:
2008: BOOTHBAY: 1st Gasoline Class D (43 mph); 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (41 mph); and 1st Fastest Lobster Boat (53 mph). ROCKLAND: 1st Gasoline Class D (61.6 mph). MOOSABEC: DNF Gasoline Class D, 1st Gasoline Free-for-All, 1st Fastest Lobster Boat (64 mph). SEARSPORT: 1st Gasoline Class D (62.7 mph), DNF Gasoline Free-for-All. FRIENDSHIP: 1st Gasoline Class D (62.4 mph), 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (64.1 mph), 1st Fastest Lobster Bot (49 mph). PEMAQUID: 1st Gas any CID, 24 feet and over; 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (62.9 mph); and 1st Fastest Lobster Boat Afloat (62.1 mph).
2009: BOOTHBAY: 1st Gasoline Class D (50.6 mph). ROCKLAND: 1st Gasoline Class D (36.4 mph). MOOSABEC: 1st Gasoline Class D (62 mph), 1st Fastest Lobster Boat (63.3 mph). SEARSPORT: 1st Gasoline Class D (37.8 mph). STONINGTON: 1st Gasoline Class D (51 mph), 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (63.1 mph), 1st Jimmy Stevens Cup (64.0 mph). FRIENDSHIP: 1st Gasoline Class D (62.3 mph); 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (64.5 mph). WINTER HARBOR: 1st Gasoline Class D (49.2 mph), 1st Gasoline Free-for-All 48.5 mph), 1st Fastest Lobster Boat (40.5 mph). PEMAQUID: 1st Gas any CID, 24 feet and over (57.3 mph); 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (61.7 mph); and 1st Fastest Lobster Boat Afloat.
2010: BOOTHBAY: 1st Gasoline Class D (55 mph), 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (48.2 mph). ROCKLAND: 1st Gasoline Class D (51.0 mph), 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (63.0 mph), 1st Fastest Lobster Boat (68.1 mph). MOOSABEC: 1st Gasoline Class D (50 mph), 1st World’s Fastest Recreational Lobster Boat. SEARSPORT: 1st Gasoline Class D (47.8 mph). STONINGTON: 1st Gasoline Class D, DNF Gasoline Free-for-All.. FRIENDSHIP: DNF Gasoline Class D. HARPSWELL: 1st Gasoline Class D (52.5 mph), 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (63.4 mph), 1st Fastest Lobster Boat (68.0 mph). PEMAQUID: 1st Gas V8 any CID, 24 feet and over (67.4 mph); 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (68.9 mph); and 1st Fastest Lobster Boat Afloat (65.4 mph). PORTLAND: 1st Gasoline Class D (50.7 mph), 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (59.2 mph).
2011: ROCKLAND: 1st Gasoline Class D, 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (36.6 mph), 3rd Fastest Lobster Boat. MOOSABEC: 1st Gasoline Class D (72 mph), 1st World Fastest Recreational Lobster Boat. SEARSPORT: 1st Gasoline Class D. STONINGTON: 1st Gasoline Class D (72.8 mph), 1st Stonington’s Fastest Lobster Boat Afloat. FRIENDSHIP: 1st Gasoline Class D (58.8 mph).
2012: ROCKLAND: 1st Gasoline Class E (57.7 mph), 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (66.2 mph). BASS HARBOR: 1st Gasoline Class E (62.2 mph). MOOSABEC: 1st Gasoline Class E; 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (68 mph); 1st World’s Fastest Recreational Lobster Boat. SEARSPORT: 1st Gasoline Class E (58 mph), 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (55 mph), 1st Fastest Lobster Boat (45 mph). STONINGTON: 1st Gasoline Class E. WINTER HARBOR: DNS Gasoline Class E. 2012: EASTPORT: 1st Gas V8, any cubic inch, 24 feet and over.
2013: MOOSABEC: 1st Gasoline Class E (60.1 mph); 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (64 mph). SEARSPORT: 1st Gasoline Class E (56 mph); 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (48 mph). STONINGTON: 1st Gasoline Class E (65.5 mph); 1st Gasoline Free-for-All. FRIENDSHIP: 1st Gasoline Class E (51 mph); 1st Gasoline Free-for-All; 1st Fastest Lobster Boat. WINTER HARBOR: 1st Gasoline Class E; 2nd Gasoline Free-for-All; 1st Fastest Lobster Boat. PEMAQUID: 1st Gas V8 any cubic inch, 24 feet and over; 1st Gasoline Free-for-All; 1st Fastest Lobster Boat Afloat. PORTLAND: 1st Gasoline Class E (54 mph); 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (37.4 mph); 1st Fastest Lobster Boat (42.5 mph).
2014: MOOSABEC: 1st Gasoline Class E (48.6 mph); 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (42 mph). WINTER HARBOR: DNS) Gasoline Class E.
2015: MOOSABEC: DNF Gasoline Class E. STONINGTON: 1st Gasoline Class E (50.4 mph). FRIENDSHIP: 1st Gasoline Class E (57.8 mph); 1st Gasoline Free-for-All (47 mph). WINTER HARBOR: 1st Gasoline Class E (50.1 mph)
