| John Fleming: St. Thomas Fishing Boat Builder |
They are everywhere on St. Thomas!
Hull Bay, Red Hook, the Mangrove Lagoon, Coki Point, Frenchtown—every where you find
fishermen you find John Fleming’s boats. They are unmistakable, the sturdy
construction, the unmistakable sweep of the bow, hard working solid beautiful boats that are the
backbone of the St. Thomas fishing fleet. Hurricanes come and go but Fleming boats still survive.
Hull Bay, Red Hook, the Mangrove Lagoon, Coki Point, Frenchtown—every where you find
fishermen you find John Fleming’s boats. They are unmistakable, the sturdy
construction, the unmistakable sweep of the bow, hard working solid beautiful boats that are the
backbone of the St. Thomas fishing fleet. Hurricanes come and go but Fleming boats still survive.
Mr. Fleming started building boats with his father Fred, bringing Anguilla’s boat building
tradition to St. Thomas in 1967 until he died in 1990. He was so prolific, no one knows just
exactly how many he built. His final boat sits in Mandahl Bay, painted green, STFA member
Patrick Berry the proud owner. Frenchtown looks like a Fleming distributorship, filled with his
boats. Talk to a Fleming owner and hear the talk of the ruggedness, the sea kindliness and the
overall beauty. Fleming owners are proud and the bright, fresh paint jobs attest to that pride.
Mr. Fleming’s widow Jasmine says that he was not only an excellent boat
builder but a loving and caring husband and father, a fact borne out by all who knew him. He is
certainly missed, but his legacy of sturdy, beautiful fishing boats lives
on, the pride of St. Thomas’ fishing fleet.
tradition to St. Thomas in 1967 until he died in 1990. He was so prolific, no one knows just
exactly how many he built. His final boat sits in Mandahl Bay, painted green, STFA member
Patrick Berry the proud owner. Frenchtown looks like a Fleming distributorship, filled with his
boats. Talk to a Fleming owner and hear the talk of the ruggedness, the sea kindliness and the
overall beauty. Fleming owners are proud and the bright, fresh paint jobs attest to that pride.
Mr. Fleming’s widow Jasmine says that he was not only an excellent boat
builder but a loving and caring husband and father, a fact borne out by all who knew him. He is
certainly missed, but his legacy of sturdy, beautiful fishing boats lives
on, the pride of St. Thomas’ fishing fleet.