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Boats for sale and boating information with an emphasis on the Inland Rivers.

Mile 260 Tennessee River - Florence, AL

Annie and the Whistle Doc


One day while I was working on Ashlie B II at Florence Harbor, I noticed a classic trawler tied up to the gas dock.  The boat looked brand new but the classic design drew my attention.  I was busy, so I really did not think much about it anymore.  The next day, I received a call from the marina about meeting a boat owner that wanted me to watch his boat while he went home for Christmas.  As it turned out, it was Ron Beberniss who owned Annie.  I went down to meet with him and he showed me his boat. When he told me that he put every screw in the boat himself and it took 16 years, I was shocked.  The detail was amazing and he further explained that most of the wood came in blocks that he planed down himself.  He also told me that he got hooked on whistle hunting, when he was trying to locate one for Annie.  His whislte hunting obsession, has created a collection of unique whistles that would be envied by any collector.  He even has a website about his collection, which also includes a blog about Annie and pictures of it in varoius stages of completion.  www.whistleman.com