of human endeavor, something which combines a unique blend of ingenuity and practicality, of creativity and pragmatism, of artist and artisan. For instance, in 1700, it was the violins of Antonio Stradivarius; in
the 1880’s, John Moses Browning revealed the Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Repeating Rifle, in
1919 Orville Gibson came out with the L-50 guitar with the first “f” holes seen on a guitar. In the 1950’s,
in the world of powerboats, something extra special came along – the 22 foot BARTENDER designed and built by George Calkins.
I own a 19′ BARTENDER and I have just begun to build a 22′ BARTENDER from one of the outstanding kits developed by the new owner of BARTENDER BOATS – Bill Childs. I live and boat in Alaska, an area of extremes, where the water is cold and the weather and seas unpredictable. The BARTENDER has handled all the seas I have yet experienced with aplomb, handling waves, wind, following seas, and strong currents with ease and safety. When I’m 25 miles out from port, I may be in one of the smallest boats that ventures out so far, but I am also in one of the most seaworthy boats out there.
And one thing I must add – the BARTENDER is just plain fun. The 19′ BARTENDER hurdles waves like a dolphin, shoulders waves with a nonchalant shrug, and leaps on plane like an arctic loon springing towards the sky with only my low power 35 hp motor. The BARTENDER evokes a feeling that I think far too few of us feel far too seldom-a feeling of joy.
As I boated this past summer past hanging glaciers, under blue skies or pounded by pouring rain, with sea
otters milling about or whales breaching next to my boat, or pulling in brightly colored rock fish from
the ocean’s depths, I experienced feelings of pure, undiluted joy – the Joy of BARTENDERING.”
