>> Huell: WELL HELLO EVERYBODY.
I'M HUELL HOWSER.
AND HERE WE ARE IN THE BEAUTIFUL COASTAL TOWN OF SANTA BARBARA, SPECIFICALLY WE'VE COME HERE TO THE SANTA BARBARA HARBOR, WHICH IS NOT ONLY PICTURESQUE BUT FILLED WITH ALL TYPES OF INTERESTING BOATS.
EVERYTHING FROM SAIL BOATS, IN BOARD, OUT BOARD, THE COAST GUARD IS EVEN HERE.
THIS IS A VERY HISTORIC AND INTERESTING PLACE TO VISIT.
AND WE'VE COME HERE IN SEARCH OF A SPECIFIC BOAT.
A BOAT THAT IS NOT ONLY FILLED WITH CALIFORNIA HISTORY, BUT IS UNIQUE BECAUSE IT'S PROBABLY THE ONLY BOAT OF ITS KIND IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.
I'LL GIVE YOU A HINT, THIS BOAT IS SPECIFICALLY CONNECTED WITH OUN OF OUR CALIFORNIA CHANNEL ISLANDS.
OKAY, HERE WE ARE AND WE HAVE OUR CAST OF CHARACTERS WAITING HERE FOR US ON THE DOCK.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EVERYBODY.
>> MR. LINWALL.
>> Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.
>> MRS. LINWALL.
>> RUSH.
>> Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU SIR.
WE'VE BEEN GIVEN THIS BOAT THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR, A PRETTY BIG BUILDUP, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM.
THERE IS THE BOAT, THE BACERO 2, WHO WANTS TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO REVEAL TO OUR VIEWERS WHY THIS BOAT IS HISTORIC AND WHY IT'S UNIQUE PROBABLY IN THE WORLD.
TELL US ABOUT THAT BOAT?
>> THAT IS A CATTLE BOAT.
>> Huell: A CATTLE BOAT.
>> UH-HUH.
AND SHE WAS IN SERVE FROM '59 BUILT IN '59 BY SUGAR LINWALL UP UNTIL A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, SHE CARRIED CATTLE BACK AND FORTH TO THE ISLANDS.
AND PREVIOUSLY HAD A LARGER BOAT.
>> Huell: IT WAS BUILT --.
>> IN 1913 AND THE GOVERNMENT TOOK IT OVER IN '42 WHEN THE WAR STARTED.
SO WE WERE WITHOUT A BOAT FOR MANY YEARS AND USED BARGES AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND DECIDED TO GET A BOAT.
>> Huell: SO THE BAQERO WAS FROM 1941 TO '42 AND THE GOVERNMENT TOOK IT.
>> SHE ENDED UP IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC.
IT WAS JUST A SHALLOW DRAFT VESSEL.
>> Huell: IS SHE STILL DOWN THERE.
>> NOT THAT WE KNOW OF.
WE CAN'T TRACE IT.
I THINK IT DIDN'T LAST.
>> Huell: SO TD BAQERO ONE WENT OUT OF SERVICE AND YOU WERE WITHOUT A BOAT UNTIL 1959.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> Huell: SO WHAT DID YOU USE IN BETWEEN.
>> WE USED NAVY LCTs TO A CERTAIN EXTENT AND WE HAD A BIG BARGES WITH A TOW BOAT AND OCCASIONALLY WE HAD A DECK SPACE THAT WE WOULD HIRE.
BUT IT WAS SO INFREQUENT AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET A BOAT THAT WOULD CARRY CATTLE.
SO MY UNCLE AND BROTHER THEY WERE IN CHARGE AT THE TIME, THEY TALKED TO LINWALL AND DESIGNED IT AND THEY BUILT IT.
>> Huell: AND WENT INTO SERVICE IN 1959.
>> YES.
>> Huell: MOST THF IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A CATTLE BOAT IS.
BUT BASICALLY, YOU HAD A CATTLE RANCH ON SANTA ROSA ISLAND YOUR FAMILY HAD IT FOR A CENTURY.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> Huell: AND THIS WAS THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD GET THE CATTLE BACK AND FORTH OVER TO THE ISLAND.
>> THAT'S RIGHT TO AND FROM.
AND WE NEEDED ONE AND HAD TO BE DECK SPACE, HAD TO BE COVERED WITH A DECK SPACE AND A GOOD DAEM -- BEAM SO WE HAD ROOM ENOUGH FOR THE CATTLE.
THEY TAKE A LITTLE ROOM TO PACK INTO THE CAREL.
>> Huell: AND HAVE YOU EVER HEARD ANY OTHER CATTLE BOATS?
>> NO.
>> Huell: AND SUGAR, THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO TELL US ABOUT BUILDING THIS CATTLE BOAT.
WHEN THEY CAME TO YOU AND SAID, WE WANT A CATTLE BOAT.
WHAT DID YOU SAY?
>> I SAID WE CAN PROBABLY DO IT.
I WAS INTERESTED AND HE HE SAID DRAW SOME PLANS WHICH I DID AND HE OKAYED IT AND WE STARTED.
>> Huell: NOW YOU HAD BEEN BUILDING SOPHISTICATED BEAUTIFUL BOATS FOR PEOPLE HERE IN SANTA BARBARA FOR YEARS.
>> WE BUILT THIS SHOP RIGHT AFTER THE WAR WHEN I CAME HOME AFTER THE SERVICE AND STARTED BUILDING THEM UP THERE.
BEFORE THAT, WE USE TO HALL THEM OUT AND REPAIR THEM.
>> Huell: YOU'RE A BOAT BUILDER BY TRADE.
>> YES.
>> Huell: BUT THIS IS THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME YOU HAVE EVER BUILT A CATTLE BOAT.
>> RIGHT.
>> Huell: TELL US ABOUT IT.
HOW WAS IT BUILT.
I SAW PICTURES OF IT.
IS IT BASICALLY ALL MADE OUT OF WOOD.
>> ALL WOOD.
IT'S ALL OAK FRAME WOOD.
FUR PLANKING AND LOTS OF IT.
>> Huell: AND HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO BUILD HER.
>> ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS.
>> Huell: AND WHAT DID PEOPLE THINK WHEN YOU TOLD THEM YOU WERE BUILDING A CATTLE BOAT.
>> THEY WERE NOT SURE WHAT IT WAS GOING TO BE IT LOOKED SO OUT OF PLACE.
BUT IT CAME AROUND AND THEY WERE HAPPY.
>> Huell: WHEN YOU SAY BIG AND OUT OF PLACE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
>> IT WAS UPTOWN WHERE WE BUILT IT.
AND IT WAS JUST ODD TO SEE A BOAT THAT FAR UP FROM WATER.
>> Huell: HOW DID YOU GET IT HERE.
>> HOUSE MOVING DOLLIES.
>> Huell: SO IT WAS A BIG DEAL JUST TO GET HER IN THE WATER.
>> IT TOOK ABOUT TWO DAYS.
>> Huell: STOPPED TRAFFIC.
>> OH YEAH, IT WAS A HIGHWAY THEN BUT WE HAD THAT BLOCKED OFF AND CAME DOWN HERE OVER HERE AND ON THE WEST BEACH.
>> Huell: WAS IT A BIG DEAL THE DAY IT WAS LAUNCHED.
>> YES, IT WAS A BIG DEAL, WE'LL SHOW YOU PICTURES.
>> Huell: YOU WERE JUST GLAD TO GET HER LAUNCH AND GET ONTO OTHER BOATS.
>> YES, I WANTED TO GET AWAY FROM IT.
>> Huell: WELL YOU'RE BACK TO HER NOW.
AND I TELL YOU WHAT, SHE'S HOLDING UP PRETTY GOOD.
>> Huell: WE'RE PULLING OUT AND RUSS THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO GIVE A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT YOUR FAMILY'S CATTLE OPERATIONS OVER IN SANTA ROSA ISLAND ABOUT HOW FAR FROM HERE?
>> ABOUT 35 MILES.
>> Huell: TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OPERATION, ABOUT THE RANCH?
>> WELL IT STARTED IN 1902 WHEN MY GRANDFATHER AND ANOTHER GENTLEMEN BY THE NAME OF VICKERS THEY BOUGHT THE ISLAND.
AND AT THAT POINT IT WAS A SHEEP RANCH AND THEY WERE CATTLE MEN, BOTH OF THEM FROM ARIZONA.
THEY WERE CATTLE MEN.
SO THEY TOOK THE SHEEP OFF AND IN TWO YEARS AND LET IT RANGE GET BACK TO NORMAL.
AND THEN STARTED CATTLE ONLY.
AND IT'S BEEN THAT WAY ALL THE TIME SINCE 1902 OR A COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER THAT.
UNTIL '99 WHEN WE HAD TO GET THE CATTLE OFF BECAUSE OF A DECISION BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.
>> Huell: BECAUSE SANTA ROSA ISLAND IS NOW A NATIONAL PARK.
IT'S NO LONGER A PRIVATE ISLAND OWNED BY YOUR FAMILY.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> Huell: AND A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, BEFORE YOU SHUT DOWN THE RANCHING OPERATIONS, I VISITED SANTA ROSA ISLAND AND SAW FIRSTHAND THIS RANCH WHICH REALLY WAS A THROW BACK TO ANOTHER ERA IN CALIFORNIA HISTORY, WAS IT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> Huell: IT WAS LIKE GOING BACK IN TIME.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, IT WAS THE SAME AS IT WAS 100 YEARS AGO.
>> Huell: IT WAS LIKE GOING BACK TO TIME.
IN FACT BECAUSE THE RANCH IS NO LONGER IN OPERATION, ALL OF THESE PICTURES WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT WE SHOT WHILE WE WERE THERE, ARE NOW PART OF CALIFORNIA HISTORY.
AND ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING ASPECTS OF THE CATTLE OPERATION IN SANTA ROSA ISLAND CENTERED AROUND GETTING THE CATTLE BACK AND FORTH TO THE MAIN LAND.
WE WERE PRIVILEGED TO WIT THIS AMAZING SITE -- WITNESS THIS AMAZING SITE WHICH STARTED EARLY IN THE MORNING AND IT INVOLVED THE ISLAND COWBOYS DRIVING THE CATTLE OUT TO THE END OF THIS HUGE LONG WOODEN PIER, WHICH IN ITSELF WAS EXCITING WITH THE ENERGY OF THE CATTLE AND THE SOUNDS OF THE CATTLE ON THE OL' WOODEN PLANKS OF THE PIER.
>> HO!
HO!
>> Huell: AT THE END OF PIER WAS THE VAQUERO, THE CATTLE BOAT.
AND THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE CATTLE FROM THE PIER ON TO THE BOAT WAS REALLY SOMETHING TO SEE.
>> Huell: NOW THIS IS SOMETHING TO SEE.
>> WELL YEAH.
THIS IS TO YOU.
>> Huell: BUT I MEAN, YOU DON'T -- THIS IS NOT HAPPENING ANYWHERE ELSE.
>> NO PLACE ELSE IN THE WORLD THAT I KNOW OF.
>> Huell: REALLY.
>> THIS IS ONLY OFF-SHORE OPERATION THAT IS HELD BY BARGE AND LOADED OFF A DOCK.
>> Huell: AND WHERE THE COWBOYS DRIVE THE CATTLE OUT TO THE END OF THE PIER.
>> WHERE WE LOAD IT.
>> Huell: NOW THAT'S THIS BEEN DONE THE SAME WAY FOR YEARS.
>> UH-HUH, IT HAS NOT CHANGED.
>> Huell: AND THERE THEY GO.
THEY'RE GOING INTO THE SHOOT AND THEY COME AROUND HERE.
AL, THIS IS SOMETHING TO WATCH.
>> YES, IT'S INTERESTING.
IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF OPERATION THAT YOU NORMALLY SEE.
>> Huell: ARE THERE ANY OTHER CATTLE BOATS THAT YOU KNOW OF IT.
>> NOT IN THE PACIFIC COAST TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
I'M SURE THAT'S THE ONLY BOAT.
>> Huell: YEAH.
>> IT WAS BUILT JUST FOR THIS OPERATION.
>> Huell: YOU'VE GOT IT DOWN PRETTY MUCH TO A SCIENCE.
HOW YOU GET THEM DOWN HERE AND HOW YOU GET THEM ON THE BOAT.
>> TRUE, BUT IT TOOK MANY YEARS TO DEVELOP IT.
>> Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
>> WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT DOWN TO A SCIENCE.
WE KEEP LEARNING EVERY YEAR HOW TO IMPROVE THIS.
>> Huell: BUT IT'S BEEN GOING TON THIS WAY FOR HOW MANY YEARS?
>> SINCE 19 -- WELL REALLY A COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER 1902.
>> Huell: DRIVING THEM LIKE THIS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> Huell: HOW MANY TIMES A YEAR WILL YOU LOAD UP A BOAT LIKE THIS WITH CATTLE.
>> THEY TAKE OUR BIG CATTLE AND MAKE MAYBE 30 TRIPS AND MAYBE A FEW IN THE FALL, MAKING BIG CATTLE OFF.
AND WHEN YOU BRING THE YOUNGSTERS ON IN THE WINTER, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER 20-SOME ODD TRIPS.
>> Huell: HERE THEY COME AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING TO SEE.
>> Huell: ALL RIGHT WE'RE MOVING OUT IN THE HARBOR AND NOW IT'S TIME TO TALK A LITTLE BIT WITH THE CAP TIB AND WITH THE-- CAPTAIN AND WITH THE DECK MAN TO FIND OUT HOW IT WAS LIKE TO OPERATE A VESSEL LIKE THIS.
HOW IS OPERATING A CATTLE BOAT DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER BOAT.
>> NO BIG DIFFERENCE.
THIS IS AN EASY HANDLING BOAT.
NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE FROM ANY OTHER BOAT.
>> Huell: DID YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE CATTLE, I DON'T WANT TO SAY SEA SICK -- WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING?
>> I'M LAUGHING BECAUSE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, WE HAD TO WORRY ABOUT THE CATTLE SOME WOULD FALL ON THE DECK, AND IT WAS A PROBLEM.
>> Huell: HOW MANY CATTLE WOULD BE ON THIS BOAT?
>> THE BILL ONES ABOUT 225 AND ABOUT 100 OF THE LARGE ONES.
>> Huell: AND YOU SAY LEAVING WYNIMI THAT'S WHERE YOU WOULD PICK THEM UP.
>> AND SOMETIMES THE WATER WAS CHOPPY SO WE HAD TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW THEY WERE PACKED IN.
>> Huell: WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT CATTLE TO MAKE THIS OPERATION WORK, OF TRONS PORTING THEM BACK AND WORTH?
WHAT KIND OF I IDIOSINCRISIES DID YOU HAVE TO KNOW.
>> I CAME INTO THIS A LITTLE LATER, SO IT WAS AN ADVENTURE FOR ME COMING FROM FISHING ONTO CATTLE.
>> Huell: WHY DID YOU DO THIS.
BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF THE OLD SANTA BARBARA FISHING FAMILIES, YOU JUST DID THIS DECK HAND ON THIS CATTLE BOAT AS A LABOR OF LOVE.
YOU WERE JUST VOLUNTEERING.
>> I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT AS A JOB.
IT'S LIKE WORKING WITH YOUR UNCLE, I NEVER THOUGHT AS AL AS A BOSS AND RUSS AND I GOT ALONG VERY WELL.
I CAME ONCE FOR THE ROUNDUP AND I ENDED UP STAYING SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS.
>> ALMOST EIGHT YEARS.
>> Huell: AND HOW DID YOU GET HOOKED?
>> I APPLIED FOR THE JOB.
[LAUGHTER].
>> Huell: PROBABLY NOBODY ELSE -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY WANTED IT BUT IT WAS A UNIQUE POSITION.
>> YES, I ENJOYED IT, I LIKED WORKING WITH RUSS, I ENJOYED BEING ARNLD THE COWBOYS I LOVE COOKING FOR THEM.
AS I TOLD YOU BEFORE, I WOULD COOK YOU DINNER.
>> Huell: I REMEMBER AND YOU'RE A VERY GOOD COOK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Huell: I WENT OVER TO SANTA ROSA WE WENT AND DO A PROGRAM THERE.
THIS WAS A THROW BACK IN HISTORY TO SEE THIS.
>> YEAH, IT WAS.
FUNNY THING WITH THE CATTLE, YOU JUST DIDN'T GET TOO CLOSE BEHIND THEM, BECAUSE HE CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY CAN REALLY KICK.
>> OH YEAH, THEY CAN.
I WAS ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT LEARY GETTING DOWN WHILE RUSS WOULD GET DOWN AND OPEN THE SHOOT.
AND RATHER THE GATE AND THE SHOOT WOULD COME DOWN, AND THAT'S A CRITICAL MOMENT BECAUSE YOU'RE TIED IN WITH ALL THE CATTLE AND THEY'RE A LITTLE NERVOUS.
AND THE FEW TIMES THAT I WENT DOWN, MAINLY IT WAS RUSS THAT DID THAT.
>> Huell: EXPLAIN TO US HOW THIS WOULD WORK.
LET'S WALK OVER HERE AND TAKE A LOOK OVER HERE.
THIS WHOLE AREA DOWN HERE, WOULD BE FULL OF CATTLE?
>> RIGHT.
SIX PANS.
>> IT WAS PINNED OFF INTO SIX PANS SO THAT TWO PENS ON THE BACK AND THE MIDDLE AND THEN YOU HAD THEM UP IN HERE AND THE VOW, THEY WERE PACKED IN PRETTY TIGHT SO THEY DIDN'T MOVE AROUND TOO MUCH.
BUT IT WAS A LITTLE DANGEROUS TO GET DOWN THERE WITH THEM.
ESPECIALLY THE BIGGER ONES, THE.
THE -- THE LITTLE ONES KICK HARD TOO.
>> EVERYBODY WAS SPOOKED.
>> ARIZONA AND DESERT, WE'RE NOT TOO USED TO SEEING THE MAN ANYWAY.
>> Huell: AND THEN YOU'RE PUTTING THEM ON A BOAT AND TAKING THEM ON AN OCEAN.
>> THEY HAD ABOUT A FIVE HOUR DRIVE HERE, AND THEN ANOTHER FIVE HOURS ON THE BOAT.
THEY CAN GET PRETTY AWRY.
>> Huell: WAS IT THE SAME YEARS LATER OR DID THEY SETTLE DOWN.
>> THE BIG ONES, THEY WEIGH OVER THERE 400 AND THEY COME BACK ANYWHERE FROM 1400.
WE TYKE 220 CALFS AND MAYBE 110 BIG ONES.
>> Huell: SO THEY HAD FATTENED UP AND GROWN-UP IN SANTA ROSA ISLAND.
>> THEY WERE ALL GROWN-UP.
>> PRIME BEEF, WHEN THEY CAME BACK.
THEY WERE NICE CATTLE.
>> Huell: AND WHAT WOULD IT SOUND LIKE WHEN YOU WERE ON THE OPEN SEA WITH 200 CATTLE ON BOARD.
WHAT WAS THE SOUND YOU WOULD HEAR.
>> THEY WERE NOT TOO NOISY.
BUT THEY WERE ALWAYS MOVING, ALWAYS CIRCLING AROUND AND TROM PING AROUND AND LIKE SUNNY SAYS, IF ONE WAS DOWN, YOU WOULD HAVE TO GET IN THERE AND GET THEM UP.
WHICH GOT KIND OF HARRY.
>> Huell: HOW LONG DID THE TRIP TAKE.
>> A LITTLE OVER FIVE HOURS EACH WAY.
>> Huell: JUST OF TWO OF YOU AND THE OVER 500 CATTLE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> Huell: HOW MANY TRIPS WOULD YOU MAKE IN THIS.
>> AROUND 60.
>> Huell: SO YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME.
>> YES, NOT ONLY HAULED CATTLE, BUT ALFALFA PELLETS AND FOOD FOR THE YOUNG CALF.
>> Huell: AND I GUESS YOU WOULD TAKE THE COWBOYS BACK TO THEIR FAMILIES.
>> YEAH.
>> Huell: ARE YOU LISTENING TO ALL THESE STORIES.
>> OH YEAH, IT'S FASCINATING.
>> Huell: YOU'RE HANDLING HER TODAY BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE EVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
>> I NORMALLY WORK ON BIG YACHTS.
I'M A YACHT SKIPPER, THIS IS A NEW THING TO ME.
>> Huell: HOW DOES SHE HANDLE?
>> OH BEAUTIFULLY.
JUST LIKE A YATCH.
>> Huell: THIS IS THE ORIGINAL WHEEL.
>> THIS IS THE ORIGINAL WHEEL STROTLE AND EVERYTHING, THEY'RE ALL THE SAME.
>> Huell: THIS IS INTERESTING, RUSS AND SONNY WERE TELLING ME IF YOU LOOK AT THIS BOAT.
IT'S BUILT DIFFERENTLY.
>> YEAH, IF YOU LOOK UNDERNEATH, IT'S ONLY 4 AND A HALF FEET CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE MAIN DECK AND OVERHEAD AND IT'S THE SAME IN THE VALVE, IT WAS JUST BUILT FOR CATTLE NOT HUMAN.
>> Huell: SO ONLY TALL ENOUGH TO GET THE CATTLE AND THE CATTLE WERE ALL UNDERNEATH HERE.
>> YES AND TWO PENS UNDERNEATH HERE AND THEN THERE WAS A WALKWAY THAT WENT ACROSS HERE TO THE MAIN DPEK FORWARD AND YOU-- DECK FORWARD.
>> Huell: SO IT WAS LIKE A GANGPLANKER OR WALKWAY.
>> YES.
>> Huell: BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T GET DOWN IN THERE.
>> NO.
>> Huell: IT WAS ALL FILLED WITH CATTLE.
>> >> CATING, IT WAS HEAVY WITH CATTLE.
>> Huell: WHAT KIND OF MEMORIES DOES THIS BRING BACK TO YOU.
>> A LOT OF PLEASANT MEMORIES, I HAD A GOOD TIME WITH THIS JOB.
AS I SAID BEFORE, I KNEW THE FAMILY FOR A LONG TIME AND IT WAS NOT LIKE HAVING A JOB.
>> Huell: ARE YOU A LITTLE HOME SICK FOR COWS?
>> I THINK SO.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
>> WELL YEAH, ROGER.
WHEN WE BROUGHT THE ANIMALS IN OFF THE ISLAND, WE BROUGHT THE HORSES IN AND WE HAD TO KEEP THE HORSES UP HERE, BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO TALL TO GET UNDERNEATH THE DECKS.
SO WE HAD TO KEEP THEM IN THE CENTER PENS.
>> Huell: WHEN WOULD YOU BE BRINGING HORSES.
>> WE BROUGHT THEM IN WHEN WE TOOK THEM OFF THE ISLAND.
>> Huell: WHEN THEY CLOSED FOR GOOD IN 1999.
>> WE BROUGHT 100 HORSES OFF THE ISLAND.
>> Huell: SO THIS BOAT HAS ALSO CARRIED HORSES.
>> HORSES AND ELK.
>> Huell: ELK?
>> ELK OFF THE ISLAND OLYMPIC HE ELK.
AND THEY CAPTURED THEM ON THE ISLAND AND WE BROUGHT THEM IN POINT WYNIMI.
>> Huell: WOW, THIS IS A LIKE A NOAH'S ARC OVER THE YEARS.
>> WE HAD TO COVER IT ALL WITH PLYWOOD, WE MADE ROOMS DOWN HERE TO PUT THE ELK IN AND WE HAD TO COVER THEM TO KEEP THEM FROM JUMPING OUT.
>> Huell: INTO THE OCEAN.
>> YES, THEY TRIED TO GET OUT.
>> Huell: NOW WE'RE DOING THE FINAL CHAPTER, THE FINAL PAGE OF THE HISTORY BOOK OF THE VAQUERO TWO.
>> I BOUGHT THE BOAT NOT HAVING A CLUE WHAT WITH I WAS GOING TO DO WITH IT.
I JUST COULDN'T STAND SEEING SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BOAT DETERIORATE.
>> Huell: SO RUSS, WHEN YOUR RANCH CLOSED DOWN.
>> YEAH.
>> Huell: WAS CLOSED DOWN BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IN 1999.
>> YEAH.
>> Huell: YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY USE FOR A CATTLE BOAT ANYMORE.
>> NO WE DIDN'T.
>> WE HAD TO GET RID OF EVERYTHING.
>> Huell: AND THE BOAT.
>> AND THE BOAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
>> Huell: YOU FOUND THE GUY, AND I GUESS THE QUESTION WAS.
YOU SAID YOU WERE ATTRACTED TO THE OL' VAQUERO, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO IT?
>> I'M FROM NEW ZEALAND AND WE'VE GOT CREATIVE THINKING PATHS AND AS SLOWLY AS IMAGINATION, WE'VE GOT A BIG FUTURE IF WE GET CREATIVE.
I THINK MY INITIAL REACTION WANTS TO PUT IT TO USE IN MEXICO AND CUT KAYAKS ON IT.
SO I'VE BEEN DESIGNING AND BUILDING THE BOAT TOWARDS THAT END.
AS WE HAVE LONG ALONG, I DISCOVERED THERE IS A LOCAL INTEREST ON THE BOAT.
>> Huell: HERE IN SANTA BARBARA.
>> HERE IN SANTA BARBARA, AND THEY WANT TO SEE IT LEAVE.
FOR MY PERSPECTIVE, KEEPING IT IN TROPICAL WATERS IS NOT HEALTHY FOR THE BOAT EITHER.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR HAVING IT THERE SIX MONTHS AND BRINGING IT BACK HERE SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR.
>> Huell: AS A WHAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THE CAPTAIN NOTICED YOU BUILT A WET BAR RIGHT HERE.
THERE WERE NO WET BARS ON BOARD WHEN YOU WERE RUNNING IT AS A CATTLE BOAT.
>> NOR.
>> Huell: AND YOU DIDN'T BUILD A WET BAR.
>> THEY WOULD NOT LET ME PUT ONE ON.
>> THAT CAME OUT OF MY CREATIVE THINKING.
I LOOKED AT THIS PLACE AND THESE HECHS, THESE ARE CLASSICAL TRIP OVER HATCHES.
AND MAYBE IN MEXICO WE CAN HAVE ENDLESS TACOS AND EVERYBODY PARTYING.
>> Huell: YOU CAN DO THAT IN SANTA BARBARA.
>> EXACTLY.
>> Huell: SO IT WILL BE AN EXCURSION BOAT.
A PARTY BOAT?
>> IT WILL BE A PARTY BOAT.
IT'S A MULTI FUNCTIONAL BOAT.
PEOPLE LIKE TO TAKE IT TO THE ISLAND AND JUST SLEEP ON THE BOAT, UNDERNEATH THE DECK.
THIS IS A SWING RIGHT HERE.
AND KIDS SLEEP OFF THE SIDE OF THE BOAT.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST KEEPING EVERY OPTION WIDE OPEN.
>> Huell: WOW.
>> PUT THE FACILITY ON THE BOAT.
THE SUN AWNING WILL SLIDE BACK.
>> Huell: WOW.
>> THERE IS A MASTER PLAN GOING AND IT UNFOLDS DAILY.
>> Huell: AND YOU'RE SAVING A BIT OF THIS WONDERFUL PAGE OF CALIFORNIA HISTORY.
>> EXACTLY AND THAT'S MY INTENT IS NOT TO ALTER THE BASIC AND STRUCTURE OF THE BOAT.
WE'RE ADDING LITTLE DETAILS LIKE A HOOKER DIVE SYSTEM, A SECOND GENERATOR, RECONSTRUCTED THE FUEL SO WE CAN SELL FUEL IN MEXICO AS WELL AS PUT IT IN THE ON THE BOAT.
WE'RE PUTTING A WATER MAKER ON, WE CAN MAKE 500 GALLONS A DAY.
>> Huell: RUSS, THIS IS VERY EXCITING.
WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THIS OL' BOAT.
>> I THINK IT LOOKS PRETTY DARN GOOD.
I HATE TO SEE THE CATTLE GONE.
>> Huell: MAYBE HAVE ONE COW ON BOARD JUST FOR NOSTALGIA.
>> I HAVE AN INTERESTED ARTIST OF PUTTING A BIG MURAL ON A LIVE RAFT.
>> Huell: BECAUSE, YOU KNOW PEOPLE DO WANT TO KNOW THE HISTORY.
THEY CARE ABOUT THE HISTORY.
>> WELL, TOWARDS THE END WE'LL APPROACH THE MUSEUM AND ANYBODY AND FRAME A LOT OF STUFF AND PUT IT IN THE PILOT HOUSE.
>> Huell: SO PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER.
>> THAT'S OUR INTENTION, ACTUALLY.
>> Huell: THIS IS BEEN A WONDERFUL -- LOOK AT A WONDERFUL LOOK AND OBSCURE.
YOU BUILT HER.
>> STILL HANGING IN THERE.
>> Huell: PRETTY STARED', CARRIED A COUPLE OF HUNDRED THOUSANDS.
>> THAT MUCH.
>> Huell: AND STILL GOING STRONG.
>> AND STILL GOING ON.
>> Huell: YOU WERE THE CAPTAIN, YOU'LL HAVE TO COME BACK AND RIDE ON HER AS AN EXCURSION.
>> YES I'LL HAVE TO DO THAT.
>> Huell: AND HERE'S A GUY WHO WILL VOLUNTEER, YOU'LL BE YOUR DECK HAND FREE OF CHARGE, RIGHT SONNY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Huell: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> Huell: FIRST OFF FOR YOUR INVITATION TO VISIT YOUR RANCH FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO, WHEN IT WAS STILL OPERATING, WE FEEL HONORED AND WITNESSED WHAT THIS WONDERFUL RANCH WAS LIKE.
BECAUSE IT'S GONE FOREVER AND IT WAS VERY VERY OLD WEST AND AWEUTHENTIC IT WAS THE REAL THING.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING, THATIT WAS.
>> Huell: AND SO IS THIS OL' BOAT.
ON -- CONGRATULATIONS ON BUYING HER AND GOOD LUCK FOR THE FUTURE.
STAND RIGHT HERE AND HAVE A MARGARITA WHERE THE COWS USED TO BE.
>> I DO HAVE A PARTNER WHO HAS DONE A GREAT JOB PUTTING THE MECHANICAL PART TOGETHER.
>> Huell: WE TALKED TO HIM -- HE'S GOT AN ACCENT TOO.
>> HE'S FROM ENGLAND AND I'M NR NEW ZEALAND.
>> Huell: THAT'S BEEN THE VAQUERO TWO, THERE IS SANTA BARBARA.
SANTA ROSA ISLAND IS 35 MILES FROM HERE.
NO CATTLE HERE BUT LOTS OF MEMORIES OF THIS WONDERFUL OLD BOAT.
GOODBYE EVERYTHING.
VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSON'S FOUNDATION.
