The History of the Landmark “Folly Boat”

Have you ever encountered a boat with lots of graffiti on Folly Road? How did it get here?

For years, visitors and residents pondered the origins of “the Folly Boat” positioned just before the bridge leading to the island. The “Folly Boat” arrived on Folly Road after Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Initially pushed ashore by the storm surge near the bridge, its owner kept it unclaimed for nearly three decades. In the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo, locals, and visitors turned the Boat into a canvas for messages and art, serving as a platform for birthday wishes, marriage proposals, and any other messages people wanted to share with the world. However, though temporary, these messages encountered challenges, with some painted over daily.

In 2017, Hurricane Irma altered the landscape, displacing the landmark from its roadside location and depositing the “Folly Boat” onto the dock of resident Chris John. Chris John, eager to restore the famous “Folly Boat” to its original roadside spot, faced hurdles as the city declined permission, citing regulations and laws. Instead, the town favored relocating the Boat to private property.

Over time, layers of paint accumulated, causing chunks of the Boat to break and peel off. Nevertheless, the vessel persisted as a literal embodiment of free speech, with people continuing to paint messages and art on its sides. Unfortunately, the city’s refusal prompted owner Chad Reynolds of The Barrel, a James Island Bar, to take matters into his own hands in December 2019. He moved the Boat to the edge of The Barrel’s property, extending beyond the south side fence. The Boat, cautiously lodged in the mud behind Chris John’s house, faced the possibility of being sent to the junkyard. Now on private property, the tradition lives on, with individuals still visiting to paint the Boat with ambitious messages and art, preserving the enduring legacy of this Folly icon.

After 23 years, the Folly Boat is still a big hit. It got featured on the cover of “The Humours of Folly” by Ellie Maas Davis and Frank Braden. FollyBoat.com has excellent photo galleries showing how it’s been painted since 1993, and you can even send in your pics. They’re planning to keep adding more. But, more than just being online, the Folly Boat is a local favorite, like a symbol of the place.