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.

Charter fishing in Folly Beach fishing has been good as we enjoy another mild winter. Deep Sea fishing charters have been producing good size and numbers of King Mackerel, Black Drum, Sheepshead, Redfish, Black Sea Bass and several other species. These fish are aggressively attacking a variety of cut and live baits. Our Folly Beach Deep Sea boats are fishing in 50 to 70 ft of water and focusing on reefs and wrecks while bottom fishing. We have also found a tendency to score larger fish on big artificial lures such as Bucktail jigs and 5 inch Z-man swim baits by trolling and jigging around submerged structure and rock piles. Our weather has been a little tough off the beach. On days that we haven’t been to travel far due to rough conditions we have had great luck staying inside the jetties and close to shore.

Big schools of Redfish are cruising the numerous flats in Folly Beach. We have been catching those fish using soft plastics, live shrimp, mud minnows and cut mullet. Many big redfish are being caught and we have had much of the water to ourselves, especially during the week. Keep in mind the fish can be spooky and a quiet approach will help you get more bites. The best thing to do is give them some room and watch how they react to your presentation. If they don’t hit the first bait you throw towards them, try another. We recently had to back off our fish a few times and let them rest for 5 or 10 minutes before making another presentation and hooking up. The fish are here and biting and our short cold spells will soon give way to longer warm spells then, before you know it Spring will be here! There are plenty of good dates open but with Spring Break and Summer vacation on everyone’s mind a lot of reservations are coming in. Folly Beach seems to be getting busier every year, so get your trips booked now to get the dates you want. You can reserve your date and make your reservation online here, or simply call or text to connect with us. We have several new options including the new 2 hr charter which has been extremely popular with casual anglers and families with young fisherman. As always feel free to reach out and discuss which options will be the best for you and your crew. Let’s go fishing!

To Book Captain Kevin Blair

January Fishing Forecast

Happy New year!  Folly Beach fishing has improved greatly the past few days. Warmer weather has moved back in after a week of cooler temperatures. Our inshore fishing charters have been targeting Redfish. This time of year Redfish begin to gather up in schools on the flats and in the shallow creeks. Creeks that work the best are those that give the fish good access to food and shelter from predators and plenty of structure such as docks, oyster beds and downed trees. We have been enjoying good success with live shrimp, cut mullet and small profile artificial baits on light jigs.

The Speckled Trout bite has also recovered from the cold snap. We have been catching them on mud minnows and small finesse soft plastic jigs cast around points and creek mouths. Most productive areas seem to be in 8 to 15 ft of water. Look for current, oyster beds and irregular shaped shorelines to give you clues on where the fish may be staging up looking for an easy meal.  A slow hopping retrieve has been producing the most strikes by far. Remember to try a variety of depths to locate the sweet spot.

On Calmer days, Folly Beach fishing charters have been running to the nearshore reefs and have been finding Black Sea Bass, Weakfish, Sheepshead, Black Drum and some big Bull Reds! These bruisers have been cruising the surface chasing live baits. We have been able to catch them on top water plugs, metal jigs and soft plastics. Most of these fish are well over 30 inches long and have plenty of room to run when hooked so when you get connected be ready for a long fight! I expect January to provide lots of action this year so get to my online calendar and get your spot saved. I look forward to seeing you on deck soon! As always feel free to text or call 843-696-4231 for booking information. See you on deck!

To Book Captain Kevin Blair

Charter Fishing in Folly Beach! December Deep Sea fishing and inshore fishing in Folly Beach can be one of the better months of the year. Most days we will have mild weather and light winds, so pack a jacket and let’s go fishing! Plan on targeting Redfish and Speckled Trout as they feed heavily in advance of our short winter. Now is the time to boat large numbers of quality fish.  We typically focus on fishing large schools that gather around shallow creeks and river bends, using live shrimp and minnows that are still abundant in our waters. For the angler that likes more of a skill based fishing charter we can target those fish with a variety of lures. We typically use soft plastic swim baits and crank baits. In my opinion nothing is more fun than feeling the fish attack your lure as you are working the bait past them. When you feel the fish inhale your bait a swift hook set will get you connected and ready to do battle!

On Calm days we will venture  to the Deep Sea reefs to fish for Sheepshead and Weakfish. Both these species gather in large numbers to intercept bait fish as they begin to head to deeper waters for our short winter.  We will also expect to see large Black Drum ranging from 10 to 30 lbs. at those reefs. When those tough fish inhale your bait you need to lean back and lift your rod back to turn their heads away from the rocks or you may lose them to the structure.

As always it’s best to book in advance online but feel free to text or call with questions or to book directly with us. Our weather cancellation policy is more liberal in the winter and late morning start times are more common. I would love to see you on deck this winter so let’s get you out there to enjoy some of the best fishing Folly Beach has to offer!

Book your fall fishing trip today! Call, text, or book online.

Captain Kevin Blair

To Book Captain Kevin Blair

Folly Beach Holiday Event Schedule

• Community Tree Lighting: November 26, 7pm @ Folly River Park
• Santa visits Folly Beach: December 8, 6pm @ Folly River Park
• 33rd Annual Folly Beach Christmas Parade: December 9, 12pm
• Folly Beach Menorah Lighting Ceremony: December 9, 5pm @ Folly River Park
• Ice Skating on Folly Beach: December 15-17
• New Year’s Eve Fireworks: December 31, 7pm
• New Year’s Eve Flip Flop Drop: December 31, midnight

Book your fall fishing trip today! Call, text, or book online.

Captain Kevin Blair

To Book Captain Kevin Blair

As the fall weather starts to cool down and the crowds dissipate, there is no better time to visit Folly Beach than during the fall season. Known as a vibrant, funky beach town, Folly is located only twenty minutes from downtown Charleston for locals and tourists to explore the beaches and downtown. With average temps in the high 70s and low 80s, a walk on the beach, strolling through the shops, or trying a new restaurant spot will result in the perfect fall day at Folly.

 To start the day, you’re going to want to fill up on some breakfast at one of the many cafes. Our personal fav, “The Lost Dog Café,” is the perfect spot to grab breakfast with friends and load up on biscuits and gravy. Also, check out the cute photos of dogs hung up all over the walls. Afterward, stroll the Folly Beach Pier or head to the beach on the island’s east end, which has fantastic views of the Morris Island Lighthouse. Both sites offer stunning views and are easily accessible to the public. Up for some shopping? Then, make your way to Center Street, where you will find plenty of shops filled with Folly Beach memorabilia to commemorate your trip.

Looking for some adventure? Look no further than at Folly Beach Moped Rentals, where you can enjoy seeing the city in a fun way! Mopeds are easy to use, convenient, and can be rented for the day. Or you can travel by boat, with tons of boat excursions available. From dolphin boat tours to guided kayak tours, there’s a means of exploration for everyone.

No matter the season, Folly Beach is always a happening, vibrant spot to check out. Now that the weather has cooled down, there is no better time to enjoy the perfect Fall day than at Folly.

Surf’s up! StudyFinds analyzed nine expert reviews to name Folly Beach as one of the best surf destinations in the US. While Folly might not have the big barrel waves of Hawaii’s Pipeline, there’s still plenty of surf for everyone–from newbie wave riders to expert surfers–to catch.

If you’re an experienced surfer, your best bet is to hit the Washout, a jettied beach break whose perfect storm of conditions make for the best waves. After Hurricane Hugo wiped out the beachfront homes in this spot on the western end of the beach, surfers found that the wind blew through the area totally unimpeded, causing the swells to be bigger. This is Folly’s most famous surf spot, and the competition for waves can get intense. 

And if there’s a tropical storm or a hurricane coming, the Washout turns into a total free-for-all! Veteran surfers jostle for the chance to surf the larger hurricane swells. 

If you’re a beginner surfer, multiple surf schools on Folly Beach offer everything from group classes to private lessons. And if you don’t want to hop on a board yourself, why not watch instead? Bring a chair and grab a front-row seat to the salty action!

So what are you waiting for? Pack up your board (or rent one here on Folly) and make your way to the Edge of America to catch some of the best waves the Southeast has to offer. Hang ten!