This painting has turned the head of many a visitor since the newly expanded Montauk Library opened on February 18. It’s of the original Lazybones owned by Mike and Kathy Vegessi, with Captain Mike at the wheel and the U.S. Coast Guard station in the background.
Mike and Kathy Vegessi have the same painting at their home in Montauk. Philip Deutsch, who was a regular customer as well as a friend of theirs, painted the party boat as a gift.
A 50-foot wooden Chesapeake, the Lazybones had previously been called the Captain Willie — its owner was William Butler, also an English teacher at East Hampton High School. Mike bought the boat from Captain Willie in 1985 and renamed it the Lazybones, reflecting a laid-back, family-friendly approach to fishing. “This was the original half-day open party boat,” Karen Rade recalled.
The Lazybones had a World War II landing craft engine, Mike said. Some parts came from toy companies that had retooled to bolster the war effort. About 28 years after he purchased the Lazybones, Captain Mike upgraded to a faster, 55-foot version and sold the old one. The senior Lazybones fished for a number of years as the Orient Star, then sank at the dock in Orient during Hurricane Sandy.
Philip Deutsch did a lot of painting in Montauk: of landscapes, the stone gateways at East Lake Drive, Tudor-style houses, fishing boats other than the Lazybones. Much of his work in Montauk, before he moved to Maine, was on commission, Mike said.
This painting, dated “88,” rose to the surface again during last month’s move from the library’s two-year temporary quarters and other storage sites. If anyone has more information about its provenance, please give us a call at 631-668-3377.
2 Comments
Phil was my step Dad.The family went fishing on the Lazy bones many times.
He did amazing abstract art as well and had some large pieces at their house in Montauk.
He unfortunately had several pieces stolen from a gallery in the Hamptons. I hope some day they will bé able to be seen again.
I believe, the original “Captain Willie” was previously called “Falcon” before its purchase by Willie Butler. It was a party boat which focused on porgies and seabass during the summer. My father took me out on the Falcon several times when I was a small boy in the early 1960’s. Another party boat which berthed near the Falcon was the Sea Queen, also fishing for porgies and sea bass. Both of these were at Tuma’s Dock in Montauk Harbour. Does anyone else remember these boats? That was the beginning of my long interest in Montauk fishing! Later trips with my dad included Coxes Ledge codfishing on the Viking Starlite and Peconic Queen.