Name/TitlePhotograph, "Thumper" and "Thumper Too"

About this object"Thumper" and "Thumper Too"

"Thumper" was a Hercules De Havilland so called because it made a distinctive ‘thumping’ sound as it ploughed into the waves built up by the wind. She was not used for long as she was not suitable for what Westy Davis really wanted to do – crabbing. He was known as ‘’Crab Man’’ until he passed away in May 2002.
He commissioned another boat specifically for crabbing , a quarter plate aluminium “Stringray” with lowered sides and the width calculated to accommodate two crab traps side by side. Once the boat was in the water, Westy’s wife, Sue, noticed that it also ’thumped’ so was named ‘’Thumper Too’’.

Note: Keith “Westy” Davis was the first fisherman in the port to commercially catch crabs for the Sydney market. It is hard to believe now but during the 1970s crabs where considered pests to the fishermen. They would tangle and rip the mesh nets, chew on the caught fish and snap at your fingers. Most crabs if caught in the nets were stomped or crushed.

Place MadeOceania, Australia, Queensland, Wacol

MakerUnknown

Maker RoleBoat Builder

PeriodMid 20th century

Formatjpeg

Object TypeFishing Vessel

Subject and Association KeywordsBoat building

Subject and Association KeywordsBoats

Subject and Association KeywordsFishing - commercial

Subject and Association KeywordsCrabbing

Subject and Association KeywordsShip wrecks

Object numberTMA2021.00166.2

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