Team Bad Co Member

In true Team Bad Company tradition, every boat in the program is given a nick name. Our new, impossibly rare Rybovich is now ready to transit to Kona, Hawaii, where she will live and hunt for trophy blue marlin. Captain Randy Parker and OB are waiting for her arrival via Yacht Path in May, just in time for the hot blue marlin fishing season. Built in 1994, she is one of the last two Rybovich game boats ever built. She just underwent a $1.7 million budget rebuild at the Rybovich yard, including new mains, teak deck, varnished teak bulkhead, full varnished teak transom, complete Furuno electronics including the CH300 dual frequency sonar, and new interior by Liz Dalton.

Rybovich is known as the first name in sport fishing yachts, with innovations such as the fighting chair, aluminum outriggers, and tuna towers. After the 90’s, Rybovich and Merritt started making larger boats, now in the 70-80 foot range, with Merritt moving to fiberglass hulls. The last true game boats sized in the mid 40’s range were made by Rybovich in 1994. Ours is one of two produced.

As the saying goes, they just don’t make ‘em like they used to.

We’re asking for your help in selecting a nickname for the Rybo, a name that will fit her personality and rare pedigree. The winner will win a day of fishing on her in Kona, HI, along with round trip airfare from LAX. 2nd place will win a one day ride-along trip with Barry Brightenburg on the new Contender 38 in our local waters. 3rd place will receive a pair of Kaenon sunglasses, and 10 others will be given Team Bad Company Rybo t-shirts.

Our Hatteras boats all had nicknames like Betsy, Bulldog, and Compa. Each of those names, each with its story, fit the personality of the boat well. Our new Viking 60 BCE was named “Badger” in Miami after an inside joke about “don’t poke the badger.” The name stuck. Some names thrown around for the Rybo have been DQ (Drama Queen), Pinky, High Maintenance, Classic, Woody, Super Model, Charmer, etc. So let’s have some fun with this, and submit your names today! Enter online at www.badcoteam.com/contest. Deadline for entry is June 30th. Winners will be announced July 15th. Good Luck!