Montauk’s oldest living business owner and captain has passed away peacefully at 97!
Captain Bob Rando first came to Montauk from Staten Island in the late 1940s with his party boat “The Advance.” At only 20 years old, he fished out of Fort Pond bay each day, taking passengers from the train. It was tough for him at first, because people didn’t trust a 20-year-old captain to catch fish, but not long after he started fishing the Montauk waters, word of his fishing skills spread. Each week, he had more and more people on his boat, ultimately leading to a sold out boat most days!
In 1952, Bob bought property between the marine basin and Liar’s Saloon. Right after purchasing the property, he began to build Sportsman’s Dock marina with his family – by hand. The only machinery he used was the hood of a Cadillac from a junk yard hooked up to the front of his truck, and a small crane to lay down the docks. He used the hood as a “scoop,” to dredge the marina, taking one scoop of sand at a time.
Over the years, Bob and his wife, Marie, made many improvements to the Marina, turning it into what it is today. His dream was to have a quiet, private marina… and he built exactly that. Many people call it “Montauk’s best kept secret.” The Marina and Bob hold so many of the greatest memories and stories of Montauk. From fishing alongside “The Pelican” to Frank Mundus on “The Cricket,” Bob had an amazing life in Montauk. His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren promise to carry on his Montauk Legacy at the Montauk Sportsman’s Dock!