Mike Fink Keel Boats
The Mike Fink Keel Boat ride first debuted at Magic Kingdom in 1971. The keelboat races between Davy Crockett and Mike Fink from the TV-show Davy Crockett and the River Pirates were the inspiration for the vessels. However, what good is a competition if there isn’t a prize? The “King of the River” title was given to the winner of the high-stakes race.
Fink’s Gullywhumper and Crockett’s Bertha Mae were powered free-floating boats that scoured the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. It’s no surprise that the boats stopped running in 1997 after a capsizing incident made the site
consequently less appealing to visitors.
Mike Fink Keel Boats
Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat
The introduction of the riverboat didn’t exactly foreshadow success. The boat was introduced a day late, the day after Disney World’s grand opening in 1971. Guests were rightfully displeased about this.
In 1980, further disaster struck for Admiral Joe Fowler. While being hoisted out of the water for routine servicing, it fell, destroying the hull beyond repair. It was later removed and buried somewhere on Disney property.
Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat