Motor Boat Boys Among the Florida Keys

In Short

First published in 1913, Louis Arundel’s youth adventure novel follows six teenage chums as they navigate three motorboats along the waterways of Florida toward New Orleans. The expedition turns into a friendly, long-term fishing contest between the fat, easygoing Nick and the spirited Irish lad Jimmy, while the boys face sudden Northers, mechanical breakdowns, missing friends, and suspicious strangers. Written for a period audience of young outdoor enthusiasts, the book endures as a lighthearted time capsule of early-twentieth-century recreational boating, celebrating teamwork, outdoor resourcefulness, self-reliance, and good-natured rivalry along America's southern waterways.

The Story

The journey begins along the east coast of Florida inside Mosquito Inlet, where six teenage friends—led by the practical skipper Jack—prepare for an extended voyage around the peninsula toward New Orleans. To keep spirits high, the boys institute an ongoing fishing competition, complete with written rules and weigh-ins. The contest quickly settles into a friendly, persistent rivalry between Nick Longfellow, a stout and clumsy youth, and Jimmy Brannigan, an energetic Irish lad. Nick’s initial attempt to catch bait almost ends in disaster when a large shark snags his line, dragging his tiny tender through the water until Jack intervenes with a knife and rifle to secure the catch.

As the small fleet—consisting of the Tramp, the Wireless, and a third craft—moves south through the Indian River past Titusville and Lake Worth, a secondary mystery emerges. George, the perpetually anxious skipper of the Wireless, spots a strange powerboat lurking in nearby coves, its crew dodging out of sight whenever observed. The trip presents immediate physical challenges as well: George’s engine frequently fails, and the boys must constantly monitor the weather to avoid sudden, violent blows known as Northers.

Near Barnes Sound, the voyage takes a serious turn when Josh vanishes into the thickets while hunting for shore birds. Jack, George, and Jimmy track him through the undergrowth at night, eventually discovering the strange powerboat anchored in a secluded bayou. Clambering aboard to investigate, they discover Josh bandaged but safe. The mysterious crew, Sidney Bliss and Bryce Carpenter, explain that they were hiding from a sheriff's posse and took the injured boy in after he tripped and knocked himself unconscious.

Reunited, the fleet presses past the Florida Keys and into the Gulf of Mexico. Jimmy briefly takes the lead in the fishing tournament by landing a massive, two-hundred-and-thirty-pound alligator, which Jack reluctantly counts after checking the flexible rulebook. Not to be outdone, Nick devotes himself to heavy shark fishing using a specialized rig anchored to shore trees. His persistence pays off near Pensacola when he single-handedly lands a four-hundred-pound shark using pulley falls, effectively clinching the victory.

After replacing George's faulty engine in Tampa, the boys successfully navigate open Gulf waters, survive freezing Northers huddled around shoreline windbreaks, and enter Lake Pontchartrain through the Rigolets. They arrive safely in New Orleans, reflecting with deep satisfaction on the bonds formed and lessons learned across their long journey.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins Gathered inside Mosquito Inlet, the boys launch their three motorboats and establish a formal fishing competition. Nick's very first outing in a small dinky ends in chaos when a huge shark hooks his line, forcing Jack to step in and cut the tender loose before taking the catch himself.

Tracking the strange craft Cruising south down the Indian River toward Titusville, the boys spot a suspicious powerboat that repeatedly ducked into coves to avoid observation. George suspects foul play, though Jack advises his paranoid friend not to jump to conclusions until they have real evidence.

Rescuing Josh While camped near Barnes Sound, Josh fails to return from a shore-bird hunt, prompting a night search with lanterns. The boys track his footprints to the mysterious powerboat, where they discover Josh bandaged and resting after being rescued by two men hiding from local lawmen.

Claims and cold nights The fleet faces severe weather along the keys, enduring a punishing Norther that forces them to construct emergency windbreaks ashore. During a stop, Jimmy hauls in a massive alligator, sparking a lively debate over whether a reptile meets the competition's definition of a fish.

Victory at Pensacola As they reach the Gulf coast, Nick works tirelessly with heavy shark tackle to regain his lead. He hooks a massive four-hundred-pound shark on the beach and uses block-and-tackle falls to land it, securing a decisive win over Jimmy before the fleet sails on to New Orleans.

The People

• Jack is the sensible, knowledgeable skipper of the Tramp and the natural leader of the fleet. He wants to ensure a safe, orderly voyage for his five companions while mediating their frequent disputes, relying on his thorough preparation and calm judgment to handle sudden storms and unknown strangers.
• Nick Longfellow is a short, stout youth whose clumsy nature belies a deep determination. Driven by an intense desire to defeat Jimmy in the fishing contest, he overcomes wet clothes, aching sides, and sheer exhaustion to master heavy shark fishing.
• Jimmy Brannigan is an energetic, warm-hearted Irish lad whose cheerful humor keeps camp morale high. He enthusiastically throws himself into the fishing competition, hauling in a massive alligator to challenge Nick's lead, but remains the very first to congratulate his rival upon defeat.
• George is the skeptical, worrying skipper of the Wireless who is constantly convinced that his boat's troublesome engine will fail at the worst possible moment. Even after purchasing a reliable replacement in Tampa, he continues to scan the horizon for impending disaster.
• Josh Purdue is the long-legged, pragmatic crewmate who serves as the group's chief cook. His attempt to hunt shore birds leads to his sudden capture and injury, though his easygoing nature allows him to quickly make friends with his captors.

In Its Own Voice

"Get busy here, Nick; now's your chance to make a big score for a starter!"

Jack urges the stout youth forward as the friendly fishing competition begins inside Mosquito Inlet.

"Get me out of this, won't you, Jack? I don't like it one little bit."

Nick pleads for help from the stern of his eight-foot tender while a hooked shark drags the small craft across the water.

"Each contestant shall have the liberty of fishing as often as he pleases, and the fish may be taken in any sort of manner."

Jack reads from his notebook to resolve the humorous dispute over whether Jimmy's captured alligator counts toward the grand prize.

What It's Really About

Beneath its episodic adventure plot, Motor Boat Boys Among the Florida Keys centers on the transitional experience of adolescent male camaraderie and self-reliance. Arundel uses the vast, unfamiliar waterways of early-twentieth-century Florida as a testing ground where boys must master practical skills—navigation, carpentry, weather prediction, and wilderness survival—without adult oversight. The central rivalry between Nick and Jimmy explores how healthy competition can build character rather than foster resentment. Nick's transformation from a lazy, self-pitying youth into a disciplined angler highlights the value of persistence and personal growth. Ultimately, the narrative celebrates the freedom of the open water, the rewards of teamwork, and the lasting strength of adolescent friendships formed through shared hardship.

Why Read It Today

Modern readers interested in early-twentieth-century popular culture or nostalgic outdoor fiction will find this book a breezy, charming artifact. Arundel captures the innocent spirit of period juvenile fiction, presenting a world of untamed waterways, campfires, and clear-cut moral choices. The narrative moves at an easy, rhythmic pace, driven by the simple pleasures of boat handling, mechanical troubleshooting, and quiet wilderness nights.

However, prospective readers should be aware of several period conventions that reflect its 1913 origin. Jimmy's speech is written in a heavy, exaggerated Irish dialect ("Whirra!", "me bhoy") that can feel outdated and repetitive to modern ears. Additionally, the plot relies on straightforward boy-book tropes—predictable character traits, convenient coincidences, and lighthearted action—rather than deep psychological complexity. The prose is unpretentious and plain, making it best suited for readers seeking a gentle, historically authentic juvenile outing along the forgotten coasts of old Florida.