TENNEESEE II date unknown, but thought to be in the 1950s

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Tennessee II

Vessel numberHV000304

Vessel Registration NumberNSW CC168 N

Builder Lars Halvorsen Sons Pty Ltd (1924 -)

Date1950

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 11.58 m x 10.97 m x 3.51 m x 1.37 m, 16.73 tonnes (38 ft x 36 ft x 11.5 ft x 4.5 ft, 17 tons)

DescriptionTENNESSEE II was launched at Halvorsen's Ryde yard around March 1951. The hull may be based on a typical standard design from the company, but the vessel's arrangement appears to have been built to suit the Dyers requirements for game fishing. It is 11.58m (38 ft) long, double diagonal planked and powered with a twin engine installation.

The Dyers came from the USA and the boat was named after their home state. They were household names in radio after World War II and then TV in the 1950s. Their hugely popular following around the country gave them a high profile and many connections to other famous people. They actively promoted game fishing along Australia's east coast, beginning with a smaller Halvorsen craft, TENNESSEE, built in 1949 and based on Halvorsen's 25 foot Standard Cruiser. Dyer was so keen to have his own vessel he chose the 25 foot cruiser in preference to a larger boat simply because it could be finished six weeks earlier. According to the September 1950 Outdoors and Fishing magazine, Dyer had no regrets over his decision, declaring 'in the month of fishing I got in, my life's ambitions came true'.

The Dyers were very pleased with the co-operation of the Halvorsen yard and within months had placed an order for a larger craft TENNESSEE II. This was their main game fishing craft for many years. TENNESSEE II was used extensively for entertaining celebrities, doing commercial promotion work for companies such as BP (British Petroleum), and showing off their favoured sport. Dolly actively supported women’s involvement in the sport and was often the boat's driver while Bob handled the fish.

The Dyer's achieved some impressive records for shark and marlin game fishing aboard TENNESSEE II. According to one story, when the weather was considered too dangerous for people to go offshore during a competition, the Dyers trolled between Sydney Heads - and still won the event. Two records from 1953 were still listed by the Australian Game Fishing Association in 2005.

The Dyers lived in Mosman New South Wales, on the waterfront in Quakers Hat Bay on Middle Harbour and TENNESSEE II was moored at their jetty. It is thought the Dyers sold the cruiser in the 1980s. In 2009 the current owner intended to restore the vessel and use it for private recreation.
SignificanceTENNESSEE II is a game fishing, flying bridge cruiser built in 1951 for Bob and Dolly Dyer by the prolific Halvorsen boatbuilding firm in Sydney, New South Wales. The Dyers, well known radio and television personalities in the mid-twentieth century, achieved some impressive game fishing records with TENNESSEE II which was customised to suit their requirements.