Allen Legacy Buckle Back Soft Hat

Allen Legacy Buckle Back Soft Hat 

The Allen Legacy Buckle Back Soft Hat has the perfect blend of maritime tradition and functional design, with a broken-in look from day one.   

The Details:

• Soft but durable cotton twill baseball cap
• Embroidered with a colorful Merritt silhouette 
• Adjustable metal clasp and grommet back closure
• Sits closer to the head

The Story: 

This hat was a favorite of Allen Merritt's and is named after him.  Allen, who began his career as a fishing captain leading sea charters at just 14 years old, quickly demonstrated his competence and was entrusted with one of the vessels in the prestigious Caliban fleet, operating in both New York and Florida.  Over time, Allen and his brother Buddy greatly advanced their expertise in fishing techniques and gained prominence in the competitive fishing tournament scene. In the late 1940s, Allen observed Buddy reeling in a rare catch, the wahoo, using a technique that involved fishing with a long line extended from the bridge. Allen adopted this method but encountered issues when the line became tangled with the rigger baits. To solve this, he used a Calcutta pole to run the line, ultimately leading to his innovation of the center outrigger.  Allen joined the family business in 1957, stepping away from his charter fishing endeavors, to manage the operational side of the boatyard. He dedicated himself to the role, working tirelessly six days a week, just as his parents did even into their eighties. The elder family members instilled strong work ethics in the entire family, shaping a tradition where those employed at the boatyard do not retire.