Help Buddy Vanderhoop, Tomahawk Charters

Still trying to meet our goal. Thank you to everyone who donated and shared. Please share again. We are so grateful for all the help from friends and this community!

This is Emily Vanderhoop, Captain Buddy Vanderhoop’s daughter. If you haven’t heard, Buddy was involved in a boating accident on August 5th. Unfortunately, Buddy‘s charter boat, the Tomahawk, was severely damaged. He collided with a dragger boat out of Menemsha, which incurred damage as well. Thankfully, no one was injured during the accident.

Buddy has been a fisherman his whole life, growing up Wampanoag in Aquinnah. He has been a charter captain for 35 years, and it is his fabric, his culture, and his source of income. I have been his 1st mate for almost 25 years. He has shown me how to have compassion, be loyal and help people in need. I’ve watched him teach so many young 1st mates how to fish, how to be a mindful boater, and be a good steward of our island waters.

This year Buddy’s calendar was filled up with charters that now must be canceled due to the accident. As most people know, we are in the middle of the season’s best fishing. Unfortunately, Buddy is going to potentially miss the opportunity to share his fishing expertise this upcoming Derby and could be out of commission until next fishing season.

The past few years have been tough on every small business, as we all know. Unfortunately, there was an administration error regarding Buddy’s insurance. Coverage was in place for Buddy’s liability ins. However, there was no coverage for the Tomahawk. This naturally amplifies the stress Buddy is enduring with this accident. Our hopes are that with the help of our community, friends and family, my father can make the necessary repairs and continue fishing and finish off the season. My father needs help.

Those of you who know him know that he takes care of his family, he takes care of his friends, and he is kind and compassionate. He is from one of the longest lines of fishermen all of us know. Please consider donating whatever you can so Buddy can keep inspiring fishermen, sustaining our ocean, and continuing his legacy and culture.

Thank you for your interest, your time and for reading this; everything means something.

Emily Vanderhoop, Capt. Buddy Vanderhoop‘s daughter, Member of the Wampanoag tribe, Gayhead, Aquinnah