Faith, Family, and the Sea: The Divine Journey of Allen Parks and His Restored Lobster Boat

BY MILES LAYTON

TANGIER ISLAND, Va. — In a world where storms can tear through communities and time can weather even the strongest vessels, some stories shine brighter because of the faith that guides them. Allen Parks’ journey restoring the 41-foot Elizabeth Joy II, a Coast Guard-certified Duffy lobster boat, is one such story — a powerful testament to perseverance, divine providence, and the unshakable bond between a man, his family, and the sea. Photos come from Susan Hale and Allen Parks.

A Boat With a Story as Deep as the Waters

Built in 1980 in Brooklin, Maine, the Elizabeth Joy II began life as a working lobster boat. But her history is layered with mystery, hardship, and intrigue. When Allen bought her in 2013 from a storage marina in Toms River, New Jersey, the boat was in rough shape — a gutted hull, a transom cut out for lobster traps, and no clear documentation.

“From the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew this boat had a story,” Allen says. “But what I didn’t realize then was how much the Lord had already been writing in her story — and in mine.”

What followed was a decade-spanning journey marked by countless hours of hard work, determination, and a reliance on faith when the odds seemed impossible.

Guided by Faith Through Storms and Setbacks

Allen recalls the early years after purchasing the boat, which he did for $6,000 — well below the original asking price — with no loans, no financial safety net, just a vision and faith.

“I gutted her down to the bare bones,” he says. “Most people would’ve walked away, but I knew the Lord was leading me. Every nail I hammered, every plank I replaced, I prayed for strength.”

That guidance was often tested. Arthritis began to sap Allen’s strength, turning years of crabbing and boat work into physical trials that made every step painful.

“There were days I felt like an 80-year-old man overnight,” Allen confides. “I told my wife, ‘I don’t know if I can do this.’ But she said, ‘The Lord has brought us this far, He will carry us the rest of the way.’ And He did. I know He did.”

Beth, his partner of 18 years, has been his spiritual and emotional anchor throughout. Her steady faith carried them both through long nights of paperwork, physical exhaustion, and mounting obstacles from the Coast Guard certification process.

“My wife’s faith was strong when mine was weak,” Allen admits. “She reminded me of a song she picked for our wedding, by Bebo Norman, that goes, ‘When your faith is gone, you can borrow mine.’ That song kept me going.”

Faith, Allen says, was his compass in the darkest moments.

“I wasn’t doing this alone,” he says. “I kept telling myself, ‘God’s got this. If it’s His will, He’ll open every door.’ And He did, every single time.”

Miracles on the Water: Divine Connections

The road to certification was filled with challenges, from reconstructing missing hull identification numbers to sourcing decades-old blueprints. Every barrier was met with what Allen calls “open doors from the Lord.”

A breakthrough came from an unlikely place — an online forum dedicated to Down East boats. Years after a casual conversation about the Elizabeth Joy II, Allen rediscovered a post containing vital information and a phone number that connected him to Donnie McCann, a veteran Coast Guard official.

“Donnie was a Godsend,” Allen says. “He handled all the paperwork, the correspondence, the inspections — he was exactly what I prayed for.”

Donnie brought in a retired Coast Guard inspector, and together they formed a team that navigated the labyrinthine certification process.

“The Lord put the right people in our path,” Allen insists. “Every step, someone was there, whether a stranger who sent blueprints or a friend who lent a hand. I know it wasn’t luck — it was all Him.”

Allen’s faith deepened during this time, sustained by the constant reminder that none of it was a coincidence.

“Sometimes I felt like giving up,” Allen admits, “but I would pray and say, ‘Lord, You have brought me this far. Help me to see this through. Your strength, not mine.’ That kept me moving forward.”

Friendship, Redemption, and Shared Testimonies

One of the most profound friendships Allen formed through this process was with Taza Watt of Vinalhaven, Maine, who connected him with Duffy Boats’ manufacturer Richard Duffy in Maine. 

“Taza and I share more than a love of boats,” Allen says. “We’ve shared our testimonies and found new life through Christ. He told me his story of how drugs and alcohol shattered his life, and how Christ redeemed him. It was powerful to hear.”

Their bond highlights the spiritual dimension of this restoration — a story of brokenness healed and purpose restored.

Allen even traveled to Vinalhaven to attend Taza’s small Open Bible Church, a non-denominational congregation deeply rooted in New Testament faith.

“Visiting that island was like visiting a kindred spirit,” Allen reflects. “God was weaving a tapestry that connected us across miles and years. I felt His hand in every moment.”

A Vessel for the Community and the Soul

Today, the Elizabeth Joy II is more than a boat — it’s a lifeline for Tangier Island, ferrying residents, contractors, and visitors between Tangier and Crisfield, Maryland.

Allen runs a daily schedule, seven days a week, balancing trips for birdwatchers, medical emergencies, and freight transport.

“I’m on call 24/7,” he says. “When the helicopter can’t fly, I’m there. When there’s an emergency, I’m there. It’s a ministry as much as a business. I feel like God is using this boat to serve people in need.”

The $30 fare per passenger helps sustain the operation, but Allen is quick to emphasize the greater mission.

“We want people to experience the freedom and peace of island life,” he says. “Where the water is your playground, and God’s grace is your anchor.”

Passing on the Legacy

For Allen, the boat is a family heirloom in the making. His son Jacob, now 11, started crabbing with his dad just days before starting kindergarten.

“That bond on the water is something I hope he always carries with him,” Allen says, voice thick with emotion. “It’s more than work — it’s heritage, faith, and family. I told him, ‘Son, this isn’t just a boat. It’s a part of who we are.’”

Allen’s younger son Judah, five years old, has yet to share the same experience, but the hope remains strong.

“It hurts my heart a little,” Allen admits. “But I trust the Lord has a plan for both of them. I pray He does.”

When Faith is Weak, Borrow Mine

Throughout the years, Allen found strength in that wedding day song chosen by Beth — a song that became their anthem through hardship:

“When your faith is gone, you can borrow mine.”

“It’s a reminder that no man or woman walks their path alone, especially when the road grows steep,” Allen says. “My faith wasn’t always strong, but God’s was. And that kept me going.”

“I believe the Lord was with me every step,” Allen reflects. “Every time I thought, ‘I can’t,’ He said, ‘You can.’ When my hands shook, He gave me steady hands. When my faith wavered, He lifted me up. That’s not luck — that’s grace.”

Allen’s story is one of God’s grace at work — a reminder that even the most battered hulls can be made seaworthy again, and that faith can restore what seems broken beyond repair.

A Miraculous Journey

Reflecting on the journey, Allen says simply, “It wasn’t luck. It was the Lord. Everything fell into place when it needed to.”

A local boatyard owner recently told him what he accomplished with the Elizabeth Joy II was nothing short of miraculous.

“It’s a miracle,” Allen repeats with quiet conviction. “And I give all glory to God for it.”

On Tangier Island, a place shaped by tides and tradition, Allen Parks and his restored boat embody that miracle — a living testament to God’s faithfulness, family’s love, and the unbreakable spirit of those who call the sea their home.

Contact: For more information or to book a trip aboard the Elizabeth Joy II, visit the Tangier Island community website or contact Allen Parks directly.