Perry ordered the 28′ Hamm from Ernie Hamm out of Homer, Alaska in 1972. He and his sons worked this boat, changing the transom, tunnel and hold over the years. In 1982 Perry ordered a 42′ Ledford and sold the Hamm to his son Tom, who renamed her in favor of his daughter, Melissa.

Together, with Steve and his boat, they fished the waters of Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska for reds (sockeye), silvers (coho) and pink (chum) salmon.

When Perry retired in 1999 he sold the Ledford to Tom and Tom sold the Hamm to his son Thomas. Steve’s looking for a new boat and his sons Nathan and Jeffrey fish with Tom on the Dolly B. The Buchanan family continues to fish together every chance that they get.