Some boats are built for speed. Some boats are built for luxury. And some boats, well, some boats are built for enjoying crispy fish sandwiches.
Meet the legendary Bojangles boat (affectionately named “It’s BO-at Time”), a homemade vessel that first took the world (and the whitewater rapids) by storm at the U.S. National Whitewater Center’s Build Your Own Boat competition. The fearless, biscuit-loving crew, manned by Raleigh-natives Todd Barsalou and Jeff Meier, braved the waves, paddled like their fried chicken depended on it and made an iconic splash on TikTok in the process.
But that wasn’t the end of the BO-at’s journey. This boat was destined for greatness. With the return of the Bojangler Fish Sandwich on the horizon, it had one final mission: making it to the Bojangles drive-thru to be the first to get their hands on the legendary, limited-time offering.
Getting there, however, was easier said than done. After surviving the rapids, the boat wasn’t exactly in peak condition, but the crew wasn’t ready to give up. First, they attempted to keep things nautical, steering the boat through a neighborhood pond in search of a shortcut. That plan was quickly abandoned when they realized a five-foot stretch of grass separated them from any real progress. So, they did what any determined Bojangles fan would do – they carried the boat the rest of the way.
It wasn’t the most conventional way to travel, but it got the job done. As they navigated sidewalks and street corners in cities and suburbs, plenty of people stopped and stared. A few pointed, some laughed and at least one concerned passerby rolled down their window to ask if everything was okay. The crew waved them off with a determined nod. They were on a mission.
Finally, after a journey that involved a lot heavier lifting than expected, the two men had made it to their destination. The BO’at – fully rebranded and still standing – pulled up to the drive-thru window. The crew, exhausted but victorious, placed their order.
“Is the Bojangler back?” The captain said, strongly, as a wave of water hits their faces.
“Sure is, paddle around!” the drive-thru order-taker exclaimed.
And just like that, the mission was complete. The first Bojangler of the season was in their hands – crispy, flaky and totally worth the journey.
Now that ‘It’s BO-at Time’ has completed its greatest adventure, the only question is: what’s next? Maybe a well-earned retirement, or perhaps a new challenge – like finding a way to float through a Bojangles tailgate. But one thing’s for sure: wherever this boat goes, it’ll always be powered by one thing – an undying love for the bold flavors that Bojangles packs into their food.
The Bojangler is back, but only for a limited time. No boat required.