Ho Ho Ho Ho - Ho - Ho! The big fisherman at Brown Brothers Wharf has turned into a jolly red giant for the Christmas season, wearing a Santa cape custom-made by Brown's employee Carol Younts. (Photo Robin Beck)

Lighted boats, shell-laden wreaths, and Santa sailing into town are typical holiday traditions on the seacoast.

But only Boothbay Harbor has the giant fisherman and now he is ready for Christmas too.

The 22-foot-tall fisherman statue at Brown's Wharf, normally clad in yellow foul-weather gear, is sporting a dramatic, full-length red velvet cape.

Hotel and marina owner Ken Brown talked last summer about doing something for the fisherman to decorate for Christmas, and front desk clerk Carol Younts, a craftswoman, volunteered to make a Santa cape for the big guy.

With materials financed by Brown, Younts used 32 yards of red velvet, 440 yards of nylon thread and five yards of faux fur for the trim. Dennis Brown helped her cut the fabric pieces on the floor of Brown's restaurant, and Ashley Brown helped cut the faux fur.

"It was a community effort," says Younts.

The giantic cape with hood was finished in three days of sewing, and then Timmy Brown and Brian Colby had the honor of robing the big guy, using a bucket truck.

To keep it on securely the cape has 25 feet of heavy chain as a weight at its base, it is laced up in front by tuna fishing line going through loops inside the cape, and there is a decorative rope tying it around the giant's neck.

"It was a fun thing to do," says Younts, "it gives him some Christmas spirit."

"I think it came out well," says Brown.

The unnamed fisherman is 35 years old. He was built by Amish artisans in Strasbourg, Pa., whom Brown had commissioned to create the statue. Made of fiberglass, wood and steel, it cost $2,200, delivered and installed back in 1968.

"It is one of the best investments I've ever made," says Brown, who credits his wife Joan with the idea of having the fisherman built.

"It's a landmark, and it's photographed all the time. It may be one of the most photographed landmarks in the area."

The fisherman had new heavy soles put on his shoes a few years ago when he started teetering in the wind and had to be repaired. Other than that, he's been a steady welcoming figure on the east side for 35 years and is ready for at least another 35, including the cold winters.

But the cape will be the only addition to the big guy's wardrobe, says Brown, so don't expect to see any other outfits appearing.

"We'll just dress him up for Christmas and take it off afterward," says Brown.