Hull father and son in new Arbella ad. Their dog was definitely not hired, though

David R. Smith, The Patriot Ledger
Updated ·2 min read

HULL − A longtime Hull lobsterman and his assistant sternman son are featured in a new TV ad from Arbella Insurance that was filmed off the waters of Hull against the backdrop of Boston Light.

Capt. Chad Mahoney and his son James Mahoney are shown rescuing a golden retriever from the water and bringing it aboard their fishing vessel, First Light, as the dog's owner frantically searches for it onshore.

The ad, titled ”Friend in Need,” ends with the dog being returned to its grateful owner.

“Around here, we don’t do the right thing because we have to. We do the right thing because we want to. Arbella. Here for New England. Here. For good,” the narrator says over the scene.

Arbella_FriendInNeed_KeepHopeAlive_30_0810 from joeberkeley on Vimeo.

The ad was shot by Joe Berkeley LLC, whose eponymous owner is also from Hull.

The production includes three generations of Mahoneys. The camera boat, the fishing vessel Windemere, was helmed by Chad’s father, Capt. Peter Mahoney.

The Mahoney connection would have extended further if the first dog picked for the ad had worked out, but while Oakley Mahoney may be a beloved family pet, he just wasn’t ready for the camera.

After a screen test, it was determined that Oakley demanded attention but under no circumstances would he accept direction, according to a news release about the ad.

“To make matters worse, his references did not check out,” the release said. “According to the staff at Sunshine Pet Parlor (in Hull), ‘Oakley is the worst dog who visits here. He always knocks everything over.’”

“Regarding that assessment, Capt. Chad did not disagree,” the release said.

James Mahoney and his father, lobsterman Capt. Chad Mahoney, were recently featured in an Arbella Insurance ad filmed in Hull.
James Mahoney and his father, lobsterman Capt. Chad Mahoney, were recently featured in an Arbella Insurance ad filmed in Hull.

Berkeley has shot about 100,000 images of Boston Light and 20,000 images of Chad Mahoney.

Berkeley was able to shoot 32 days of footage before the full crew showed up to shoot. That foresight paid off. Boston Light’s beam was shut off for maintenance on the day when the full crew came out to shoot.

Joe Berkeley LLC has collaborated with New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. The firm’s work is at joeberkeley.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Boston Light, Hull lobsterman and son featured in Arbella ad