The One That Got Away
We know the old saw about the “the two happiest days of a boat owner’s life are the day they buy a boat and the day they sell it” but most of us have at least one sale we’d like to take back. How about you? Let us know what kind of boat it was in the comments below. —Eds
In 1969 I got a new Boston Whaler Squall, a 9ft 2 in sailing dinghy and my first sailboat. An early incarnation, it was extremely well built and versatile. My youth was spent on Nantucket Sound but that little boat transported me up rivers, across lakes and was integral in countless character building adventures. It helped form me and I kept her for decades until I sailed away on another boat and sold her to friends. She was far too heavy and large to stow aboard and I’ve never been a fan of towing a skiff. Sometimes practical decisions can be painful.
My first boat was a paper route money El Toro, a great little boat that I wish I’d have kept.
The second was my Ferrari, a 5o5 built for the 1978 Worlds that I bought before female encumbrances. Family obligations got that one.
The third was my first cabin boat, a Mac 26s, perfect to get back to sailing after the kids left and the dog died.
A tree got her.
The current boat is a Santana 2023c and a great mini yacht I love to sail.
I will downsize in five years(maybe) to a Monty 17.
And there’s my little Saroca, the sailing/rowing/paddling/motoring canoe,
they can bury me in that for the Viking funeral…