SmallCraftAdvisor.com

So what boat do you wish you never sold, and why?—Eds

Kent Ranger Minto

http://smallcraftadvisor.com/archived-a ... -the-minto

was called 'Sassy's' because my dog, Sassy, just loved sailing and dinghy rides. Was my folk's boat, but I generally was called the captain of SASSY'S.

My Dad and I picked up the boat from the Kent, WA, factory (I grew up in Kent). She had a tan hull, had all that teak, wood spar, and the wonderful lapstrake hull. Besides giving the boat lots of TLC (her hull and woodwork always sparkled); i spent LOTS of time rowing and sailing that boat from the family's 'mothership' Cheoy Lee 32'. I even made my Dad take me to a small lake near the house so i could go sailing.

SASSY'S was sold as the family grew and we four could no longer safely get into the boat when SASSY's was called into duty as a tender. SASSY'S was replaced by a Kent Ranger 12 - much faster and better sailing dink ... but no lapstrake, had a bright red hull, and little teak.

Mirror Dinghy, I had to sell her for Book money in Grad school and I have seared into my memory watching her leave on top of the buyers car. The Mirror is a great boat in a blow and the only negative is they are so light weight that if you even think of bumping a rock the plywood will crack. Someday I will have another!

Crawford Melonseed. I ended up buying another one a few years after I sold the first one so I am made whole again. Great, simple, fun to sail boat. I am currently outfitting her as a camp cruiser.

1978 Tartan 34 C. Classic lines, sailed very solid, fast, easy engine access and just enough teak to keep me occupied on windless days.

- Jesse

A Paulsbo/Point Baker Skiff.
My first boat, and I was too young to support it finacially.
Broke my heart to let it go, we had some fun adventures in S.E. Alaska.

People sell boats?

A Hutchins Compac-23, bought new for the price of a Compac-19. What a gorgeous machine. The interior Mahogany and bronze opening portholes were something to see. Sailed her for several years on Lake Travis west of Austin, Texas. Wet-slipped her at Marshall Ford Marina. Company move to Denver, they wouldn't transport something that big. Sold her to a brother in law who kept her only a year. Have the memory of having my now late father sit in front of the mast on a moonlit night as we sailed along just the two of us on a steady 12 mph breeze. He told me it was "magical."