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by Andrew Linn - Salem, Oregon - USA
https://andrewlinn.com/

 

I Sold My Boat Today

I feel terrible. There was nothing wrong with her ? in fact, she had never been in better shape. I delivered her into the hands of a stranger, a man who says he will love her, wash her, polish her, but those are just words. She is his now, her future lies in his hands.

She is a Newport 16, designed by William Lapworth and built in 1973.
Her name is Aurors. I named her that because I believe names are
important: by naming a thing, we give life to that thing, and the name determines the nature of that life. I have a dog named Aurora, and she is the sweetest, prettiest, and most lovable creature on earth. I wanted my boat to be a sweet sailer, a thing of beauty, and an object of devotion. She became all those things. And now she is in the hands of another.

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Me and Aurora

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Aurors was my first ?real boat,? my first boat that was not a canoe or something I slapped together in a weekend. I had sailed on her once, then took sailing lessons. After the first lesson, I went to her previous owner and asked to buy her. She was just what I wanted, and I think he could see that in my eyes.

I took her home and cleaned her up. She had not been neglected, but she hadn?t been loved, either. I had never towed anything before, but I learned. I learned for her. I took her sailing, learning her ways and her needs. I made little improvements: adding a drain plug, replacing worn cables, cleaning the sails. Everything was done 'yacht fashion' with stainless steel replacing zinc coated iron and yacht line replacing nylon ropes. I spent 2 days just washing and waxing her.

Everything was done 'yacht fashion'

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Over time, my sailing needs changed, and Aurors became less of the boat I needed. My wife loves to canoe, but finds sailing monotonous and dull. Even at 16 feet, Aurors became a boat larger than what I needed.

Rather than let her rot, unused and untouched, I decided to see if someone else needed a boat of her capabilities. I posted her ad on Craig's List and 14 hours later, someone else had her title.

I sold my boat today, but her story has not ended. She will always have been my first. In my mind, her tiny flaws will blur and her weathered colors will brighten. I believe that some day, as I lay on my deathbed, I will think of her. I will remember my boat, Aurors, and smile.

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Happier days

PS: I bought a Weekender the next day!