Kent O. Smith Does A Welfare Check On Troy And Sandi, Or It’s The Other Way Around. – Classic Boats (2024)

Well, we have proof of life for Troy, Sandi and Kent. Kent sent us in this report. It thrills me beyond measure that over the years, WoodyBoaters are connected and have created a real universe outside of the internet. Dang, we all need this sort of humanity these days. Okay, and some boat stuff, and te occasional smoking chimp and babe wrapped in sausages. …

WoodyBoater Retiree Meetup, by Kent O. Smith Jr
So many of you know that Troy retired, he and Sandi are currently cruising on their TollyCraft 45’ co*ckpit Motor Yacht “Melody,” they recently visited WoodyBoater HQ. Last Wednesday they were anchored in North Cove, Old Saybrook, CT, on their way north to Maine.

That same day, I was just a few miles north in Essex, getting an orientation on a new to me Sabre 38’ sailboat. What most of you don’t know is I just retired too, and am planning on doing some cruising of my own. More on that in another story…anyhow, while I’m doing the orientation, I get a text from Troy that he’s off the entrance to the Dauntless Shipyard where I am.

I think there is some kind of magnetic attraction between WoodyBoater people even outside of the wooden boat world…or maybe he’s just stalking me.
Or it could be because his middle name is the same as my first name…”Kent.” And his son’s first name is “Kent.” I guess we all Kent get along? Now I’m being more Matt. But I digress…

Troy wanted to make a stop on eastern Long Island to visit STIDD, a high end helm chair manufacturing company. They are in Greenport, which is just 15 miles from my retirement cottage. Thus we planned to meet up.
Friday afternoon, I met Troy & Sandi at their marina in Greenport (NY). They must have picked the right place because there was a wooden boat shop right next door. Well there aren’t that many wooden runabouts here on Long Island, but there are a fair number of wooden sailboats and cruisers still plying the local waters.

Troy sniffed the air and detected the scent of varnish, so we stopped in to investigate. Despite the doors being wide open, no one was there, but a nice older girl was on the hard…maybe a Hinckley? Great lines.

Smelling varnish makes you hungry and yeah it was lunchtime so we stopped at Greenport Harbor Brewery for a bite. One of the best things about cruising is sampling the local fare and brews. Fortified, we continued west to the hamlet of Mattituck, my new hailing port. On the other side of town from my cottage, my great friend Tom Hilliker has been restoring and building wooden boats for 40 plus years. His business is named Vintage Marine. Of course, I had to take Troy there.

Tom’s working on a Continental and a Cobra, selling a Riviera project, you never know what you are going to see. There are some graveyard boats there too. Tom was gracious with his time so this story still has WoodyBoats in it, lol.

After the stop at Vintage Marine, I shared a tour of my cottage with Troy & Sandi, we sat on the poop deck for a while taking in the view and chatting. Then we headed back east towards their boat, but made a brief detour through Brick Cove Marina where I will be keeping my Sabre. My sister Jen is also in there with a 31’ Catalina. It’s an old school off the charts nice place.

Back in Greenport, we hang for a while on the upper aft deck enjoying the evening.

So yes, there’s not much woody boat stuff in this report, but what is even more important than that is the WoodyBoater community of friendship. It goes beyond just the fellowship of antique & classic boat shows. It proves that common bonds bring us together but that we can still enjoy each other’s company in different settings. I’m probably not explaining this as well as I should, but let me just say thanks Matt for the community you created and continue to promote.