Preview: YONDER – Slow Boat, Rich Life

41 Responses So Far to “YONDER – Slow Boat, Rich Life”

• 

  Tom Gilmore says:

  What a treat! Joe, I happened to read your book, Yonder, last winter while I was putsing the winter away, in Florida, on my 23′ motor boat Restless, with a 42hp diesel. I am often questioned why I don’t get a real motorboat, your book has given me great comfort in answering that question (I have also putsed her in Maine, from Kittery to the Canadian border. This winter, because of Corona Virus, I am staying home in New Jersey with Restless under a tarp in my driveway and have been doing my boating on the Off Center Harbor website. Tonight I accidentally came across your video; Oh what a treat it was, thanks so much for this visual treat. All the best to you and Yonder. Cheers Tom Gilmore

• 

  Charles Coull says:

  Joe

  A lovely gentle video. Spurred me to buy the book which I am reading in spurts as the trip over the pond to Scotland meant it reached me folded in half so it lives under a pile of other books when not being read! A cracking read. Thanks you.

  Charlie

• 

  Jim Tolpin says:

  Read the book a couple of years ago. Was such a nice surprise to revisit Yonder via video. I can’t get enough of looking at her! I liked your writing too by the way

• 

  Reiner Gudd says:

  Great Boat and great story thank you so much. I just found the book on eBay and can’t wait to read it. Thank you
  Reiner Brisbane Australia

• 

  William O'Brien says:

  Love the video!…love the boat!….now I’m gonna find the book!!

• 

  Kenneth Graham says:

  Great Video, love your boat!!!!

• 

  Robert Plumtree says:

  June 2002 I was involved in a serious motorcycle accident. Worse, sailing season had just got underway. My doctor would not allow me to be on our boat. My wife gave me a small book about a man who had purchased an old boat. ‘To help you recuperate’ she wrote on the fly sheet. When I checked out this excellent OCH video the boat looked familiar. To my absolute delight it was Yonder. That book, Sailing in a Spoonful of Water helped me through a very difficult few months. I have since read it three times. The following year we were back sailing, have sailed our boat every season since. A sincere thank you Joe Coomer.

  • 

    Joe Coomer says:

    Glad to be of service, Robert. I myself read ice cream labels when I’m laid up. As a sailor I’d tell you to stay off motorcycles, but it rings hollow, because it’s very difficult to drown while riding a bike. Best wishes, my man.

• 

  Michael S. Ellegood says:

  Great video! Great story of a love affair between man and boat – my kind of story! Prompted me to buy the book. Another great read! Is there a sequel?

  • 

    Joe Coomer says:

    This Video is the sequel! Thanks, Michael, maybe some slow day . . .

• 

  ramon rodriguez says:

  I remember reading this book years ago. I’ve had a similar experience with sleeping in a crowd on an old 36′ cruiser built in 1905. My Abuelo (“grandfather”) was indifferent to waking anyone. When he did that night and quite often my Abuela would exclaim in some of the few English words she knew, sounding like “for, Crise Sadie. Go to sleep Viejo (old man). I was a preteen and did not know what was going home only that my grandfather stepped on me a few times. It did not hurt because I was wearing an adult life preserver under my father’s hoodie. But it was all good. Your video brought back memories of your fine funny book and those of the years we pick nicked under the throgs neck bridge. Thank you for book and the video

  • 

    Joe Coomer says:

    Thanks, Ramon. What a great idea. I never thought of wearing a life preserver to save my life ABOARD the boat. I’ve missed that book since the day I finished writing it. It’s nice to be reminded of it. Thanks again, Joe

• 

  Bryan Edmonds says:

  Joe — Great vid. Thanks for the insights. See you soon!!

• 

  Jim Williams says:

  that was awesome–really enjoyed this one.

• 

  Vance Scott says:

  Great video. Love your story.
  Must admit a motor-sailor is looking more and more practical to me.
  Always been a staunch sailor, but now see that a well maintained diesel that runs on the smell of an oily rag can be very cost effective and fun.
  May be the best of both worlds for a coastal cruiser.
  Fair winds
  Cheers

• 

  Bob Shipman says:

  Howdy from Texas, Joe. I too have swallowed some Eagle Mountain water. I too love that you and Yonder are now part of OCH. I really hope there’s more to come.

  Bob Shipman, H 12 1/2

  • 

    Joe Coomer says:

    Bob, I challenge you to a race: Yonder vs. your H 12.5–you have to get it to Maine first if it’s not already there, and then sail around Yonder once every time she makes a boat length. Sort of a chain pattern till we get to lunchtime, which has always been my favorite finish line. Winner and loser to enjoy barbecue brisket, also imported from Texas. Joe

• 

  David Jeffery says:

  Fifteen years ago we named our boat “Yonder” from a phrase in a Jimmie Dale Gilmore Song: “…look over yonder, she’s already coming your way.” Another Texas connection.

• 

  Robert Baird says:

  I love the story and the people who the story is about! I have spent many a day on Yonder and can’t think of anyone I would rather explore the coast of Maine with than Joe and Isabelle. There is something about going slow that we all need in our lives and it may be provided by an old wooden boat, but most of all it is a choice. Joe and Isabelle have chosen that lifestyle and are great examples to those of us, who all to often get sucked into the fast lane. Here’s for going slow! Maine, the way life should be!

  Joe, I noticed some great details on Yonder. Can you share where you got them and what you know about the people who made them. For example, who did the Rope work?

  Thanks again OCH for a great story!

  • 

    Joe Coomer says:

    Rob, the work on Yonder’s wheel was done by Tim Whitten, who has a little shop on Main St. in Stonington, Maine. Also see his stuff at Marlinspike.com. I left the wheel with him one winter and by spring it was all knotted up like that. Not a tuck has come loose yet. Our “cowl vent” you see lying beneath the wagging sailorette down below is actually a brass pan for a candy scale. The tube that fits perfectly on our stack once slid into a candy sack so the contents of the pan could be easily poured inside without the spillage of a single peppermint. Too many details, too little space. Thanks for the kind words. Joe

• 

  Ted Christ says:

  Hi Joe – have read all of yours several times – then discovered from friends in Stonington that you were their new neighbors. Small world, indeed. Glad to see Yonder looking so good – keep it up –
  Thanks

• 

  malcolm kerstein says:

  I LOVED THIS ONEI
  GREAT WORK ,GREAT BOAT ,HEARTFELT STORY.

• 

  Richard Miller says:

  The book was magic! The video is too.
  My wife and I recognized the boat immediately!
  I was surprised – I read the book but I don’t think I really believed that the boat itself was real.
  And I never imagined you would still have it, and be so devoted to it.
  The boat looks BEAUTIFUL, and we love it that you still have her and are so “one with the experience.”

• 

  Fred Murphy says:

  Wonderful video. Thought about some lazy jacks? Great control when lowering the mainsail.

• 

  Jim Konst says:

  Seeing this video took me back to the book. I had forgotten how much I admired your turn of phrase. I remember the old ladies, and Pinkie, the little dog. Your book showed me that I could love a motor boat. I need to read it again. Thank you, Joe.

  • 

    Joe Coomer says:

    Thanks so much, Jim, for remembering “Beachcombing. . .” Some publication, I can’t recall which now, voted Pinkie “Ugliest Boat Dog Ever”. That still smarts twenty years later. Joe

• 

  Richard Greenway says:

  Yonder reminds me of a classic British boat of the same era.
  Have loved them for a long time and wish that I could find one for the Great Lakes!
  Dick G

• 

  Warren Peluso says:

  I fully enjoyed the short video about Yonder.

• 

  William Boulden says:

  Joe, I believe that your life is rich.

  Or at least it is because you see it that way. That is why Yonder is a perfect fit.

  Absolutely beautiful boat and video.

  ;D

• 

  Doug Wilcox says:

  Great video for a January afternoon, or for that matter, anytime really. I can relate to Joe’s priorities. For many years I had an Eastward-Ho 24 foot sailboat with about an 8 foot beam, full keel and standing head room (Eldredge-McInnis Design, same cabin layout). Speed was not the objective. I’m in Rhode Island and love Narragansett Bay but you can’t beat the number of older more traditional boats in Maine. Love being there and seeing them in person but this ain’t bad either. Thanks Joe and Off Center Harbor.

• 

  Ethan Cook says:

  Hello Joe, Ethan Cook here. What a treat to see my old boat this morning. She’s sure looking great and going strong all these years later. I raised my kids on her and they’ve held on to those memories fondly as have I. I’m out west now restoring another boat from 1934 – this one is a 42 foot salmon troller built on Decatur Island in Puget Sound. This boat fished the Fairweather grounds in Alaska, a particularly mean body of water, so I know she’s another great boat much like, though totally different from “Compromise” now “Yonder”! 1934 was a good year for boats I guess. Nice to see the old gal! keep up the good care taking!

  • 

    Joe Coomer says:

    Hey Ethan! Great to hear from you. I take care of a 1936 Ford Cabriolet, too, so there’s something about ’30’s design that appeals, I admit. It seems there are three things worth doing in life: making something new, preserving the worthy, and finding the lost. Somehow wooden boats seem to allow us to fulfill all three. Come see me some day and we’ll go for a ride. jc

• 

  Thomas Morgan says:

  Beautiful boat. I recall Yonder as a regular visitor to the Woden Boat Regatta over the years. I would always pull up and stare at her as she is a lot like the big woulden barge I grew up with 70 years or so ago in Great Kills Staten Island.

• 

  Steven Wallace says:

  Beautiful, a great way at looking at life.

• 

  Robin Van Auken says:

  Wonderful story and video. I’ve been coveting the UK narrowboat this winter, but Yonder has dispelled that. Now I’m hankering a wide-bodied, vintage motorsailor.

• 

  Thomas Buzzi says:

  Just looking at this boat I know it is “just right”. If I was living in Maine this is the boat design I would find most appealing. A little sail just to have some ropes and cloth to play with but basically (85%) a nice comfortable, reliable motor launch. I guess I am showing my ” retired state of mind” after slaving with a 36 foot S2.A fine craft but demanding of resources.
  Good luck to you,sir, and thank you for sharing your boat a little.

• 

  David Tew says:

  Is it possible that I’ve seen Yonder anchored in Linekin Bay (near East Boothbay) Maine and at Stonington on Deer Isle?

  • 

    Joe Coomer says:

    We love Linekin Bay, so quiet compared to the piece of water over the neck. And Stonington is, bar none, the handsomest village to snuggle up to the ocean I’ve ever seen. jc

• 

  Rufus Coomer (Joe's proud dad) says:

  This is a wonderful story. Joe Coomer is the greatest writer of all time.

  More than that he’s a good man.

  His mother and I both know this

  Rufus Coomer (Joe’s proud dad)

  • 

    Joe Coomer says:

    Never let your dad get hold of your ipad. jc

• 

  David Jeffery says:

  Just right boat and too short video. Makes me wonder again why smallish motorsailers tipped in the direction of power for use in temperate climate and shallow water aren’t everywhere. They don’t seem to be anywhere…but here.