Brother can you spare a cigarette -boat?
- Thread starter taliovelez
- Start date
Oldeagle66
Senior Member
I remember these from the 'Miami Vice' days 
JustDave
Well-known Member
My wife and I would leave the San Juan Islands in the American waters and sail 4 days to British Columbia's Desolation Sound where we would hang out for a couple of weeks. That was not sailing day and night, and involved securing an anchorage before dark and sailing again the next morning, but it was 4 days without stopping other than anchoring for the night.
So we are at the gas dock in Refuge Cove at our destination area fueling up, getting water, and a few groceries, when one of those cigarette types pulled up to the dock and starts sucking gas. It was skippered by one young guy and "honorarily crewed" by 3 lovely ladies. He had left from Vancouver, which was maybe 10 miles shorter than our 4 day trip, but I had to ask, "So how long did it take you to get up here?" As I recall, it was something like 2 1/2 hours, and at that, I doubt he was pushing it much. I had to chuckle. I told him how long it took us. He didn't laugh, but thoughtfully considered it. Maybe he was just being polite.
Cigarette boats aren't designed with overnight accommodations, so they were getting ready to return to Vancouver. Just a day trip to show off his boat to the gals for a few hours. They all looked happy as all get out. I wasn't envious of course. Cruising and speed boating are two entirely different endeavors with rewards for each that are unavailable to the other. I just appreciate boats, but I did have one undeniable advantage. That trip probably cost him 47 times more that it did for me. On the other hand, costs were probably the least of his concerns, and probably not even worth thinking about for him.
I've been to Desolation Sound maybe 6 times. Don't let the name fool you. The place is gorgeous. That was the only time I saw a boat like that in the Sound. Come to think of it, I think it was the only boat like that I've actually seen anywhere.
So we are at the gas dock in Refuge Cove at our destination area fueling up, getting water, and a few groceries, when one of those cigarette types pulled up to the dock and starts sucking gas. It was skippered by one young guy and "honorarily crewed" by 3 lovely ladies. He had left from Vancouver, which was maybe 10 miles shorter than our 4 day trip, but I had to ask, "So how long did it take you to get up here?" As I recall, it was something like 2 1/2 hours, and at that, I doubt he was pushing it much. I had to chuckle. I told him how long it took us. He didn't laugh, but thoughtfully considered it. Maybe he was just being polite.
Cigarette boats aren't designed with overnight accommodations, so they were getting ready to return to Vancouver. Just a day trip to show off his boat to the gals for a few hours. They all looked happy as all get out. I wasn't envious of course. Cruising and speed boating are two entirely different endeavors with rewards for each that are unavailable to the other. I just appreciate boats, but I did have one undeniable advantage. That trip probably cost him 47 times more that it did for me. On the other hand, costs were probably the least of his concerns, and probably not even worth thinking about for him.
I've been to Desolation Sound maybe 6 times. Don't let the name fool you. The place is gorgeous. That was the only time I saw a boat like that in the Sound. Come to think of it, I think it was the only boat like that I've actually seen anywhere.