Ocelot

I really did love my Goat Island Skiff. It’s an outstanding boat—quick, responsive, and more capable than its simplicity suggests. Treated with respect and a good sense of its limits, it was plenty seaworthy, and it never failed to surprise me with how smoothly it slipped up onto a plane. Under sail it was a joy: light on the helm, eager in a breeze, and always willing to stretch its legs. And when the wind died, it rowed well enough that getting home never felt like a chore. I’m genuinely sad I couldn’t keep it longer. Mobility issues pushed me toward a larger, more forgiving boat, and the GIS just isn’t the kind of hull you climb in and out of when your hips are having a rough year. Still, it was a great companion—easy to manage solo yet perfectly happy with three adults aboard, provided everyone understood the dance. Letting it go feels like saying goodbye to a chapter, but I’m grateful for the time I had with it.