The anchor....and the Boat-- a true story

Some years back, when I was a sophmore in high school, my dad and I talked about a sailboat. After looking at several at the classic Johnson Boat Works in White Bear Lake, we thought they would be far too expensive. We did get a chance to talk with old man Johnson, the founder. He said he would keep an eye out for something if it came in on trade that would be a bargain.

Then. He called. A C-Boat. It came in on trade. It would need some work. In fact a lot of work----- on refinishing the bottom. Lots of sanding.

Then the work began. Dad bought the sander. We had just a little time before snow came and then early spring to get it ready.

The boat came with one set of heavy duty sails. A jib and a large mainsail. No spinakker. That is a D boat. The good news. The boat was a Melgis. Made in Wisconsin. God's Country. And--- it had a brand new ANCHOR. Dad said that was good. He did not explain why.

After sanding and staining, and painting the deck a really cool light blue, we put the name on. The "C- Wolf."

In the spring we borrowed a trailer and docked the boat at a old time family friends home on White Bear Lake. What a thrill. Getting the boat lift in was a big chore.

The next morning we got the call. The boat had sunk. Oh no! But I was reassured that once the hull expanded the leaking would end.

It never did. It did slow some. I did get two bailers that worked pretty well. The nest two years were filled with glorious sailing adventures.

And you wonder I suppose----- about the ANCHOR.

It is good to have an anchor. The old leaking Melgis was sold to dad and the salesman said, "It has a really good anchor."

If you are sold anything---- whether it is a C-Boat or a restored development...it takes more than an anchor. It takes a boat. Anchors do not float anything. Make a note of it.