Saying Goodbye to Marilyn

Marilyn was our dinghy/tender and came to be ours with quite a story attached. She had originally been owned by our sailing mentors. They had become separated from her during a storm whilst on anchor. Searches to locate the tender were unsuccessful, and an insurance claim made. Roll on 12 months and our friends received a call from the Police quite out of the blue, advising that their ‘missing tender’ was in their possession. A call was subsequently made to the insurers to explain and for instructions. The insurance company were very pragmatic and requested that the dinghy be sold and the sale price be forwarded. We became that ‘buyer’.

A cruiser’s tender is the equivalent of car to land dweller but probably even more mission critical. How do you get ashore, visit other boats, get provisions or go exploring if you haven’t a tender? Kayak, SUP (stand-up paddle-board), a lilo? All ridiculous. A tender and associated outboard motor - because rowing is not always practical or safe, are the unsung heroes in a cruisers life.

Marilyn got her name only after we’d reached Tasmania. A tube became punctured on an oyster on a jetty in Dover. The repair spot, to our eyes,  looked like a beauty spot and thereon in she was known as ‘Marilyn’. She had a facelift when we put 'chaps' on her in 2017 after which her spot became concealed but she never stopped being our ‘Marilyn’.

We’ve loved Marilyn for at least 9 years and as mentioned, she wasn’t new when she became ours. The Bloke gradually fell out of  love with Marilyn when the effort of continually needing to re-glue her handles or repair a water leak overcame him. She was also getting too heavy for us. Every trip  to the beach was a strain, despite acquiring wheels for the transom to assist. Eventually her weight was the deal breaker. We conceded that we’re not as strong as we once were. Marilyn needed to go and we needed to find a baby sister.

Once advertised, we weren’t long finding a good home for Marilyn. It was a bittersweet moment watching Marilyn being driven away. Plenty of memories. She’s been replaced by The Elf because she is small and acquired at Christmas. We’ll introduce her in due course.