‘Sisko’ Looks Forward to New Adventures
Every so often there’s a boat that seems to reach farther than its owner. In this instance, we’re referring to Sisko and her community under the ownership of Justin Jenkins. We’ve shared a number of stories about Sisko, and about Justin. Just last month Justin shared his thoughts on anchoring in the cove at Treasure Island and the joys of sharing time on the water with friends. In the March issue of Latitude 38, he told the story of Sisko and the community collective that grew around her as the boat was refitted and decked out for cruising. This week, Justin told us that Sisko will be going to a new home. He just doesn’t know yet whose home that will be …
After eight or nine years of Sisko being my boat, my home, my project, and in a lot of ways, a huge part of my life, I’ve decided it’s time to find her a new owner. It’s definitely a little bittersweet after all the years, miles, work and adventures I’ve had with her, but it feels like the right time to find her next home.
Sisko is a 1970 Cheoy Lee Luders 36, and Latitude readers have seen her in these pages a few times over the years. But it’s hard for me to think of her as simply a 36-ft sailboat that’s now “for sale.”
I poured my heart and soul into this boat. I was working as a shipwright at KKMI when much of Sisko’s restoration happened. I’d finish working on other people’s boats and then go work on my own. That went on for about five years, from 2018 to 2023.
And it wasn’t just me. In one way or another, it felt as if the whole shipyard had a hand in Sisko. People shared their knowledge, helped me solve problems, worked alongside me, and taught me along the way. I rebuilt the compression post, built custom cabinetry, created a new navigation station and table, and rebuilt and upgraded systems throughout the boat.
There probably isn’t another object I’ve owned that I’ve cared for the way I’ve cared for Sisko. The closest comparison I can think of is someone who built their own boat. But somewhere along the way, Sisko started rebuilding me, too.
She became my home. I stopped drinking aboard her. I sailed her through the Gate and out onto the ocean. I’ve had incredible days with friends aboard her and plenty of difficult days by myself. She gave me a place to learn, work, think, heal, and figure out who I wanted to be.
The person who first stepped aboard Sisko eight or nine years ago isn’t the same person who’s getting ready to hand her over today. This boat healed me. She challenged me, taught me patience, and gave me confidence. She taught me an unbelievable amount about boats, but some of the most important things she taught me had nothing to do with sailing. That’s what makes letting her go so difficult.
The simple reality is that I now have another boat, and I can’t afford to properly care for two. And Sisko deserves to be cared for. I don’t want to watch a boat that I’ve spent nearly a decade looking after become something that simply sits at the dock. She’s too special for that.
Sisko is a heavily built, full-keel classic that’s been extensively refitted and outfitted for cruising. She’s ready to sail. But more than anything, I’m hoping to find someone who understands what they’re getting — someone who wants to become her next steward rather than simply her next owner.
I’ve spent years thinking about all the places Sisko could take me. What I didn’t understand when I bought her was how much she would change me along the way. And maybe that’s what I’m most excited about now.
I know what Sisko did for me. I can only imagine what she might do for the person who takes the helm next.
Long before Sisko, Justin was sharing his sailing adventures in the pages of Latitude 38, beginning with the boat he bought for $2,000 with a plan to “take off cruising to Mexico and beyond” — the 1972 Columbia 34 MkII Ichiban. But that’s another story.