My Sea Dart Visit

Sea Dart sails on in Idaho

Me and Sea Dart

I had the honor to visit Sea Dart in August 2001.  To those of you who have had the pleasure to read Tristan Jones' book The Incredible Voyage, you know how thrilled I was to be sitting at the helm of this very special little boat.

I arrive in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho on Wednesday, August 22, 2001 along with a light drizzle and waited for Dave Crettol, the boating education coordinator of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation to arrive.  Dave had agreed to open Dart and allow me to photograph her for this web site.  

Dave told me that when he took the job he was presented with Tristan's hat, some letters and other memorabilia.  He was also presented with Tristan's prosthetic leg!  The story goes that an Alaskan fisherman who was on vacation in Thailand, heard that a museum dedicated to Tristan Jones was located in the area.  When he checked into this, he found that it was not true, but he did manage to track down Tristan's home and there he found Tristan's prosthetic leg, still  leaning up against a wall.  He took the 'leg' and brought it back to America.  I was told that he commented that "there is not much leg-room in the over-head compartment of an airplane..."  He gave the 'leg' to the state of Idaho for safe keeping after he learned that Sea Dart was being maintained by the state.

Dave also told me a story about a woman who saw Dart when it was being displayed during a wooden boat show in Coeur d'Alene.  The woman, a resident of Idaho, stated that the boat was a great reproduction of Sea Dart and Dave had to explain that the boat was not a reproduction but was the genuine article, the actual boat used by Tristan Jones.  She suddenly removed her hand from the safety line and looked over the boat again, now in a new light.  The woman then asked to board the boat and went below.  Dave continued to meet and greet other people and after some time the women emerged from Dart's cabin.  She had a tear in her eye and thanked Dave for letting her sit in his boat.  Dave had to remind her that it wasn't his boat, but belonged to all the people of the great state of Idaho.  It was as much her boat as his and he hopes that this message gets out.  Everyone in Idaho is a proud owner of this wonderful, historical little boat. 

This September, the Dart will be displayed in a shopping mall in Coeur d'Alene and will be available for all to see.  If you're in the area, stop by and see this remarkable piece of history.

For more information about visiting Sea Dart, contact David Crettol at dcrettol@idpr.state.id.us.

Note: When we spoke, Dave told me that his email is not up yet.  If you can't reach him by email call 208-666-6711.

See my Sea Dart photos

A little of Sea Dart's History