TORA’S STORY While hunting for a new “Good Old Boat”, I ventured into a boat yard in Bristol R.I. I waited in the rain for an hour for the owner of a tired looking Ericson 27. When he finally arrived, I found the boat to be a mess. Engine parts tossed about, missing engine and mold. I was very disappointed. This was not how the boat was described. I went home and told my wife of my experience. Being a great first mate, she encouraged me to move on. So, I began my search again. In my mind, I had a idea of the boat I wanted. She had to have classic lines, pleasing to the eye as well as easy to sail and sea worthy. I described the boat to my wife, but I wanted her to see, generally what I was looking for. She is always very supportive of my quests and would be spending a great deal of time on it with me. So I took her down the boat yard to see if I could find a comparable boat. Well …..sitting in the back of the yard was a Beautiful Bristol 27. So clean that I could not believe my eyes. Yes, it was for sale. But for much more than I wanted to spend. I am a Special Needs Teacher and my salary does not allow for extravagant purchases. My wife however, knowing how important it was to me, encouraged me to call up the owner and I met him at the boat two hours later. As I approached the boat, I ran my hand over the pristine gelcoat. There was something special about this boat. Before I even got inside, I knew I would take her home. Upon boarding, the owner presented me with a box of old documents. He and I spent hours going over them and talking about the boat. I felt like I was adopting a child. He was the third owner, every previous one had taken care of her. The original owner, however, had pictures of the boat being built in Bristol R.I. Pictures of the boat in far off locations, hand written letters from Carl Alberg (the boats designer) and ships logs going back to the day she was launched in 1965. Price no longer mattered. This boat was not just piece of fiberglass. She was a part of someone’s life. She had a past, one filled with ocean voyages and even marriage. It seems that in 1967, the original owner was married onboard at Myrtle Beach in a oil lamp ceremony. I was fascinated with the amount of documentation on the boat. There were a few letters to the Bristol Yacht Co., dated 1965, where he expressed a concern about a vibration and a frequent high pitched whine. It was later stated in a letter from the Bristol Yacht Co., this was the first Bristol 27 that had an inboard engine installed. As a result, there were a few bugs that were still in the boat. Numerous letters were sent back and forth in attempts to locate the noises. All of which are in chronological order in the pile of documents. Every piece of safety equipment and alarm known to man seemed to be on this boat. Every safety item had a back up system. She was obviously rigged for open water. I was hooked. Venturing below decks, felt as though I had entered a time machine. Every inch of the boat was clean, shinny and dry. She had a new set of sails and a Gray Marine engine you could eat off. We negotiated a price and the deal was made. Slowly, he took a last look around and climbed up the companion way. Before he left, he asked me to keep in touch to let him know how she was doing. Of course I agreed. I intend on doing my part as her next caretaker. A boat like this must be preserved, and she is in good hands. Recently, I was able to contact the original owner, Ed Rohrer by mail. In the letter, I told him that My wife and I had decided to re-name the boat TORA, her original name. He told me that while he was reading this, he was unable to finish the letter. He had his wife, Colleen read the rest to him. You see, he said, “This boat was part of our family, we watched her being born, sailed her through many a storm after which, she would always deliver us safely home“. Not seeing her for many years, he always wondered if she was rotting away in some back lot and was happy to hear this was not the case. He was also happy to hear that after 40 years, the engine was still happily vibrating away. We eventually spoke on the phone and even got together for a sailing reunion. He presented me with even more ships logs and various items he had kept for sentimental reasons. The weather was great and we had a wonderful day. When I let Ed take the tiller, TORA seemed to sense his return. She healed over and gave an unexplained burst of speed. His wife took his hand and smiled. There were no words needed. When we returned, we toasted their anniversary and TORA’S future. I have already sailed her many times and she handles like a dream. My fellow boat friends all agree my boat has beautiful lines. They also add to that by listing the downfalls of an older boat such as the small size below, and their limited hull speed. Most of my friends have new boats which are roomy and fast, but I have no desire to have a boat such as theirs. They have no soul. Nicks and scratches, to me, are more character. Old boats seem to have a story to tell, and to me, that is half the fun of owning a boat. I can be reached at pdaoreo@aol.com

Comment from Annon

I have known Ed Rohrer for so many years it is beyond my math skills! I was on that voyage south in TORA, down the inland water way thru New Jersey. Ed had invited me to join him and his uncle for a few days on TORA. I have always lived on a farm in NJ and of course he knew that, thus the invite. Years before that, Ed and I would meet in Hollywood Florida to skin dive (in the beginning of time that is).... So it was a joyous time to sail with him in his PRIDE... to get a BRIDE... Beside TORA, Colleen is the best thing that ever happened to Ed. I remember my gift to him on that voyage.. It was the very first battery operated "industrial rater" drill... I bet that did not make it over the years!, but it seemed something a sail boat would need. Ed had fwd. the piece in the Internet blog... I'm sure you've been wondering how I got your address... In closing, I am so glad TORA has a proper home! Long Live TORA.... FYI.. What ever Ed possessed, it left him in better condition then he received it... even if he acquired it new!

Comment from Bob Wissmann

I hereby add my blog to Tora,s Story. I was fortunate in meeting the original owners of Tora- Ed and Coleen Rohrer just this past year. I could sense they are avid sailors. Both now sail Soling one meters competitivly. And they do very well against some hot skippers; many are retired racers. Although coming from a long building and sailing background I was quite green when I built my first Soling 1M. Ed graciously showed me many tips on how to tune the boat to sail well. And also how to help keep her looking like new. The Rohrer boats with brightly painted hulls and very original colored sails speak of the same particular care he and Coleen had bestowed on Tora. It is nice to know the current owners of their beloved Bristol 27 are keeping her in shipshape and Bristol fashion as Ed and Coleen did over forty years ago. Lets see if some recent photos of Tora are out there, ok? Bob W

Comment from Tom Tilson

Greetings: It was wonderful to read the above story on TORA. I have sailed many a mile next to, behind, in front of TORA in our Westsail Ot SU.We also where slip mates for many years. Tora was always so ship/shape but then every major item Ed had was ship shape, I always wished I could have bought his RV...another Tora. May the present owner of TORA have fair winds and following seas......Tora deserves them!

Comment on this article Tell us your story