Jimmy Buffett's Boat: A Pirate's Life For Me

Jimmy Buffett was a lover of boats and the sea. In fact, he spent the majority of his time away from his musical pursuits on the water, sailing, surfing, fishing, or simply enjoying his boats. Over the years, he owned several boats, including a 42-foot Rybovich called Last Mango, a 33-foot Freeman catamaran, a 42-foot Freeman catamaran project boat, a sailboat named Chill, and a 49-foot Pacific Seacraft built boat named Drifter. He also had a Grumman Albatross flying boat.

The name of Jimmy Buffett's boats

Jimmy Buffett was a lover of boats and owned several vessels throughout his life. In his youth, Buffett was introduced to boats and sailing by his grandfather, a sailing ship captain, and his father, a marine engineer. This love for boats and sailing continued throughout his life, with Buffett owning a number of boats over the years, including:

• Euphoria, a Cheoy Lee Offshore 33, which was his first boat.
• Euphoria II, a Cheoy Lee 48.
• Continental Drifter, which was docked in Sag Harbor.
• Chill, a Hinckley sailboat.
• Last Mango, a 42-foot Rybovich.
• A 33-foot Freeman catamaran.
• A 42-foot Freeman catamaran project boat.
• A sailboat.
• A Hell’s Bay skiff.
• An Albury Brothers center-console.

In later years, Buffett downsized from a Delta 125, the family yacht, to a custom 15.24-metre motor sailer named Drifter, designed by Ted Fontaine. Drifter was constructed by Pacific Seacraft in North Carolina and delivered to Buffett in February 2018. This modern motor sailer departed from Buffett's previous classics, including vintage sailboats such as a Herreshoff Alerion and a Sparkman & Stephens Morris 36.

The type of boats he owned

Jimmy Buffett was a lover of boats and owned several during his lifetime. His first boat was a Cheoy Lee Offshore 33, Euphoria, which he bought with the money he made from his second studio album. He named his second boat Euphoria II, a Cheoy Lee 48, and later bought a Hinckley sailboat named Chill.

In 2006, Buffett owned a 42-foot Rybovich called Last Mango, which he brought to the boatyard at Merritt’s Boat & Engine Works in Pompano Beach, Florida, for annual service and maintenance. He also owned a 33-foot Freeman catamaran, a 42-foot Freeman catamaran project boat, a sailboat, a Hell’s Bay skiff, and an Albury Brothers centre-console, among many others.

In 2018, he took delivery of a custom 15.24-metre Pacific Seacraft motor sailer designed by Ted Fontaine and named Drifter. Drifter has a bright seafoam green hull, and Buffett described her as comfortable with a spacious living area.

Buffett's final boat, built in 2019, was also named Last Mango.

His inspiration for buying boats

Jimmy Buffett's inspiration for buying boats can be traced back to his childhood and the threads of growing up on the Gulf Coast, which were woven into his late brother’s love of boats and the sea. Buffett’s grandfather from Nova Scotia was a cabin boy on a sailing ship, and the stories of his time at sea surely put dreams of travel and adventure into his grandson’s head.

Buffett was also influenced by his parents, who both worked in the Mobile, Alabama shipyards, building big ships. His family's dream of having a house on the water also played a role in his fascination with boats. He recalls renting motorboats with his father during vacations and going on extended trips on a 100-foot wooden motor yacht with friends, which further sparked his interest in boating.

In addition, Buffett's sister, Lucy, mentions that their parents' friends had a seaplane in the 1960s, and these experiences made a lasting impression on him, as he often spoke about wanting one himself.

Buffett's first boat was a Cheoy Lee Offshore 33, Euphoria, purchased with the money he made from his second studio album. He saw it as an "insurance policy," believing that even if his music career didn't last, he could live on the boat and go where he wanted. This purchase set the tone for his lifelong passion for boats and the sea, with his final boat, built in 2019, being named "Last Mango."

His boat-buying process

Jimmy Buffett's boat-buying process was driven by his passion for the sea and boats, which stemmed from his family's maritime heritage and his childhood experiences on the Gulf Coast. He paid meticulous attention to the details of his boats, ensuring every aspect was just right.

Buffett's first boat was a Cheoy Lee Offshore 33, named Euphoria, purchased with the money he made from his second studio album. He considered it an "insurance policy" as he loved sailing and believed he could live on the boat if his music career didn't pan out. This was followed by Euphoria II, a Cheoy Lee 48, which he used for gunkholing through the BVIs. He then owned a Delta 125, which was the family yacht, and several vintage sailboats, including a Herreshoff Alerion and a Sparkman & Stephens Morris 36.

In 2006, Buffett owned a 42-foot Rybovich called Last Mango, which he brought to Merritt's Boat & Engine Works in Florida for annual service. This marked the beginning of a long relationship with the yard and the Merritts. Over the years, he worked closely with Roy Merritt and his team to custom-build a 42 Freeman with a walkaround cabin, ensuring every detail, from the console layout to the cabin design, met his unique vision and needs.

Buffett's passion for boats and the sea continued to grow, and he eventually collaborated with Roy Merritt again to build a larger 56-foot catamaran. Despite some initial reluctance from Merritt, who typically built top-of-the-line sport-fishermen, Buffett's enthusiasm and persuasive skills won him over. The 56-foot catamaran project combined Buffett's desire for comfort and improved features with Merritt's expertise and commitment to quality boatbuilding.

In 2018, Buffett took delivery of Drifter, a 15.24-metre Pacific Seacraft motor sailer designed by Ted Fontaine. This downsizing move reflected his desire for a more efficient and comfortable boat better suited for cruising the Bahamas. Drifter's seafoam green hull, outdoor galley, spacious salon, and ample toy collection, including surfboards and fishing rods, made it the perfect vessel for Buffett's sailing adventures.

His boat-related legacy

Jimmy Buffett's maritime legacy is a rich and varied one. It is said that his love of the sea and boats was inspired by his grandfather, a sailing ship captain who regaled his young grandson with tales of his adventures at sea. This, combined with his parents' work in the shipyards of Mobile, Alabama, meant that Buffett grew up surrounded by boats and the culture of the Gulf Coast.

Buffett's first boat was a Cheoy Lee Offshore 33, named Euphoria, which he bought with the money he made from his second studio album. He then bought a Cheoy Lee 48, Euphoria II, and spent years sailing through the BVIs, an experience that inspired much of his songwriting. Over the years, he owned a number of boats, including a 42-foot Rybovich called Last Mango, a 33-foot Freeman catamaran, a 42-foot Freeman catamaran project boat, a sailboat, and a host of support boats. He was also a keen surfer and pilot, and owned a Grumman Albatross flying boat.

Buffett's final boat, built in 2019, was a 15.24-metre Pacific Seacraft motor sailer named Drifter, with a bright seafoam green hull. He was a classics aficionado and owned several vintage sailboats, including a Herreshoff Alerion and a Sparkman & Stephens Morris 36.

Buffett's love of boats extended beyond his personal collection. He was a sailing advisor to kids at the Naval Academy, and he and his longtime captain, Vinnie Lasorsa, started Freedom Fighter Outdoors, a non-profit that takes injured veterans fishing.

In addition to his boats, Buffett also left a legacy in the marine industry. He collaborated with Roy Merritt of Merritt's Boat & Engine Works to design and build a 56-foot catamaran that would serve as his marine legacy. Despite Merritt's initial reluctance, Buffett persuaded him to take on the project, which aimed not only to build a boat but also to give back to the industry by establishing a technical school to train young people in marine trades.

Sadly, Buffett passed away on September 1, 2023, at the age of 76, but his love of the sea and his contributions to the marine world will long be remembered.

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