This charming motor launch is design No. 88 by Nat Benjamin of the Gannon and Benjamin Marine Railway in Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts. Named Toast, she traces her lineage to Baguette, a pony of a launch created in the 1980s by Connecticut boatbuilder Jack Wilbur. That earlier boat served as the inspiration for the modern rebuild and the new commission.
“It’s such a fun boat to go out for lunch or a sunset cocktail,” says Abby Boal, who owns Toast with her husband, Jeff. The Boals describe her as an ideal little cruiser for short excursions: quiet, nimble, and easy to handle. Her shallow-draft hull allows them to explore areas around Narragansett Bay that are off-limits to deeper-draft vessels, which makes her particularly suited to gunkholing, beaching for a picnic, or slipping into protected coves for an evening cocktail.
The story of Toast began when the Boals encountered Baguette—a boat Gannon and Benjamin had rebuilt to serve as a workboat after Wilbur’s passing. Because no original construction plans existed for Baguette, Nat Benjamin took on the task of drawing plans for a new boat in the same spirit. He preserved similar overall proportions—Toast measures 23 feet, 6 inches overall with a beam of 7 feet, 10 inches—while subtly refining the lines to suit modern building techniques and the owners’ preferences.
One of the shipyard’s proud achievements on this build was the fantail stern. A classic design feature that curves and tapers the deck aft over the transom, a true fantail requires careful lofting, precise planking, and meticulous fairing to get the graceful contours correct. For the Gannon and Benjamin crew it was a milestone: their first successful construction of a proper fantail, and a striking visual element that gives Toast both elegance and functional deck space aft.
Four years after delivery, the Boals still treat Toast as their go-to boat for weekly cruises. Their typical outings include meandering along the bay, poking into shallow anchorages, or heading to Newport, Rhode Island, where they enjoy boat-watching from the water. The routine and ritual of getting out on the water—often for just a few hours—keeps the boat in regular use and the couple connected to their local marine community.
Jeff points out a couple of his favorite features. At the helm, Toast dispenses with a conventional wheel in favor of what is essentially a vertical tiller. This arrangement offers extremely quick and direct steering input: instead of turning a wheel multiple revolutions, the helmsperson can push the tiller hard to port or starboard for instant response. The result is a lively, engaging handling character that makes close-quarters maneuvering and quick course changes effortless.
Another small but much-appreciated detail is a concealed convenience tucked under the aft caprail: a hot shower. After a swim in chilly water, the family and friends aboard can rinse off and warm up right on deck. It’s the kind of thoughtful, human-centered amenity that enhances day trips and makes short voyages feel more comfortable and complete.
The design has attracted attention beyond the Boals’ circle. A woman on Martha’s Vineyard has expressed interest in commissioning her own version in the same style—possibly a slightly longer hull while maintaining the aesthetic and practical qualities that make Baguette and Toast so appealing. Abby has suggested an appropriately playful name for such a relative: Crouton.
This article was originally published in the July 2021 issue.