Jack's StoryPeople ask us: Is there really a "Jack"? Yes, there is a Jack.
Jack ran Jack's Boat Rental for 50 years. At the end of the 2021 season, Jack retired and sold the business to us (Mike and Michelle.) We've kept the name to honor both Jack and Jack's Boat Rental's success and longevity. |
Born and raised in Wellfleet, Jack spent his childhood summers in the many kettle ponds of the Outer Cape. He has said that some of his fondest memories include meeting vacationing families from around the country, learning about their lives and setting out on adventures in the woods surrounding the ponds with his new friends. Upon graduating, Jack spent a short time living in New York City. During a quick trip home to decompress, he found himself at the beach, appreciating the night sky and the salty air in a way that he might have overlooked before moving off Cape. At that moment, he decided to move back.
Over the next summer season, Jack did what Jack does and found himself chatting with with those visiting from all over. Reminiscing about growing up near Gull Pond and spending so much time on the water as a child, the idea of renting boats was born. Jack spent the next 50 years helping visiting families get out on the water before retiring at the end of the 2021 season.
Over the next summer season, Jack did what Jack does and found himself chatting with with those visiting from all over. Reminiscing about growing up near Gull Pond and spending so much time on the water as a child, the idea of renting boats was born. Jack spent the next 50 years helping visiting families get out on the water before retiring at the end of the 2021 season.
Jack, in his own words...
Over the years many people have asked, "Is there really a Jack?” People have a sincere desire to know whom they have been doing business with all these years, to be able to place a face with the name, and to be given a little history about Jack and how Jacks Boat Rental got started in the first place.
First of all: Yes, there is a Jack.
I was born and raised in Wellfleet; even my grandparents were from the lower Cape, so I guess you could call me a native. As a boy I lived in a home very close to Gull Pond. During the summers, if I was not working doing yard work for various people in the neighborhood, I would be out on Gull Pond with my little rowboat. I would love to spend time with the kids swimming and playing off the dock at the public landing. Most of the kids were from other parts of the country and I found it interesting to discover what their life was like on the other side of the bridge. |
I found great joy taking a newfound friend on a boating expedition to the other ponds (Higgins, Williams, Herring Ponds) and felt like it was my hidden playground that I was sharing with them. It was always a new adventure and you just never knew what kinds of things you would come across - snapping turtles, painted turtles, deer, raccoons, skunks, snakes - the wildlife was truly amazing. I can’t recall anyone joining me on these adventures that wasn’t in awe. The kids and parents that I met would constantly tell me how lucky I was to live on Cape Cod all year long. These are some of my fondest childhood memories and I will cherish them forever.
When I graduated from high school, I felt the need to explore what was on the other side of the bridge so I moved to New York City, where I lived for four and a half years. The adjustment to city life was a very large one and I went through many struggles early on, but as I adapted, I managed to get a decent job that paid quite well. I guess you could say I got caught in the city trap working sixty plus hours per week and not finding much time for myself. In the spring of 1972, I returned to Wellfleet for a vacation and while I was there I went to the ocean to lie down on the sand and look up at the night sky. It was a beautiful warm night and two things came to mind that I will never forget… first I felt I could see every star in the universe and second I could smell the salt air. Those words that were spoken when I was a boy “you are a lucky boy to be able to live on Cape Cod” were singing in my heart. You may be able to see a few stars in NYC but that is not the norm and as far as smelling the water, well, I won’t go there.
As a result of that night, I returned to New York, quit my job and moved back to the Cape. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do for a living but I knew Cape Cod was where I wanted to be. Some people say “you never know what you really have until it’s gone.”
When I graduated from high school, I felt the need to explore what was on the other side of the bridge so I moved to New York City, where I lived for four and a half years. The adjustment to city life was a very large one and I went through many struggles early on, but as I adapted, I managed to get a decent job that paid quite well. I guess you could say I got caught in the city trap working sixty plus hours per week and not finding much time for myself. In the spring of 1972, I returned to Wellfleet for a vacation and while I was there I went to the ocean to lie down on the sand and look up at the night sky. It was a beautiful warm night and two things came to mind that I will never forget… first I felt I could see every star in the universe and second I could smell the salt air. Those words that were spoken when I was a boy “you are a lucky boy to be able to live on Cape Cod” were singing in my heart. You may be able to see a few stars in NYC but that is not the norm and as far as smelling the water, well, I won’t go there.
As a result of that night, I returned to New York, quit my job and moved back to the Cape. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do for a living but I knew Cape Cod was where I wanted to be. Some people say “you never know what you really have until it’s gone.”
I was fortunate enough to recapture my Cape Cod life. Shortly after returning to the Cape I got a job working for a propane gas company delivering propane to locations all over the outer Cape from Chatham To Provincetown. During the summer it would get extremely busy and again I found myself conversing and exchanging ideas with people from all over the world. I love meeting new people; they are like a living library… a wealth of information. I can’t remember exactly how the boat rental idea came up but during one of my conversations I mentioned the love I had of Gull Pond and somehow it spilled over into the idea of starting a boat rental business.
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What you see of Jacks Boat Rental today is the result of my many loyal customers over the past 35 years. I have listened to what these customers requested as far as services and have done the best that I could to provide it.
As far as I’m concerned, all of you are Jacks Boat Rental Inc. I have only been the owner. I have been very happy to share some of my memorable years with you in hope that you can bring that joy back over the bridge to whatever life awaits you and spread some of it in your area. God knows the world needs all the joy and love we can give it.
Thank you for your patronage,
Jack
As far as I’m concerned, all of you are Jacks Boat Rental Inc. I have only been the owner. I have been very happy to share some of my memorable years with you in hope that you can bring that joy back over the bridge to whatever life awaits you and spread some of it in your area. God knows the world needs all the joy and love we can give it.
Thank you for your patronage,
Jack