8 Bells for Spike Boston

May 14, 2026

by Roger Renaud

William ‘Spike’ Boston, age 80, passed away peacefully on April 27, 2026, in Sarnia Ontario. He was born April 15, 1946 in Mount Clemens, Michigan, and lived in Point Edward for over 50 years, where he became a familiar and respected member of the community.

A skilled sailmaker and lifelong sailor, Spike was the proud owner of Doyle Boston Sails, in Point Edward since 1968. He dedicated much of his life to the craft of sailmaking, and to the sport of sailing, something he loved so much.

Sailing was not just something he did, it was part of who he was. He built more than sails; they built friendships, a reputation for quality, determination, and a pride in his work. He was proud of his near 40-year relationship with Doyle Sails, where his family loft is the oldest loft within the worldwide sailmaking group other than Robbie Doyle’s personal loft.

Spike was known for being stubborn at times, but also incredibly generous, always willing to lend a hand or share his knowledge with others. His favorite saying, “Keep Smiling,” reflected the attitude he carried through life and the message he leaves behind to those who loved him.

He was not one to brag and dwell on what he won; Spike was much more excited about the sailing his two sons Brad and Tac were doing, as well as the wins of his customers, then his own. This is probably one of the reasons he keeps getting looked over as a Sailing Hall of Fame candidate. 

In 1973, at the age of 26, Spike was a member of Tanker Jones’ team, that won the Thunderbird World Championships. At that time, the T-bird was one of the most competitive one-design fleets around.

Spike also adopted the one-design class S2 7.9, where he will forever be a legacy of that Fleet. This is from the S2 7.9 Class Association:

“Yesterday our S2 7.9 community lost a truly special soul, Spike Boston. To many of us, Spike wasn’t just a fellow sailor; he was the heartbeat of our class – a kind of “founding father” who nurtured this group with a warm generous spirit. For over 40 years, Spike and his family have been our biggest champions, opening their hearts to host regattas, leading impromptu dockside trim and race clinics, and always offering a friendly tip to help a sailor find a little more speed. The water won’t feel quite the same without him, and he’ll be sorely missed.”

Spike won more than a dozen S2 7.9 North American Championships. What a legend!