Tippecanoe meets Rambler's Way!

Tom Chappell is an American icon known to all American entrepreneurs as the brilliant founder of "Tom's of Maine" best known for its toothpaste, but also products of a range of other personal care products. Tom founded "Tom's of Maine" in 1970 and built the name into a nationally recognized brand. In 2006, Tom sold the highly successful company to "Colgate-Palmolive" so he could pursue his other projects.

tom chappell In 2009, Tom founded "Rambler's Way". Tom's enthusiasm for Rambler's Way worsted wool garments is infectious. I had read all about Tom's new venture with high-end clothing made from the beautifully smooth worsted wool of Rambouillet Sheep. I was staying with a close friend on Drake's Island in Maine when Tom stopped in to say hi. It turned out that my friend and Tom had grown up together! With the sound of ocean breakers on the beach only 100 yards away, we all enjoyed a Lobster dinner together at my friend's cottage. Through the evening, Tom and I enjoyed sharing stories about our respective companies Tippecanoe Boats and Rambler's Way, and we found we had very similar visions: present the highest quality products, use materials that excel with their natural beauty, manufacture everything in America with American workers, and only sell things that we wholeheartedly believe in ourselves. Tom has written a couple of books about the benefits of being 100% ethical in business and about the art of entrepreneurship. Tom is also a great sailor and has owned a couple of Hinckley sailboats. Tom now has a classic motor vessel which you will see glimpses of in the pictures of Tom sporting different Rambler's Way clothing styles on our website.

The tie-in with Tippecanoe Boats? Why would we decide to offer you Rambler's Way worsted wool shirts on Tippecanoe? First of all, the shirts are beautiful, beautifully made and from an incredible fabric. The wool weave is so fine and smooth that it is snuggly warm and smooth worn right against the skin. As Fall approaches and into Winter until the ice forms, it is still great to be out sailing or racing your T-37 or your T-50, T-52, or T-65 and of course the T-27 and T-47. But it is nice to have something on that keeps you warm and comfortable, but is not bulky or awkward. And then if you are going out to dinner afterwards it is nice to be already dressed in a shirt that is stylish and comfortable. Or if you are heading out on a big boat, every sailor knows that wool is the one natural fiber that always stays warm even when wet.

So it seemed like a good match, Tippecanoe of Washington State and Rambler's Way of Maine, the great Pacific Northwest and the splendid coastal mystique of Maine. I've also enjoyed skippering Hinckleys down East amongst the islands of Maine and leading courses at Hurricane Island Outward Bound Sailing School in Penobscot Bay. And so here is Rambler's Way with their varied designs in beautiful shirts that will wear perfectly for years and years of active use and comfort. Enjoy!

-Will Lesh, founder of Tippecanoe Boats

Click here to see all of the Rambler's Way shirts offered by Tippecanoe Boats!