Special Message to Sloop John B

[Mark Prouty]

From the Tough Decision it is apparent that Sloop has been in a hospital with 'heart complications'

[Mark Prouty]

Sloop,

Hope you have a speedy, full recovery and read plenty more of your adventureous exploits and colorful posts.

[Randy Smith]

Sloop, take it easy and enjoy the slower pace, stay on the board and stay in touch. I wish your health to be better and your body stronger. Randy

[Aeroabaco]

Sloop,

Well wishes for a speedy recovery from the loading dock in Spanish Fort, AL where that low-hour Yamaha got delivered. I sold out my Mac for the amenities of a 34-foot convertible a couple of years back and haven't kept up with the board here much. Been spending too much time working on the amenities that come with twin 454 gas burners. 30 gallons per hour versus free wind? Can you say, "I miss my Mac"?

I hope you can get back on the water again soon.

[Sloop John B]

Yeah, thanks guys. And Keith, good to see you here. I'll let you know next time I have to avoid Florida sales tax on an 'item' and be over at your shipping dock in Spanish Fort.

The 'condition' is probably not as bad as I made it sound.

I was in for a routine checkup because my right cheek keeps loading up with an ache every time I walk up hill for a spell, or climb stadium stairs, stuff like that.

So, I hop up on the scale and then they take my blood pressure and then the gal has the rubber tubes in her ears with the thing on my wrist. I see shes giving me that holy sh~t look. In comes the Doc and theyve got me down with the ice cold stickers on wires all over my ticklish ribs. Irregular heartbeat.

Now, over to Tallahassee Regional for some tests. Yes, fourteen days. Unbelievable. Sonic massage. Hot tobacco sauce down through the legs, next time up through the head. Stress test. Huge clicking machines. Then they shove me into this tube with some idiot trying to take it apart with a sledge hammer at the same time. Fourteen days on this ball and chain drip machine, Heprin (?) to thin out the blood.

Four different doctors. Finally their ring leader shows up. Guess what? Youre okay. Might have a little arthritis in the hip. Heart condition is quite typical for those in their mid sixties.

Then the not so good news. Have to squash the four pack a day habit. Have to mix my gin with tonic instead of vermouth. Have to take five pills a day. They seem to make me woozy and tired. My butt still aches and I get a hospital bill for $31,152.35. The laboratories and doctors fees arent as bad, from several hundred to several thousand, but they pile up. With the pills this really makes me woozy. However, with medicare and tri-care for life (champus military coverage) I dont have to pay a cent. Even for the lousy meals.

Anyway, the Mate sees me as being a little more pooped than usual. Our problem, at our age, is rigging and derigging the Mac in 95 degree weather with little biting gnats crawling in the ears and nostrils. When we pull in I hook up the water for the motor flush and trailer wheel flush and then go flop till the next day. Exhausted. Something for you young ones to look forward to as the hair begins to grey.

Nonetheless, I explained that the Mac stays. With my bed and TV, its the only thing I got. So, to get through this one I agreed to consider looking for mast up parking. There are some around and they arent too expensive. And it only has to be parked that time of the year when were sailing, and well probably be sailing more frequently.

BTW, that time of year is just upon us. Plenty of alert time for the storms and the temperatures have dipped to be no longer scalding. Like when you pick up a chrome plated wrench and go houha! and it flies through the back window of your truck.

[Terry]

Well at least you can still get your mast up, at your age most guys suffer ED
Get a wet slip John B. it will give you more to enjoy, even if you don't sail her, sitting on her in the water makes for a relaxing time well spent. Kind of like having a summer cottage, except it floats. It costs a bit more but I think it is money well spent, I do it for 4-6 months of the year up here and get alot more time on the water doing it. Lots of folks at the marina sit on their boat drinking gin & tonics. Relax...Enjoy

[Zavala]

I'll second the wet slip suggestion. We kept our boat in mast up dry storage for a couple seasons and it was defintely better than rigging all the time; however, dockside life adds a whole new dimension. We have almost as much fun staying over at the dock and enjoying the amenities (restraunt, pool, swimming beach, etc.) as we do out on the water.

It costs more, but I guess that's what money's for.

[Robert]

What's the best sail boat for sitting at the dock? Does the blue-ness of the hull matter at the dock? Do blue hull guys masts raise faster?

[jetta01]

The blue definitely looks better sitting at the dock!

However, after suffering many tiny scratches from the string line out at Catalina, I sometimes wish I had went with the white...

[Idle Time]

we've done both. definately worth the extra money to be in the water. Run down..jump on ..stow a few things and away you go. ..for an hour or a day.

on the trailer...still not too bad but those short sails are out..you just dont bother for that short time..

probably be good for you just to go sit on the boat in the slip and relax anyways. Tell your wife it's for medicinal purposes. I keep trying to convince Jim that's what I need it for..LOL

[Richard O'Brien]

Sloop, I cant understand on what planet is Giving up Your boat good for the heart? It doesnt seem like theres any rush either. Should there be? Besides, a couple of folks around here need your dry wit to keep from taking ourselves too seriously. I eventually discovered dry storage , mast up, with a mainsail cover. Best decision Ive made...Maybe a little wait in line on Sundays., but no algae, and really no effort except backing and docking.

[mike]

Then the not so good news. Have to squash the four pack a day habit.

Hmmmm.... 4 packs(!?) X $3ea X 30 days = about $360/month. That should be enough for a slip!

--Mike

[argonaut]

Mike's right, use your dirty air money to make more clean air available.
Be glad you can find dry storage. I'd do that in a heartbeat if there were any over here. No rigging and no bottom problems (except the one you already have).
Sorry... couldn't help it.
The wet slip's OK I guess but you can overnight pretty affordably at most marinas.
Glad you're better. Our season's just getting underway so get out there.

[mark,97x]

John: think about a slip at panacea marina,$165 a month,probably will get one there myself come january,maybe we can sail together on Dickerson bay

[Randy Smith]

Sloop, I have had a slip since 96, I love to arrive and everything is there....Gin and Tonic(miss the Vermouth), have to bring ice and my beautiful admiral...dog too...maybe three kids.....BUT, everything is there....heat if I am cold, a fan if a little warm, TV/VCR/DVD/CD, a comfy bed, a little stove, and a head, a step to get in and out over the side.....Showers and laundry a short stroll away...... Life is good and I would recommend it over trailering most days............trailering has its place, yet, so does plain old relaxation and good times. Glad the reports are not as bad as you first suspected...I quit smoking Sloop, I feel better...don't look any better, but I do feel good. Good luck......hey my Dad is in his sixties and he quit smoking cold turkey....4 packs was his quantity too.............you can do it!!!!