Golly I hate being sick. Not that anyone does although in my business I've met quite a few who yearn for their next ailment. Be that as it may, having a stuffed head, annoying throat, and sneezy, stuffy nose makes me want to curl up in bed. No it doesn't. It makes me want to search for the perfect remedy. For years I took Zicam at the first sign of a cold. Well, this year, the cold one after consuming a bottle of Zicam over 3 days. But, does it dampen my appreciation for meeting another nice person.
It all started when I called a sailing friend/expert about my rudder system. He suggested I call a boat building guy he knew. Well, it turns out the boat building guy has built a rudder system and is now building dagger boards for one of the most quality oriented, craftsmanship perfectionship of a guy. So, if Tim is good enough to do work for the elite, he's Good Enough" enough for me. As a bonus to his credibility, Tim has worked with Jim Brown and John Marples. It is a small world afterall.
Although Tim's task today was to serve as a consultant. He graciously helped me remove the rudder. It was noted that part of the rudder where epoxy had been applied along the leading edge was being exposed to the sun. "The sun," he explained is a killer of epoxy. Just as you cover your sails and stow your lines, you need to paint over epoxy." "Oh", I reverted. "So, would I be better to remove the rudder today, get it all fixed up, then learn how it gets raised and lowered on a warmer, calmer day." The temperature was in the mid 70s, but that easterly 12 knot breeze makes for a bouncy boat in the bay.
If the rudder eventually would have to be removed and repaired, best to remove it while I have a handsome boat guy there to assist. Patiently, Tim explained why and how we would proceed. Within an hour, the rudder was on the starboard patio. Maybe an hour seems long, but at least half the time was learning how the rudder is assembled, how to keep things orderly for reassembly and carefully placing screws, nuts, and bolts securely so they wouldn't end up in the brink.
While it may be a few months until Tim has time to do the work on my rudder I may have someone else willing and able to do the work. Even if I have to wait two or three months, there is plenty else that needs to be done. Take for instance the 3rd leaky place we discovered this afternoon. What makes me tolerate this new found boo-boo and my congested head, is that I met a nice guy who is knowledgeable and capable of making my Marples 35 better than "Good Enough."
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