Boating Bad Days are looking up
Boston Bob has been in a real bad mood recently
because of the downturn in tips from airport rides. “All season we were
averaging 18 % but now it has fallen off to a 8 or 9% because the cheap people
are flying,” he bemoaned. “They fly down on a discount ticket, stay at a friend or relatives free place and
think that the airport transportation is way to expensive.”
“Sounds like blow boaters,” Erie Earl said as he
was packing his van for the trip north.
BB wasn't in the mood for sarcasm and let out a
string of blue language before storming off. “That will be $2.25 fine Bob,” I
said.
The 'Dead End Canal Yacht Club' fines members $.25 for every swear word
they use in the clubhouse. Since Erie Earl was packing up his beach chairs that
we sometimes used as meeting furniture, BB was technically in the club house. If
we collected all the fines we could build a free standing clubhouse.
No one expects that ever to happen but just the threat of the fine will give a member pause before letting out with a bunch of smoke. Only 'Run-aground' Ralph, who owes somewhere around a million dollars, refuses to edit his language. Unless my wife is within ear-shot and then he cleans it up. She is ferocious about things like that.
BB may also be in a bad move because he had to call a mechanic for his packing/stuffing box. Everything went smoothly until they were putting it back together and they may have nicked a thread. It still leaks a little and we told him they should all leak like that but he wanted a second opinion and it cost him a pretty penny to have the dockside mechanic take it apart and put it back together and confirm our contention.
"He charged me $80 an hour with a two hour minimum. One hundred and sixty dollars for something that was so simple. Highway robbery," he had said. I wanted to tell him that he might be feeling like the people who fly down on a discount ticket, stay at a friend or relatives free place but not in his mood.
The topping on his bad mood was learning that one of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing was a granddaughter of an old law school classmate. A committee was formed to raise money to pay for her medical bills and BB was digging up the minimum amount requested $100.
"Good old Charley made millions suing insurance companies but he can't pay for his granddaughter's broken leg and whatever else is wrong. He's a real vocal opponent to Obama Care and moved his whole clan to Delaware to avoid taxes and stuff," BB said.
"Mass has universal health care. Won't she be covered," I asked.
"Charley will have thought of a way around that. How could he have the balls to allow them to raise money for this. Hell it's a whole days pay for me and I'll guarantee he tips like Scrooge," said BB.
"I've asked you to quit that job," said Mrs. BB. 'Boston' just shook his head. We all suspect he really likes the work because he enjoys talking to people and the little extra money comes in handy.
Things will be looking up for BB, though. The cruising rendezvous in the Dry Tortuga's is scheduled for the weekend of May 18/19 and he's going for sure. "I told them I was going to be off from the 15th thru the 22nd so they've had plenty of warning. I can't wait to get deep water under her keel again." Sailboats take 16 to 24 hours to make the run from Fort Myers Beach to Fort Jefferson.
See you on Twitter @boatguyed or on the new web site www.boatingbyboatguyed.com
Boatguy Ed (boatguiEd@aol.com) is a manufacturer of the worlds BEST anti-fouling bottom paint,www.supershipbottom.com. NEVER, EVER TRY TO BUY HIM A DRINK!
"He charged me $80 an hour with a two hour minimum. One hundred and sixty dollars for something that was so simple. Highway robbery," he had said. I wanted to tell him that he might be feeling like the people who fly down on a discount ticket, stay at a friend or relatives free place but not in his mood.
The topping on his bad mood was learning that one of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing was a granddaughter of an old law school classmate. A committee was formed to raise money to pay for her medical bills and BB was digging up the minimum amount requested $100.
"Good old Charley made millions suing insurance companies but he can't pay for his granddaughter's broken leg and whatever else is wrong. He's a real vocal opponent to Obama Care and moved his whole clan to Delaware to avoid taxes and stuff," BB said.
"Mass has universal health care. Won't she be covered," I asked.
"Charley will have thought of a way around that. How could he have the balls to allow them to raise money for this. Hell it's a whole days pay for me and I'll guarantee he tips like Scrooge," said BB.
"I've asked you to quit that job," said Mrs. BB. 'Boston' just shook his head. We all suspect he really likes the work because he enjoys talking to people and the little extra money comes in handy.
Things will be looking up for BB, though. The cruising rendezvous in the Dry Tortuga's is scheduled for the weekend of May 18/19 and he's going for sure. "I told them I was going to be off from the 15th thru the 22nd so they've had plenty of warning. I can't wait to get deep water under her keel again." Sailboats take 16 to 24 hours to make the run from Fort Myers Beach to Fort Jefferson.
See you on Twitter @boatguyed or on the new web site www.boatingbyboatguyed.com
Boatguy Ed (boatguiEd@aol.com) is a manufacturer of the worlds BEST anti-fouling bottom paint,www.supershipbottom.com. NEVER, EVER TRY TO BUY HIM A DRINK!
This column is meant for educational purposes only. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Void where prohibited. Some assembly required. Do not read while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment.
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