From sloopscoop@jewellgems.com Sun May 6 20:14:27 2007 From: sloopscoop@jewellgems.com (Sloop John B) Date: Sun, 06 May 2007 13:14:27 -0600 Subject: [Sloop Scoop 2007] Preseason #1, May 6 - 20 Message-ID: <6.1.0.6.2.20070506110934.026d4a68@pop.jewellgems.com> Ahoy all! First, the annual list-cleaning note: if you would like to be removed from this list, remove yourself using the links at the end, or let me know and I will do it for you. I will do some cleaning myself soon, since I haven't seen or heard from several people in at least a season. If you are a lurker, this is your opportunity to send your annual--"Hi--keep me on the list!" note. If you're new to the list, welcome! I will also be setting up a Sloop Scoop Facebook group, so if you're a Facebook user, invite me (Schuy Jewell) to be your friend and I'll invite you to join the group. I can only deal with one social networking group at a time, though, so there's no myspace group. It's been a rough winter for the skipper and for everything that I was responsible for beyond my own existence (for starters daily sleeping problems, chest pains, panic attacks, truck sitting with a flat tire and bad brakes for six weeks, a plumbing problem that left me essentially without a sink and shower for three weeks, Cap'n Jack without arthritis medication for weeks . . .). I've thus had some stress-related heart issues that hopefully my recent resignation from my job will help to address. I did finally catch up on the life tasks and I'm starting with the boat tasks because I really need to get out on the boat this summer--it's the best therapy I can think of. We uncovered the boat a couple of weeks ago, and have the usual annual work to get her ready for the water--paint the bottom, wax the hull, clean and inflate the fenders, fix the leak in the dinghy . . .) We also are replacing the forestay and hopefully fixing the tension problem so that the sail will furl right. Gordon and I went to a seminar on rigging and they guy there made me afraid that the forestay was hanging on by a few wires so we took it down to check. It was fine, but it's time for a preemptive replacement anyway, so we'll do it. I'm also replacing the wind instrument so we can actually know what Mother Nature is doing a little better. There are other tasks, I'm updating a list Sailor Mike put together three years ago so make sure we catch it all. Relative to the last few years, it's actually a light list this year, but things do need to get done. And since Gordon is retired and can work on his boat whenever he wants, I need help getting the Sloop ready to go when Isle Marie's ready to go (they have a river travel pact they hate to break). Next weekend I have afternoon plans (Saturday is Columbia graduation and Sunday is Mother's Day brunch) so I'll be down in the mornings, and the following weekends are more open. School is out this week so I may make it down the following week, so if anyone is free in the afternoons or evenings during the week of the 13th-17th, let me know and I may head down then. We hope to head up the river around the 21st or 22nd. By then the water should be over 55 degrees. Since I know you are all excited about helping, we have a variety of tasks, from sewing to cleaning to building to drilling to grinding to cutting to caulking to sanding to oiling to painting to . . . , on materials ranging from rope to cloth to wood to fiberglass to aluminum to stainless steel . . . . You can use existing skills, or gain new ones. The boat yard offers interesting vistas of the Calumet River Industrial area, and (when the wind is blowing in the opposite direction from the landfill), it's a pleasant place to work. It's also a great time to ask questions, since I'm not preoccupied with sailing the boat (yet ; ) ). The boatyard directions are at the end of this post (and I think on the sloop scoop site). Hope to hear from some of you soon, and see the rest of you on the water in 2007! Skipper Schuy/Lisa http://www.jewellgems.com/sloopscoop/index.htm ---- SCHEDULE (many things permitting . . .) ___Saturday 5/12 Morning work. I'll be at the boatyard between 0900 and 1230 hours. Some jobs don't need me there so if you can come late morning and stay after I leave that's fine. ___Sunday 5/13 Morning work. I'll be at the boatyard between 1000 and 1230 hours. ditto about staying late. I may be back later in the afternoon (1600 ish) if anyone is free then. ___Saturday 5/19 Full day of work so let me know when you're available. This will be the push to get the boat in the water on Monday or Tuesday. ___Sunday 5/20 Ditto, but I won't get to the harbor until about 1100 hours. DIRECTIONS (driving) to the boatyard The boat's located at Croissant Marina, approximately S. 142nd St. , just east of Torrence Avenue, in the fenced part of the yard. I usually take the Dan Ryan to the Bishop Ford (used to be Calumet Expy)--the left fork at the end of the Dan Ryan (to stay on I-94, vs. the right fork, which is I-57). I get off at the Dalton exit going east, take Dalton to Torrence (at that point Dalton has become State street), where there is a stoplight (I haven't counted stoplights to that point yet, but it's about a mile from the expressway). Turn left (north) at Torrence and go over the bridge and take your first left at the bottom of the bridge (there should be a sign there for the Waterfront Pub). Take that street (I think it's 143rd) until it hits the gravel lot and bear right around the fenced section. There's a lot by the Waterfront Pub, or drive east (the direction you were driving in the yard) until the opening and turn right into the yard and follow the line of boats along the fence. The stern is facing the road, so you should be able to see the Sloop's location when you're coming in. _______________________________________________ Sloop-Scoop mailing list Sloop-Scoop@lists.jewellgems.com http://lists.jewellgems.com/mailman/listinfo/sloop-scoop