[Sloop Scoop 2007] Preseason #1, May 6 - 20

[Sloop John B]

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
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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.
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