My Yankee ancestors are most assuredly rolling in their graves, at the thought of the Shanty Irisher/Yankee/ Houlihan having made the gut wrenching, guilt driven, duodonal ulcer giving; (a big bleeder) and mind chrunching decision to have Clark Boatyard in Jamestown do the cosmetic work on his sailboat(I did the topside stuff). I feel guilty, because it's the first time in my life that I let a yard do the work. My dad said, " If a guy has a boat, he needs to put sweat equity into it, so he'll enjoy the thing." My dad dropped these little pearls of Yankee wisdom on my addled head over the years.

After a discussion, while he was walking off the ferry, with my old college bud Sylvan Vaicaitis,"I stopped doing mine years ago," he said regarding his sailboat.  I felt less guilty. Peter Gibbons also said things to help  me cross this Rubicon of a decision, while he was waiting in the stand-by lot a few days ago.  " Yeah Joe, the paint fumes, you're on your back." Pete set my ship crossing the Rubicon then and there.

So my boat was hauled, and it will be 97 degrees when the yard begins work at 0800 tomorrow; I made the right decision. Now, I'm capable of doing this kind of work, always did on my other boats, but I'm slowing down a touch. Moreover, I told my bride, "OK baby, I'm 62 now, and can cut myself a little slack." My bright wife agreed. Furthermore, life is a marathon and not a sprint, so I'm learning it's OK to let a yard do the heavy lifting, plus, I need to pace myself to work at the dock, which is showing signs of being a BIG summer.

FYI, all of the vessels you ride aboard in the Interstate fleet, are prepared and maintained by an amazing cast of characters, for whom I have tremendous respect. Hats off to "Bam Bam" Keneway, The Hammer, Team Diggens, Mondo, Josh, Nick, Walter, Dave Jock, Tallyho, Gary Champlin, the Budda and Greg. The work these guys do, make the work I need done on my little boat look like a kitty ride at Disney World.