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[Gordon Laco]

Well here's another;  I may have already told this one....

Back in the wooden boat days, the same fellow and I decided one weekend to
sail from Toronto to Niagara, about a 30 odd mile crossing.  We set off in a
spanking breeze, only to discover that once well out into 'the void', we
discovered the boat was leaking.   We took turns at the pump and found we
could keep ahead of the leak but only by concentrated effort.  It was
exhausting.    While my crew was taking his turn pumping, I'd go down into
the cabin and lift the floorboards to look for the source of the water (so I
claimed)  what I was actually doing was adjusting the flow of water into the
boat through a sea cock I opened or closed in order to modulate the level of
anxiety my crew was experiencing.  He never noticed that the water seemed to
come in more slowly when it was my turn at the pump.

Finally the far shore of the lake hove into sight.  Our happiness was
hampered by a sudden increase in the rate of the leak...  Pumping was
accordingly increased to a near frantic rate.

Then, when both of us were required to hand the sails in preparation to
enter Gillingham's Marina in the mouth of the river, paradoxically the leak
stopped.  My crew by this time smelled a rat and I was exposed. He took the
joke well until I pointed out the health benefits of four hours hard
labour....

We're still friends.

Gord #426


On 31/01/13 10:37 AM, "George Dinwiddie" <gdinwiddie at alberg30.org> wrote:

> Gord,
> 
> On 1/30/13 3:52 PM, Gordon Laco wrote:
>> And all this of course reminds me of the Three Stooges episode where they're
>> outfitting a boat - anybody else remember that one?  One of the best.... It
>> probably scarred my sense of humour for life, to the detriment of friends
>> who sometimes sail with me.
>> 
>> Like the first time a chum sailed who was a regular in the Folkboat sailed
>> with me in SURPRISE after I'd bought her.   I gave him a big build-up about
>> how much more comfortable the bunks are in the A30 compared to the
>> coffin-like accomms in the wooden boat.   Before he arrived I placed two 1"
>> square by 12" long pieces of wood under his future bunks mattress about
>> where his shoulder and hips would be.   He lasted two nights before he
>> commented on the great discomfort.  He was so polite and apologetic when he
>> finally said something I almost regretted what I'd done to him.  When I
>> showed him what I'd done, he threw me overboard after a long chase around
>> the boat followed by quite a struggle.  I was laughing so hard I could
>> hardly defend myself.
> 
> That made me laugh out loud when I read it. Must be related to my love
> of the Three Stooges as a kid.
> 
>   - George



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