Southern by Gina Godfrey
S
ome say “April showers bring They motored all the way to Hampton happened that she flirted a little too May flowers.” I say, “April much with a guy named “Ozone” who, where Gaston dropped everything he haul-out keeps my boat afloat.” was doing (helping ralliers prepare for as luck would dictate, was his trusted While the snowbird migratory diesel mechanic. The result: my friend the Caribbean 1500), and gave the return to the Chesapeake member his private slip. He then took sent her packing. When asked why, for the summer months has care of the gooseneck and other rehis response was, “Hey, I can find a begun, farmers are planting pairs and brought in local sail experts girlfriend anywhere. Try finding a their crops, and suburban from Doyle Sails to take care of the good diesel mechanic.” homeowners are prunWe really lucked out when a friend sail problems. ing their rose bushes, the Gaston also introduced us to the from Havre de Grace gave me the cruisers of the Chesapeake Cobb Family on Little Creek in Norname of Gaston Saada, proprietor of are harvesting their winter folk. The Cobbs have been running Tidewater Marine Services, located supply of West Marine a full-service quality marina for 50 at Sunset Creek Marina in Hampcoupons to help offset the ton, where he has two floating docks years, and we’ve had our boat hauled costs of varnish, sandpa- available for servicing. Gaston had there for 10 of them. The daughter of per, bottom paint, comthe original owners (who have passed replaced a broken stay for him while pound and wax, contractors, on the way south for the winter, thus away since we had the pleasure of and all the other expenses rescuing him to continue his southern meeting them), Peggy Cobb, runs the required for the spring haul-out. place, and her grandchildren do the migration. Gaston’s sailing experiFinding a contractor who specializes ence goes back to his teenage years as sanding, waxing, and whatever else in anything you may need is a cinch needs to be done. The Cobbs make a member of a sailing club along the on the Northern you feel like you Bay. However, “When asked why he sent her packing, my friend’s are part of the there are slim family. response was, “Hey, I can find a girlfriend anypickin’s on the As well as where. Try finding a good diesel mechanic.” Southern Bay. helping locals Just compare the like us and yellow page ads! Our first liveaboard transient snowbirds, Gaston and shores of the Mediterranean Sea. A summer here, with two children, two Mounts make themselves available for graduate of the Israeli Naval Acadadults, and two dogs, the air conthe Caribbean 1500. Cruisers know emy, he had years of service in the ditioning unit stopped working on who to call if they need help when in Israeli Navy before making his way one of those muggy July, 105-degree Hampton Roads. Gaston has become to Hampton Roads in 1987. While days. I could not find a single marine an advisor and rigger extraordinaire to Gaston is a “Jack of all trades,” his contractor who knew anything about hundreds of cruisers on the Southern specialty is rigging. reverse cycle heat pumps. Even the Bay. If he can’t fix it, he’ll find someGaston was a godsend for sure. dock master couldn’t give me a name. one trustworthy who can. He introduced us to Rick Mounts I ended up calling a guy who does So there you have it—it helps to (nicknamed Dr. Diesel) of Hampton home air conditioning to come down befriend those in the trade. Let’s get Marine Services. Mounts learned his to the boat, and he fixed it for 50 the Gina Marie hauled, serviced, and trade while in the U.S. Air Force’s bucks. back in the water for another season Marine Branch when assigned in So what about diesel mechanics? Florida to maintain the diesel engines of cruising on our beautiful Bay! Ha! I was so desperate that first year, I of a fleet of 65-foot, aluminum-hulled About the Author: A cruiser for more called Harvey Smith, who serviced our Chris-Crafts. than 30 years and a veteran liveaboard, engine when we lived aboard in AnJoan Conover, a trans-Atlantic Gina grew up on the Chesapeake Bay. napolis. I honestly offered to put him cruiser herself, serves as cruising staand his wife in a hotel in Hampton if tion host and Chesapeake Bay contact Her Pearson 385 Gina Marie has been on the hook in just about every gunk only he would come down here and for the Seven Seas Cruising Associahole from Chesapeake City to Pungo. service my engine. That should give tion. In referring to Gaston, Conover Her cookbook, The Galley Queen, was you an idea how far some folks will says, “Our goal is to help the cruising published in 2003. Send Southern Bay go for a good diesel mechanic. At the membership, and as host, I make arstory ideas to TheGinaMarie@aol.com. extreme of this, an old sailing friend rangements for assistance. Recently, a of mine in Miami had his girlfriend member’s boat cruising south for the living onboard with him. It just so winter had rigging and sail problems.
42 April 2009 SpinSheet
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