(Part 1 of a multi part series)

Since Mark got out of the big house, he has been out of control, pathetically so. Anchor Marina has been up for sale, and Mark says he is going to Panama, where they have no extradition charges for crimes like the ones he insists on continuing to commit.

Island Time Jim called and furtively whispered into the phone:

“Hey is that your San Juan moored next to where Olivia used to be?”

“Naaaaaahhhh" I said, "my SJ is a 23 and it’s over there on Don’s dock, across the street from the Yacht Club. That San Juan is a 28, and the guy that owned it bailed, went to Louisiana never paid slip rent. When he finally did, the check bounced. Jean filed the paper work, and Anchor got the title.”

“Ahhhh, allright : Jim said, “cause Mark wants to sell it to me for 500 bucks. Apparently the deal on the marina is about to close next week, and he’s starting to sell stuff off”

I thought about it for a second and replied; “Well, there’s a pretty late model radar, and a chart plotter and lots of other stuff aboard that might make it worth it….lots of blocks and things and there’s the roller furling. I think the engine even ran when he put it away a couple of years ago. Hell, I’d be interested in the thing for the right price.”

“Well” Jim said, “I might wait till he gets down to three fifty or so and maybe talk to him about it then, maybe fix it up, flip this boat…” his voice trailed off. “He’ll just turn the money into dope anyway.”

“Let me know I said”, already envisioning the JRC radar and Lowrance chart plotter adorning ‘Divs recently upgraded pilot station.

The next day Jim called and said that Mark was down to $350 dollars, but I held my breath knowing that like the Dow Jones, it would probably sink a bit further, then I could get a deal that was beyond unbelievable.

The following day, Jim called and said that he had scored some pretty righteous stuff from Marks old office, a big old Persian rug and a couple of other items for a really sweet deal. He said that Mark was around, and hungry to deal. It was a good time to catch him since he was out of money, and was itching to see the candy man.

Jim had decided against the San Juan, owing to the fact that it was just too much work to tackle to make right. The interior was a wreck, and to put it back into shape was more than he wanted to do. So that left it open for me. I didn’t want it either, although someone with patience could’ve probably put it back together, but like a lot of sailors, I’ve had my share of projects and have sworn off of that sort of thing for life….

So I sent D over there to act as my emissary  to try and work up a pluinderin’ contract as it were.

She agreed to do it, but only on the condition that she buy the gigantic two hundred pound solid oak table and chairs, with three leaves that was reposing in Mark’s old office. A table so huge that it could seat the entire royal family and their attending entourage. Of course, I agreed. My mind was keyed in on the radar….

And Mark was hungry. Real hungry.

So hungry in fact that in the end, he agreed to $100 dollars for the boat, lock, stock and radar. Yes you’re reading this right, one hundred dollars, title included.

Ahhh, but as it turns out we were a bit short, so he settled for eighty dollars, cash.

So Mark immediately called his connection, Jack, who immediately rushed off to the white house on the corner of Tarpon street, which has now become the community poison hole, and when he returned Mark immediately rushed upstairs and sequestered himself in his bedroom, and needless to say, I immediately bailed from my phony-baloney administrators job (which by the way I probably am a “short timer” at by time you read this…..perhaps I will soon be a man of leisure, but that’s another story), and headed over to the thing with tool bag in hand intent on plundering errrr I mean salvaging many valuable parts.

By the end of the day, my utility trailer was loaded down with the radar and chartplotter (of course….those were the very first items off), several self tailing two speed Barient winches, a brand new fully battened mainsail, the bimini, a dozen or so blocks, the single hand bridge from the coachroof, five West Marine stainless steel fishing rod holders just to name a few things.

Mark had already sold the Barbeque from the aft rail.

The nerve of that guy.

I have since returned for the headsail (also brand new), the roller furling and many other items. And I’m not done yet. I have an offer for the engine, a single cylinder Yanmar. I figure about five hundred bucks ought to do the trick. I understand that the perspective buyer will do the removal himself. That’s fine with me, but I probably will monitor him rather closely during the process, as there’s still a lot of good stuff aboard

I don’t want to get ripped off.

(Part 2 Next. Yep. There’s still a lot to go!)