Ron passed August 7th from Leukemia. You can leave remembrances at the Marine Concepts website.
Ron designed and built the Sea Pearls in Tarpon Springs Fl. I met him after bringing our Magic Pearl in for ballast tanks. From then on we were members of Fleet #1. It was not unusual to get a call from him or Sammye to go sailing to Anclote Key along with a dozen or so other boats - wonderful times. You didn't do business with Ron - you joined a family. Ron brought so much joy to the world through his work and influenced so many in so many ways. He will be greatly missed. Matt
(I know this is a bit off topic but many Compac owners were Sea Pearlers and I thought you would want to know.)
I never met Ron Johnson but did own a 1986 SeaPearl 21 with centerboard. I loved that boat...it could sail anywhere a canoe could. It was an unusual boat but then again, I'm an unusual person so we seemed to get along just fine.
I'm sure another one is in my future. I believe they are built not too far from where our beloved Compacs are born.
Bob23
Bob,
Yes that's right. Compacs are built in a non descript warehouse/manufacturing park in Clearwater and Marine Concepts is just north of them a few miles on the Anclote River just across from the sponge docks. When we go to Tarpon Springs we buy shrimp off the boat at a sea food company a few blocks away. We always seem to get "lost" and end up at Marine Concepts to drool over the boats in the yard. Sea Pearls and Compacs share a similar history in that they are both designed and built locally for our shallow waters. When Ron built the Rob Roy the design evolved into the line of Nimble Boats - another company that started in Clearwater but is now in central Fl somewhere. All good designs and well built for their purpose. I don't think Ron built many center boarders. Matt