To those who owned Sea Pearls Ron Johnson has passed

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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.)

[Bob23]

   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

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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