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I had done some homework, and when I read what Larry Brown said about the Fox, I was hooked. I'd never seen one, though, but liked the simplicity. I found one in the sailboat trader, and after several conversations, made an offer contingent on inspection. I was in western Kentucky, and the boat was in West Palm Beach, so a road trip was called for.
The boat was as advertised, and I headed north, with side trips to Ocala and Jacksonville. The excitement came just across the Georgia line, when I stopped for gas, and saw smoke coming from the right side of the trailer. The smoke was from the tire rubbing against the trailer after the hub broke. This was interesting, as I saw the bearings being packed when I picked the boat up.
This was on a Saturday, at a busy service station. When I told the guys at the station about it, they told me to move the boat away from the pumps, and that they'd help me between customers. They sent me up the road about 20 miles for parts, and then sent me to a local place which had fresh home cooked vegetables, and the best fried mullet I've ever had. When I left that place, my belly was full and the trailer was ready. I think they charged me thirty bucks or so, and i lost maybe four hours. It would have cost me far more than that to stay over in a motel and feed the two middle school heathens in my crew.
I went back there a year or so later, to gas up and thank them again for how well they had treated me. the station was closed, and a fruit stand was on the lot. the people at the stand didn't know anything about the people from the station, so i didn't get to thank them again. But I'll never forget how well they treated this stranger with the sailboat.
"BOB" is at her dock now- I just checked on her. She is fine, and with luck, we'll sail again today, the latest small voyage in a long friendship.
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