In Remembrance
Ron Johnson

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Charles Ronald Johnson, 74 years, died August 7, 2009, 10:30 a.m. at home in the arms of his family after a five-year battle with leukemia. He is survived by his wife of 55 years Sammye E. Johnson, four daughters Terri Melton of Georgetown, IN, Debbie Johnson of Dunnellon, FL, Shelly Johnson of Tarpon Springs, FL, Laura Johnson of LaGrange, KY. He had 2 granddaughters and 6 grandsons, 4 great grandchildren.

A man of many talents, he was the author of Death On The Withlacoochee and Murder On The Withlacoochee.

He was the previous owner of Marine Concepts, designer and builder of Sea Pearl and Rob Roy sailboats and previous manager of Lithocraft Printing Company in New Albany, IN. He was an avid sailor, fisherman, kayaker and golfer.

Cards of remembrance can be mailed to 6525 Werner Court, Hernando, FL 34442. Thank You,
Sammye and Family

Sad to hear that. Years ago, Ron used to exhibit the Sea Pearl at the Annapolis Sailboat Show, and it was a pleasure to talk to him there.

— Ron Eike

I bought my first Sea Pearl, "Black Pearl" from Ron. It was the factory demo boat and, though some years old at the time, had never been titled. I don't think Ron really wanted to part with it but I talked him out of it, noting that it had everything on it that I wanted, which was everything. Being the demo boat, every time some improvement was made, it was made to Black Pearl. Black Pearl was famous too, having been written up in a book about beach cruising. I sailed it for a few years and sold it. After several years I repented of my sinful error and tried to buy it back but couldn't. In fact Black Pearl was now so run down by the new owner that I didn't want it back. So Jim Leet built Shadow, my newer Sea Pearl. Several years ago Jim brought Black Pearl, all fixed up and looking beautiful, to the Cedar Key event. I was proud and happy to sail Shadow, my new boat, alongside Black Pearl, my old boat, with Ron Johnson at the tiller of his old factory demo boat. It may have been the last time Ron sailed a Sea Pearl and how appropriate that he do it in that boat! Ron took up writing in retirement, penning two mysteries, Death on the Withlacoochee and Murder on the Withlacoochee. Knowing I was a writer and editor, he sent his first manuscript to me for review. I offered only a few suggestions, he was pretty good already with the words. You can buy those books at Amazon.com

— Steve Morrill, Tampa, Florida

I bought my Sea Pearl 21 (#189) at the Michigan City, IN boat show in August 1986 from Don Pollard of Pollard's Landing, Muskegon, MI when the boats were sold through dealerships. Don had only the highest regard for Ron, his boats and his organization. A couple years later, while vacationing in FL, my wife and I visited the factory in Tarpon Springs and were graciously welcomed by Ron and Sammye. He was in the process of preparing SeaPearl 28 hull #1 for delivery. I was interested in a rear bimini, so he put me in a 21, measured my height off the seat and politely told me I was too tall. Too tall Paul was not able to make that purchase, but that's the kind of businessman Ron was. My only other contact was to call him a few years later to ask what I could do about my tiller which delaminated. He sent me a new one at no charge!

— Paul Budinger, Downers Grove, Illinois

Ron rented a Sea Pearl to my wife and me 25 years ago while we were vacationing in Florida. He was very generous with his time and his boat. He gave us a tour of his facility in Tarpon Springs, and showed us the models he was working on. It was a real pleasure to visit with him. He made great products: Sea Pearl, Rob Roy, and others. It is sad to learn that he has passed.

— Bob Williams

I met Ron at the Miami Boat Show some time in the late eighties, he was promoting the Sea Pearl Tri and I remember commenting on it's similarity to my Aquadyne Sailbird. Of course he laughed and little could I have guessed the adventure that would lie ahead of me at the helm of one of his humble little boats. Later, at the 22nd Dunedin Cup, I was able to share my experiences in the Everglades Challenge with him and the pride in the ability of his boat was a joy to see. Fair winds Ron,

— Dave Combs

Billy and I have a lot of fond memories of Ron and Sammie going to Cedar Key with Ruben Trane. We would bring all the HENS from Miami and Ron would gather all the Sea Pearlers. It was quite a nice sight to see. We will always remember the fun times we had sailing around Cedar Key. Glad Ron Hoddinot and Jim are still holding this event.

— Billy and Joyce Van Deusen

Sad to hear the News about Ron. I met Ron at a Milwaukee area boat show in '89 or '90. We had a long conversation about how we loved sailing in general and, in particular, how much I loved the slightly used Rob Roy 23 I had recently purchased from Pollard's Landing in Michigan. I really appreciated the time Ron spent with me. The many years of sailing pleasure I have experienced in "More Beyond", our Rob Roy 23, is a testimony to the quality that he built into the boat. She is equally at home on Lake Michigan or the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Not a season goes by at the Marina where we stay that More Beyond doesn't get a load of complements from other sailors and the question who built her? Clearly Ron understood the water, loved sailing, and was able to translate that understanding into reality.

Bob and Diana Carrick, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

My parents moved from PA to Clearwater, FL in 1979, about the time I was looking to upgrade my boat from a 12' sailing/rowing dinghy to something that could accommodate 3 to 4 people and be faster and more fun to sail. I wanted a boat that wouldn't need an engine, as I planned to keep it on a mooring. It also had to be easily trailerable by a small car, as I needed to bring it home at season's end for winter storage. I eventually saw the review of the Sea Pearl 21 in the old Small Boat Journal and immediately knew that boat was going to fit my needs better than anything else then on the market. I visited Ron's factory down in Clearwater in the summer of 1982, and that fall contracted with Ed Rogers in CT for a Pearl with a lug rig. Received hull # 42 in April of 1983 and happily sailed it until 1995, when I sold it and bought a new Sea Pearl Tri direct from Ron. Along the way I had acquired the Marconi rig, and also retrofitted her with ballast tanks.

As I was still keeping the boat on a mooring, for the Tri I worked with Ron to figure out how to add a hard cabin to the boat, as well as a lot of other small modifications and additions that I wanted. Ron based the design on the molds for the cabin of his Rob Roy 23, and it worked out really well. I worked very closely with Ron during the design phase of this project, and we became friends and occasional golf partners if I was down in Clearwater visiting the parents. Took delivery of Hull # 3 in July of 1995 and had a lot of fun sailing it. I believe it is the only one that was ever built with a hard top.

In 2001 I stumbled into Chinese dragon boat racing, and by 2003 I was addicted. Having practices Sat & Sun mornings, and Tue & Thur evenings plus race weekends from Washington, DC to NYC to Toronto and Montreal left little little time for sailing, so I shipped the Tri down to Jim in 2003 and he sold it for me.

But I still kept in contact with Ron. In 2006 I drove down to Tampa for the US Dragon Boat Nationals, and stopped in to a few days visit with Ron and Sammye on the trip back north. Got to play some golf with Ron, and paddle the Withlacoochee up to Blue Spring, and also eat catfish at Stumpknocker's. In 2007 I was at a dragon boat/ OC-1 camp in Tarpon Springs, and got to have lunch with Ron and Sammye again. I had enjoyed both of his books, and he gave me the first chapter of a new one he was working on. This one was about sailing, as opposed to the river, and I am sorry that I will never get to read the whole story.

To Sammye and the entire family, I send my deepest condolences. Ron was a man of many talents, and I am truly glad that I not only had the pleasure of owning 2 of his boats, but of also getting to know the man behind the boats. He helped make the world a little better place, and he will be missed.

—David Hermanns, Staten Island, New York

I met Ron Johnson shortly after I discovered the SeaPearl 21. I was ready to sell my Catalina 27 and get a boat that could really go somewhere. A friend at the yacht club took me for a sail aboard his SeaPearl 21, Magic Pearl. It was a gusty day on Boca Ciega Bay, and with the water ballast in the boat we blew across the bay faster than I could do in my Catalina! I knew that I'd found my boat.

At the boat shop in Tarpon Springs, Ron Johnson helped me decide what I needed in the boat, and Whisper was the result. For the first few years of ownership, whenever I had a problem or a question about the boat, Ron was eager to help solve the problem for me. He was so kind, and friendly to all of us. He will truly be missed.

I've owned Whisper now for 13 years, and cannot imagine ever selling her for any other boat. Ron's dream of creating the perfect Florida sailboat has made it possible for all of the "Pearlers" to savor the joys of true shallow water sailing.

—Ron Hoddinott, St. Petersburg, Florida

I met Ron and Sammye shortly after we purchased our Magic Pearl and brought her over to the plant to add ballast tanks. From then on we were members of Fleet #1. You didn't do business with Ron - You joined a family. Sammey would call and say "Hey we're sailing to Anclote Key this weekend - wanna come?" And we'd go whenever we could along with dozens of others. Wonderful times. His work continues to bring great happiness to so many - He will be missed.

— Matt Maloy, Dunedin Florida

After buying a used Pearl, probably about 1989, I met Ron and Sammye when I took the boat to Ron to have teak added. The resulting friendship from these wonderful people will always stand out in my mind. The fun had at the Sea Pearl Nationals and the adventure experienced at the other gatherings provide fond memories.

After selling Indigo to move to a larger boat I always missed not only the boat but the Johnsons as well. I came back and purchased a trimaran and kept that for several years. Unfortunately, I am now boatless. Time does not allow for golf, boating, and business. Hopefully, some day I can return to the simplicity of the Sea Pearl Life.

To Sammye, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

—Michael Phillips, Greensboro, North Carolina