r.buchner@worldnet.att.net writes: >To facilitate easy change of engine V-belt I pre-position a spare >belt = >to the front of the engine when changing belts or doing other >routine = >maint. Run the hoses through the spare belt as required for normal = >installation but tie spare clear of rotating service belt and >pulleys. = That's got to be one of the better suggestions. I shall do this on my next maintenance. Thanks, George of Scaramouche.

arider@bellsouth.net writes: >Ever heard of a noncontact thermometer? Well I haven't until I >found it at >NAPA. >It is made by Raytek. You use a built in laser to aim it and it >instantly >tells you the temperature of the object by measuring the surface >temp using >infrared thermometers. The nurses at our local hospital use something like ti. A device held into your ear gives instant body temp reading. The probe actually doesn't touch anything - it's just aimed at th inner ear. Works very well.

rmcleran@ix.netcom.com writes: >Any suggestions as to what I might be able to do to keep the fittings >from loosening? I'm applying about all the pressure I can with a >wrench. I had good success with a drop of "Loctite" on the threads. But be careful: there are different types of Loctite available. Choose the one suitable for the fuel you are using and don't get any Loctite inside the fittings. It is for the thread only! George of Scaramouche

pgslo@juno.com writes: > I should have >said, "1000 gallons of fuel weighs about 7,300 pounds. That is a >lot of >weight to distribute around the hull." 6000 or 7300 lbs still leaves me with the impression of a possible large imbalance. What are you going to do when you eventually go for that long ocean cruise and one by one your tanks run dry (as was your plan). How do you propose to compensate then for the imbalance, perhaps in the middle of the North Atlantic? Will you fill the empty tanks with salt water or stay unbalasted and bounce around like a cork in a bathtub?

hal@halwyman.com writes: >This is more than academic, as some time ago I was maneuvering >a powerboat within a marina in a fairly narrow fairway, when a kayak >attempted to cross my bow port to starboard. Must have been a cousin of the kayak that crossed my bow starboard to port in a real narrow channel. Seems to me two rules would apply here: 1) The less maneuverable vessel is the standon vessel; and let me tell you, from an ex-white water kayak racer, kayaks are probably the most maneuverable conveyances on the water! 2) Second rule is (tongue in cheek) "Might over right". In any case your "panic-stop" looks good on you and follows the rule of: ...must do everything possible to avoid a collision...

mknott@bcpl.net writes: > Many boaters are >knowledgeable, but you don't know which ones they are and you can't >trust >anyone. I get a little bit of comfort from boaters that display the Power Squadron Burgee. You can't get it unless you are a member of the CPS and you can't become a member unless you have successfully completed the basic boating course. Those flying the CPS Burgee may not be the greatest sailors yet, but at least they have learned the rules of the road (The course is intense, but - like the Hong Kong Harbour course described elsewhere -purely theorie). My 2 bits worth - George of Scaramouche, Lake Ontario, Canada.

blewis@oz.net writes: >BTW, Tristan Jones passed away in Thailand a few years ago. His >books were >great reading They still are. I am presently halfway through "A Star to Steer Her By" and enjoying it very much! George of Scaramouche, Lake Ontario, Canada

Hello List, I just read Practical Sailor's PocketMail field test on the Sharp TM-20 and the BackFlip/Palm III and would like to obtain one or the other system for myself. If it's not too much of a bother, could someone who actually used it tell me about their experience with PocketMail. I would love to hear from anyone who is or was using the system. Since I live on my boat on Lake Ontario, Canada (near Toronto), I would of course dearly like to hear from anyone in that neighbourhood. TIA - George of Scaramouche

tom@clements.net writes: >I use one and my experience has been good. They now cover the U.S. >and >Canada with toll-free numbers. You can use any wired phone or an >analog >cell phone. Tks for your input. I take it, you're using the Sharp TM-20?

spike@starrstuff.com writes: >We are high above Lake Simcoe and >getting a good enough signal for email on the cell phone. I am collecting info on e-mail (PocketMail) in particular including via cellphones. Could you give me some details on your setup, please. Especially your experiences in Canada: Hardware, Software, ISP? TIA - George of Scaramouche, Lake Ontario, Canada P.s: I don't do www stuff, e-mail only.