e16@telus.net writes: >3) they are expanding distribution in the US as fast as they can And there is a tiny little maple leaf engraved on the head of each and everyone of their fasteners. Chimo - George of Scaramouche, Canada of course! BGN

arider@bellsouth.net writes: >WHERE IS THE FUN ??? Bob, I thought about it, especially considering I frequently had been on the receiving end of that "discipline" in an earlier life. But the person asking the question is obviously so new and green, that we might easily scare him off list and perhaps even off trawler-crawling. Be this our first act of kindness this year.....George

JKG97@prodigy.net writes: > I'm reading good things, on other boat lists, about using "303 >Protectant" Our Local "little old sailmaker" who repairs a lot of flexible windows on Dodgers, Biminis and enclosures, swears by "303" to protect that flexible "glass" from UV and scratching. Mine are 3-4 years young now and look like new. George of Scaramouche who has no connection to "303" but listens to the advise of our "little old sailmaker".

alexh@gte.net writes: >Several years ago we would special >order 5 gallon pails of white oil from Van Waters & Rogers (biggest >industrial solvent distributor in our area and may be nationwide) >which we >then sold to a local massage parlor. But did they give you a trade courtesy discount then??? Seriously though, Alex, you seem to know about these things. How does this white oil compare to the "highly refined" Paraffin Oil that I use in my oil lamps. NOT the scented, coloured cheap stuff which is Kerosene and makes your eyes water and your throat choke; what I'm referring to is clear, odourless and burns without any fumes. Smells like candles burning. It's more expensive than ordinary lamp oil. I use it quite a bit and it's readily available in 1 liter containers at local home/hardware stores. It looks, feels and tastes like "baby oil"... George of Scaramouche, Lake Ontario - Canada

Mob1248@aol.com writes: >Where can we buy 303? > >Matt What's your geographical location? I can advise you for access in my country only.... George of Scaramouche, Canada P.s: 303 is NOT the same as "Armorall", even though it looks/smells/feels alike. 303 has UV protection.

>bhall@bcpl.net writes: >Would we be just as well served if we use a fresh >> high-grade kerosene? Brian, Kerosene and Paraffin are two completely different substances. We're comparing apples and oranges, stink or no stink. I prefer to pay the extra dollar per liter for Paraffin Oil and have comfortable, non-irritating air inside my boat- exactly as if I'd be burning candles. On top of that: Paraffin produces a little more light and warmth from the same lamp with the same amount of fuel. (subjective) On your concern about shelf storage, I noted the opposite. It's the Kerosene that collects dust. The stores I go to frequently run out of Paraffin Oil. Seems those of us who have tried Paraffin never go back to Kerosene. "Non-stinkingly" yours, George of Scaramouche, wintering in Lake Ontario, Canada P.s: My oil lamps are lit almost every evening for their ambience enhancement. Scaramouche is comfortably equipped with electricity - both A/C and D/C - for reading, working etc.

Richter-Pooh@rocketmail.com writes: >a high-quality floating >polypropylene line for dinghy painters and such. It >has much finer fibers than the usual cheap poly line, >and holds up in sunlight much better. Mark, our marina store sells a floating line which is polypropylene inside with a covering of braided polyester(?) outside (red or orange). The outer shell protects it from sunlight. Don't know what it's called but works. Coils and runs just like ordinary braided line. Canadian law requires that one carries 50 ft of floating line with a suitable throwing device attached. Many of us use that line -looks good and lasts many seasons. George of Scaramouche, he of no splinters...

mike@mikeandmonica.com writes: >If you want HTML support, please reply to this message and say >"yes". I don't want HTML and I say NO! I can read and write plain text, have so for years and decades on mainframes and micros - why do you/ I need HTML??? George of Scaramouche

Hi Zeke, The stop solenoid on my Ford Lehman became intermittent last year and your (awe inspiring) hand actuation trick worked until I found time to operate. Investigation finally revealed too large a voltage drop through the coil alone. Out of curiosity, expecting a corroded wire, I started unwinding the coil. The wire looked fine until the last inch where it is simply stuck into a small hole drilled into the iron core (armature) of the solenoid. I cut a half-inch off the end of the wire and scraped the varnish from an additional half-inch. After cleaning the small hole I flattened the end of the wire slightly with hammer blows so that it would conform to the side of the hole. Once the wire end was inserted I wedged it against the side of the hole by driving in a round pin. I filled the remaining space with varnish. I had wrapped the wire on a large coffee can as I unwound it from the coil. To rewind, I found I could mount the rotary axis of the armature on the spindle of a discarded electric can opener, which I rigged with a foot switch. Some careful level winding by hand finished the job. It has worked fine since. Bottom line: if you are not a mechanic/machinist, buy a new one. Jerry O'Neill GB32 Adventure Annapolis, MD

An acquaintance of mine got one of these prisms and tried what you're doing - installing it upside down. He says it had no effect until he turned it over with the pointy end down. If I had access to deckprisms, I'd install them off center on the ceiling so the pointy end and my cranium would be well separated from each other. However last time I cut a hole in my ceiling (for a woodburning fireplace chimney), I had to go through several inches of empty space between inner liner and the deck. So prisms probably wouldn't work on my boat anyway. Just have to be contended to sit in the warm glow of a real open wood flame - tough life, eh? George, irascible mossback on Lake Ontario