paulkruse@cfl.rr.com writes: >I have actually shaved my face >with on that is about Rockwell C62 in hardness Paul, for us hardness challenged boaters, would you, could you give us a small table explaining what hardness numbers to look for in let's say a rigging knife, diving knife, steak knife, a knife that can open tin-cans and split wood. As I said, I and probably a few others are "challenged" in this department and would love some enlightenment. Oh, yes, are there any easy tests that a laymen can use to approximate the hardness of a given piece of knife steel. Something like assayers used to use on minerals i.e. "this substance will scratch that one but not another one etc..." Looking forward to your reply - George of Scaramouche

e16@telus.net writes: > Literally. It was absolutely skewered and perfectly balanced on the >pinnacle. At low tide, one could see more than 65' of boat several >feet >clear of the water atop a miniscule "mount". Looked like a full-size >trophy! I hope you or someone else took a good picture or two. If so, could I please get a copy (as a JPEG attachment perhaps). If no-one there has a scanner, send me a print, I'll scan it and return all of it to you. My snail-mail address is 1295 Wharf Street, Pickering Ont, L1W 1A2 Canada TIA - George Geist P.s: We too have a "John's Rock" close by, however no one has ever seen it since there are no tides (Some have felt the rock however).

billberg@worldnet.att.net writes: >but >would appreciate any help or suggestions??? I have been told first hand to use regular mayonnaise for old masking tape removal. Leave on over-night. Apparently the vinegar/oil combination is the active ingredient and the gooey part keeps it all in place to give time for the magic to work. I realize plastic lettering may use a different glue, but what have you got to lose? Try mayonnaise and let us know if it worked for you. George of Scaramouche

I have been musing and measuring all winter over just such a project and have this idea: Get the largest Minncota electric trolling motor (about 60 lbs thrust), install it on the stern transom and put two dedicated size 31 deep-cycles plus a separate charger under the cockpit floor. A long-shaft Minncota can be pulled up to clear the water completely and when not in use, I could use the extra batteriepower with a suitable inverter to power "comfort' appliances outside in the cockpit (toaster, coffeemaker, boombox etc). This setup would have an additional advantage: Since I have a single diesel with its inherent difficult reverse maneuverability, I would have a small "maneuvering thruster" (star-trek terminology) to help me docking and undocking. Along with a set of diodes (from the engine alternator), one-two switch, gauges and wiring, I think I could get all of this done for under $1000.- Cdn. Any comments for/against - George of Scaramouche I calculate that I could drive my 27 ft boat for about 6 hours with such a setup - enough to reach shore somewhere on Lake Ontario.

capnrich31@home.com writes: >But mainly this hose has remained >odor impermeable over 21 years while the white plastic holding tank >hose is >such a bitch to work with, leaks at the joints, and worst is >permeable to >odor. Don't know about 21 years, but 3 years ago I bought some "odour impermeable" hose from my local marine store. It was a bit tough to get it over the barbs until I started softening it with an electric space heater. There are two types of septic hose, one is quite thin-walled with a wire reinforcement and relatively inexpensive (that's what was in the boat and it reaked). The other, also white is heavy walled and sinfully expensive. This is the type I'm using and sofar - no odour, no leaks and I am a liveaboard. There was an extensive comparison on this subject in Practical Sailor a few months ago. You might find that interesting reading. Inodourously - George of Scaramouche

branchkw@bellsouth.net writes: > She does not get sea sick but >suffers greatly once she is back on land, and it lasts for several >days. >She would like to know if any one else suffers from this and what if >any >thing they are doing about it That's actually quite common and the only known remedy is to stay on board after the voyage for several days, tied to the dock and sending the captain out for grub and rum (or whatever). Works for me ;-) George

Thanks Larry, You just answered my question by saying that a 25lbs MinnKota does what your 2Hp outboard used to do. That's a good enough answer for me. I shall get one of those 25 lbs e-motors for my dinghy now (I have an old 2 Hp Yamaha on it that is very temperamental- probably early senility, all that aluminium ;-). Thanks again - George of Scaramouche

bvcom@mac.com writes: >Does the emergency bottle to fix a flat tire works? I never tried it but heard from many boaters that is a good fix - beware though you need many cans to cover the whole inside of a rubber dinghy.

>Joe & Margaret I bought my current boat with the inheritance from my godmother. Her name was "ANNA GEIST". Thoght it would be appropriate to rename the boat in my godmother's honour "ANNA G". This would be pronounced "anna-gee". Tried this on some of my friends and they thought I was calling my boat "ANARCHY". This might reflect the usual state of affairs on board but was not what I intended. So, for the time being, I left her with the previous name (Scaramouche1). Moral: Sound out a new boat name and try it on your friends BEFORE you commit. (Cost of a name change for a registered boat in Canada is $300.- plus the cost of the search for duplicate names - about $60.- , I think) George of Scaramouche, Lake Ontario - Canada

#245 > >in a pint bottle for about $4. Thanks Larry, must check this out. At $4 a pint that's less than $20 for a "Gin Bottle" (however much that is? We here in Canada don't drink too much Gin - Rum is our preferred beverage and it comes in 40 oz bottles. Now where is that darn calculator?) George of Scaramouche, Lake Ontario, Canada P.s: Yes, we have Walmart stores up here in snow-shoe country.... Very civilized and our "greeters" even wipe the slush from our mukluks....