When I lived in the PNW, I heard that there was a final use for used zincs. If you put them in your woodstove they would gradually "combust" and send zinc particles up the chimney which would then cause creosote to detach from its collection points. I tried it but was never sure if any good was resulting. Now I see there are "Chimney Sweep" logs for sale that purport to send metallic particles up the chimney to do the same. Makes me wonder if it's the same principle and does it work? Anyone else familiar with this? Zeke Anderson, with two woodstoves and a fireplace Kerrville, TX

Zeke: If you get any off-list answers, please copy me (or the list). I am very interested because I have two fireplaces in the house, and a fireplace/stove in the boat. Cost of a chimney sweep is $80 compared to $20 for one of those logs. I tried one last year in the house fireplace but have no idea whether it did any good or not. A fellow boater who used to be a part-time sweep doesn't think much of the logs but that's not surprising since he belongs to the 'guild of sweeps'. A bit like asking a medical doctor about cures using herbs and food supplements. One thing I learned from the ex-sweep is that what ever comes down the chimney tends to get trapped behind the damper-flapper and must be removed with a vacuum or risk a fire. Bit of a dirty job and apparently not always done by your average door-to-door sweep..... This would apply whether it's brushed down soot, creosote or mineral flakes from those logs or material from burning zinc. > George of Scaramouche1, wintering Lake Ontario, Canada >If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space.

In my lazarette is one fairly large and heavy lead ingot. I realize it was placed there to offset some weight in a different part of the boat. My question is how did someone arrive at the decision that this ingot needed to be placed there? Or a better question: How does one go about making sure their trawler is weigthed properly and not heavy on one side or the front or back? Dan 37 Roughwater "Wen I Dream" ===== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/