October 21

Having completed a few major projects and somewhat at sea (a little nautical lingo used by dirt dwellers) for proceeding with next, retired to breakfast after luring Ray, knowledge repository for all things boat, to join me.

Background for conundrum: Bonding comprises wiring all non-conductive metal immersed in sea water together and then to a puny, sissy metal (usually zinc) so that IT shrivels over time instead of the important stuff. Got it? This works, and sometimes not (there is more than one opinion), only with good, low resistance connections among all the bits so galvanic and electrolytic current may easily flow, thus equalizing electrical potential and/or sucker punching zinc. OK so far? Thought to fix problem of twenty three year old, lower grade, highly corroded, beyond repair copper wire by whacking it off to de-bond everything. This has been accomplished successfully, I am told. Right! Finally concluded that there is no easy fix, so will rewire entire boat as built (with better wire). Pshaw! (Not first expletive considered).

If you have slogged this far without use of razor blade, noose or poison, mental health professionals are available in a crisis, weekdays from 9 to noon, then from 1:30 to 4, except on Friday.

Psychiatry enables us to correct our faults by confessing our parents' shortcomings. - Laurence J. Peter

Jack