UNLIKE LAST YEAR, Lunacy‘s first sail of the season with family aboard involved no humiliations or mishaps. We enjoyed a most excellent daysail in sub-10-knot winds (courtesy of the fabulous screecher, now in its second season) and sailed north off the mooring at Portland Yacht Services up to Chandler Cove, where we enjoyed lunch aboard and a short hike and some beachcombing on the south end of Great Chebeague Island.
Our only problem was with zippers. During our lunch break, both Clare and Lucy professed a need for bandaids, and I discovered the zippers on both the West Marine medical-kit satchels in the head had seized up solid. The only way to open them quickly was with a knife. (Not an ideal scenario when it comes to accessing medical supplies.)
A little later, when the clouds came out and things got cooler, I reached into the hanging locker for my trusty Henri Lloyd windbreaker and found all its zippers were likewise frozen solid with corrosion.
Consider this my memo to marine manufacturers everywhere: no more metal zippers, please! This is one application where plastic is definitely superior.
This morning I am conducting experiments. Which is better for freeing up grotty zippers–WD-40 or Marvel Lubricating Oil???
Later this week I intend to lure the staff from SAIL out on the boat for an overnight. Some will be thrown overboard; others will practice retrieving them. Should be an excellent opportunity to make some changes on the masthead, so stay tuned…
Charlie
Marvel oil, no question. Also why the tea cozy on the radar scanner?
Charlie,
Woke up early, 0600 here, and reached for the iPad and made landfall on your blog. Good to see the family afloat – shame about zippers! I’m just on the refit of my tri and enjoying my longest holiday ever. How did I find time for work? I wonder!
Look forward to reading about SAIL magazine crews’ outing with you!
Ahoy, Mark and Paul! Thanks for stopping by, gents.
Mark: Neither Marvel Oil nor WD-40 have had any effect on my frozen zippers. As for the tea cozy, they were everywhere when I bought the boat (previous owner was very good at DIY canvas)–on the windlass, the winches, the liferaft, etc. UV protection, I always assumed.
Paul: I never knew you owned a tri. Would love to see some pix of it, if you care to send them along.
charlie