Regarding Boat Rollers, mentioned in Peter Bick's piece - last Bulletin - I have a suggestion that might help.

Some years ago I was with my son who works in stone and he had a jumbo size block to move. Unfortunately, he had left the wooden rollers he normally uses somewhere else and was uncertain just how he and I could manage it between us. Now, I'd read a tip somewhere and produced a couple of empty (naturally) plastic beer bottles and suggested we use them. "They won't work!" he said with a look that implied I was a simpleton, but when filled with water and jumped on by each of us in turn, they didn't burst and we actually used them to move his stone.

Now most of us use beer (who was it suggested we rename ourselves The Dinghy Boozing Association?) and the empties are useful for carrying our supplies of water. The brown colour means that algae formation is inhibited, so they are worthwhile for that alone. But I would have thought that some kind of canvas cover or sleeve, made like a long thin duffle bag, in which a couple of these could be placed, bottom to bottom, with the tops at either end – if you follow me- would be a great help.

I haven't tried this myself on a dinghy, since I haven't owned one for years, but maybe someone would like to.

p.s. Teetotallers could use lemonade bottles I suppose?

p.p.s. Empty beer bottles like these are good for wellies too! Unsupported, wellies flop and almost always in the same way. The fold develops into a split or a hole and you have to get new ones; or bung them up with Dow Cornering. My first pair of boots - which were expensive - lasted less than a couple of seasons, but my last pair, which were cheapies as a result, have been in constant use for something like 6 or 7 years now - although I doubt they'll do another. I owe it all to drinking beer from plastic bottles - of course! - and stuffing the empties down my wellies, mostly after taking my feet out, but I have been known to try whilst they are still in, but that depends upon the potency of the brew of course!

Home is the sailor Ted Jones