Date: 7 June 2015. Heat Rises and Mildew
Grows (finding discounts on Amazon)
Well, I
learned something. Much to my chagrin I've lost most of my cruising
guide collection to mildew. It was my fault. Here's what I should
have done, and didn't. Also, what I did do and shouldn't have...
My
refrigerator was in a locker under the counter in my galley. I did
have a small muffin fan (12 volts) blowing at the compressor and a
second one pulling heat out of that compartment. With those two in
place, I mistakenly thought I'd covered my bases regarding air flow
and heat reduction.

The second row in the back of the bookcase behind
Skipper held the cruising guides.
The bookcase sat atop the counter directly above the reefer aka
refrigerator. Now this isn't your ordinary bookcase. It's raised
with the bottom shelf 3.5" above the deck. I thought the air spaces
both below and above the countertop would suffice for ventilation.
Alas, I was wrong.
I pulled
out a cruising guide and found mildew along the edges and pages
buckled. Nasty stuff though for the most part the book interiors are
fine. Just the outside is icky.

My
frustration is that I know that heat rises. Also, I had not pulled
any guides out for so long as to realize the damage was occurring. I
should have known long before now that a problem was developing.
And too I could have abated the damage if I'd been aware earlier.
That's my fault.
So, here's my
advice: Don't do as I did. Do as I say instead.
Check any
place you have stuff that could be subjected to heat or temperature
changes. I believe if I'd been smarter and put a layer of that blue
or pink foam insulating board under the books that my guides would
have survived intact. In the meantime, I have a bunch of books that
are going o-u-t.
Yes, I know
how to clean off the mildew, but doing so in the limited confines of
a 23' boat is not going to happen. They served their purpose in
keeping me motivated while taking care of mother (Alzheimer's) so
have earned their place elsewhere.
At this
point in my life, I want things done. And these stacks are not going
to be my project:

It's simply too overwhelming to handle so I'm off-loading the
damaged guidebooks.
Yes, I am
glad I'd bought the guides. Prior to owning Seaweed I didn't know
where I might cruise so as I learned about interesting places I'd
get the guides. A couple were from our boat so they are older than dirt,
while others were purchased new, er, used.
How to buy
books on Amazon for far less than retail: |
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Amazon has the guidebooks
available, though generally offered at cover price. When I
read about a cruising guide I might potentially find useful
one day, I would look it up online. The next four steps netted
me a great collection at bargain prices.
-
Find book listed on
Amazon
-
Click Add to Wish List
button (found just below the Add to Cart block in the upper
right of the page)
-
Check daily my Wish
List
-
When I find a copy on
sale for half price or so, I buy it
Often with enough time I
could find the guides for half of retail. That's when I'd buy
the book. And now you know exactly why I ended up with so
many.
I also use this system
for my
Kindle
collection too. I've a list of those books I'd love to own
in digital form, but not at full price. Just recently I
snapped up the sequel to
Cheaper by the Dozen
entitled
Belles on Their Toes .
Bought six months or so apart, I paid just $2 for each. They
are worth full retail price and I'm ever so glad to own them
both.
Side Note on Cheaper
and Belles: The digital version is Better than the original
First Editions I own. They have all the words from the print
copy. What I liked best is the Kindle version included
photos. I saw The Shoe along with Mr. and Mrs. Gilbreth, the
children, etc. The pictures added a level of personalization
that I appreciated.
Any eBook I want I tuck
onto the Wish List and hope it goes on sale. I'm wishing
like crazy
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
goes on sale soon. I've watched the movie (it's a hoot) and
the reviews say the book is better. I want it, though not at
full price.
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Affiliate link to movie:
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day DVD
The Miss Pettigrew DVD has some of the snappiest
dialog I've ever heard in a movie. It reminds me of the
comedies of yesterday with double entendres sprinkled
throughout. Nothing trashy, but certainly amusing... |
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And life progresses.
Be wiser
than I was regarding book storage. Check yours regularly and you
won't be looking at a mildewed mess. I wish I had pulled one out
before the damage was endemic.
Life is
good afloat, and progress is being made on the engine. I'm glad.
More later, but first I've got
Belles
on my mind and am going to read now. G'night and sweet dreams.
Is there anything you do to prevent mildew?
And, have you ever read Miss Pettigrew or the Cheaper by the Dozen duo?
COMMENTS:
Categories:
Books,
DVDs,
Entertainment, Money,
Organizing,
Recommendations
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