Hi Janice, good to hear from you. I am afraid I also have the hoarder's disease, and I am as bad at returning stuff I had bought wrongly. Who knows, maybe they will come in useful one day? (;> Those zincs_ do not despair, zink is an easily worked metal, and any handy boater or boatyard will be able to ream them out to a larger size. They can also easily be melted down and made into new, differently shaped zincs or other useful things.

Hello, Janice. I love your first photo! So much color and special, little things to look at. BTW: thank you for the Christmas card and ornament. I enjoy and appreciate those ornaments so much. 😊 As for stuff, that's a tough one. 😄 Maybe you could set up a table somewhere and have your own little 'garage' sale.

I am relieved that this isn't just a Me problem. Aboard our 40'er we would be gone from civilization for 30-plus days at a time. Having everything needed in the event of a problem was definitely the norm. Back then ordering parts was an ordeal too.

Now if I want something I can order and have it here within three days... unless I NEED it immediately when it will take much longer. Case in point: Johnson 2k bilge pumps. There is a delay so what should have arrived last Wednesday or Thursday is apparently lost. And yes, decades ago I remember mail order from a company called Miles Kimball. The company had paper catalogs and you would mail a check, then wait six weeks for your item. Due to our life afloat we seldom ordered because we would have to be someplace that far in the future.

Now I order groceries from Walmart and they come almost immediately. Yesterday one of the neighbors wanted Thompson's Watership. I boutbit in the morning and it along with a loaf of bread was delivered before dark. To me this is incredible. Almost world shattering. I no longer have to wait when I want groceries. This has definitely changed my happiness quotient.

Thanks too Cap'n for reminding me about the softness of zinc. And it will not go to waste regardless. 🙂

It is great to hear from younas well. Thank you so much for commenting. Stay warm. J.

The stars are my favorite gift. I am literally down to the last three pages of a chart kit. These come in 60-page spiral books. The one I am using is older so I have been using it for my little stars. Thanks for the compliment. They are such fun to make. I already have next year's design chosen.

Stuff is always an issue. And I am guilty of the old saying... A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item she does not need, and a man will pay $2 for a $1 item he does need. (Daddy used to say that, and it was too true more often than I would like to admit.

There are places to sell marine gear on occasion. The Madeira Beach Inaugural Nautical Flea Market (where I acquired the zincs) is one. Tables there were $100, which I suspect is why there were only two boat gear sellers. There was a plethora of decor booths, which is no doubt due to the tourists and winter residents found this time of the year. It was fun to look around.

A dear friend (Rick on Bemused) sent around a box of galley items in one anchorage years ago. Everyone was invited to go through the box and take what you like/put in what you don't. I still have one of the two paring knives I took from that box. The other I passed along to this cool Hatteras owner a few years back. When the box got back to Bemused we took it to Salvation Army to donate. Island Time offered me a few galley gear items too recently. That was nice too. I do tend to think that with just one more cool gadget I will suddenly become an amazing chef! Well, I am optimistic. 😀

Thanks so much for your note. It's great to hear from you. Stay warm. Your friend in the south, J.

Ahoy Janice, Was pondering your idea of storing extra zincs on the shaft in the bilge….this seems like an excellent idea. Do you tighten them on the shaft so they turn with the shaft or leave them loose? If they are loose would they still stop the shaft from “exiting” the boat if that were to happen? Just inquiring minds…..Love the article but have no fear you are not alone in your acquiring of useful items!

The boat show was great. Thanks for bringing me. It was interesting and I am grateful.

I tighten the zincs on the shaft between the stuffing box and the transmission. Basically when a go-fast (not us, but!) or someone hits hard something the shaft can break free from the transmission. Some of us have a breakaway plate (mine is red) that is essentially sacrificial. When the shaft comes free it could slide out of the vessel. The diameter (1.25" on Seaweed) of that hole in the hull so low is or can be catastrophic. A Lot of water can get into the bilge. Few pumps can keep up.

The zincs prevents the shaft from completely leaving the boat. And I don't have to look for a shaft zinc when the diver needs one, so there is that too. 😀

I hope to get over to McDonald's with the ornaments, perhaps this weekend. I have them ready in my purse. Can't wait!!! J.

Great article. We are all guilty of this. Especially me. I do it so often that it is embarrassing. Good luck in finding a cure. Share it with us if you do. PLEASE!!! Keep up the great work. Love reading your articles.

During the time I was writing this article I did it again. (insert blushing) I went on Amazon and bought one of those small diesel heaters the van-dwellers have. Specifically a 5kw by Happybuy with the analog controller. I will let you know how this one turns out. I do like having the ability to heat seaweed with the diesel in my tanks versus propane or kerosene.

Wish me luck!!! And thanks too Cap'n Sid for your comment. It is nice to know I am not the only boater with the issue of items bought but not yet used. I'm hoping to do better... J.