This isn't making getting ready to leave any easier. Its chucking it down I want to do my laundry, the block on the boom is held together with insulating tape to make so I can get a replacement screw and its chucking it down. Woot

My back hurts, trying to manoeuvre 4 200Ah batteries along a pontoon, over a gang plank, through a boat and into some bilgewater infested holes in the floor and of course the reciprocal with their predecessors will do that to you/p>

So yesterday it was bilgewater and heavy lifting, today rain. Tomorrow its the market and buying 3 weeks worth of friut and veg. Glamorous life I lead/p>

"Bilge water" a definition: The "bilge" is the lowest part of the boat. Where water collects. Since gravity is universal and applies to other liquids and solids, the phrase "bilge water" is deceptive since it neither looks or smells like even the vilest pond water/p>

Simulating Bilge Water at home

For proper effect at home you require one bucket, some protective clothing (the sort normally used in Nuclear Power stations). The Hoover, some nail clippers, some bath water prefereably at least third hand. A spanner and a car jack. Dip the bucket in the bath, half fill it with water - wear protective clothing. Then pop the lid on the hoover, pour the contents of the bag into the bucket. Clip your toe nails, add them. Now take the bucket and add go to the street, find the most decrepit old white van in the street jack it up and use the spanner to drain its oil into the bucket. If you want add flour, gravy, urine, random nicknacks, beer and wine to taste/p>

Stir and store in the airing cupboard for 6 months to simulate the tropics. Shaking occasionally to simulate motion of the boat. Finally find some irreplaceable item or priceless heirloom, drop it in the bucket and fish it out (quick before it disolves)/p>