I started the thread because I was genuinely interested. Sorry now I did, time for a TF hiatus methinks...
<opt out>
Yes, you did and I explained why I was not going to answer it which should have been the end of it right there.
Unfortunately it is the nature of forums like this to blow virtually everything totally of propotion to ridiculous lengths, which is why I never discuss anything that actually matters on them.
With regards to dhmeissner"s original question, I'm not trying to bait anyone (sorry, Walt). I mentioned the fact that our boat's been laid up a few times because its being out of service was relevant to whatever I was writing about at the time.
It's a very old boat, and like all old boats, it has had a number of problems over the 17-plus years we've had it. Some have been serious, most not so much.
But I NEVER bring these up at the time on this forum because we have long since learned that, while we'll get all kinds of suggestions and theorizing and opinions, none of them are credible enough to act on and most of them are inaccurate, don't apply to our situation, are pure specuation or guesses, or are, we later learn, simply wrong.
Forums like this are great entertainment and they can be useful as was just demonstrated by a poster needing to find a good surveyor in Bellingham. A couple of us familiar with the subject offered suggestions and it sounds like the poster is on his way toward meeting his need.
But for stuff that really matters to us, like finding and fixing a serious problem with our boat, there is absolutely no value in discussing it here. Not when we have truly knowledgeable, experienced, and most important,
credible resources a phone call away.
And, of course, we talked about the situation with friends who know something or a lot about boats and their systems and who might have had-- or did have on occasion-- something of value to say or at least helped keep our spirits up when things were at their most frustrating.
Personally I think this thread should be closed as it is providing nothing of value but is simply fueling a lot of silly speculation that will never be resolved because I am never going to describe or discuss the event here for the reasons I have given several times now.
But silly speculation is the nature of forums like this and closing threads is not part of my job description.