Xs and Is

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    I sorted your fasteners today, said the Mate.

    What do you mean you sorted my fasteners today?

    How can you possibly work with that mess in the garage? I straightened up and sorted out all those millions of screws laying around everywhere.

    I knew where everything was.

    You couldnt possibly know where everything was. You even had empty boxes stacked up five or six deep. Now, everything has its place and theres a place for everything. Lots of space on the work bench now.

    Where did you put it all?

    In that plastic cabinet with all the little drawers.

    Thats where I kept the boat screws, all strictly stainless.

    Well, it was a waste of space. Some drawers had only a couple of screws, some had those flat rings and stuff. I combined everything and filled the drawers and its all sorted by size.

    By size?

    Skinny, medium and fat. You got two columns of drawers. The left column is the Xs and the right is the Is.

    Xs and Is?

    Its the way theyre marked on the top, the heads you call them. Either an X or an I. Is that so difficult?

    Its either Phillips or slotted.

    Whatever.

    What did you do with all of the different nuts and washers.?

    Theyre in that bucket. I couldnt find any other place for them. By the way, the Mate added, Ive got another surprise. Arent you the one who said the jib was too big to go in the washing machine?

    -RW


    Cruising Rallies
    Dates have been set for the ninth annual West Marine Caribbean 1500 Cruising Rally. The fleet will leave Salt Ponds Marine in Hampton, Virginia on November 1, 1998, en route to Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour in the British Virgin Islands. Any seaworthy yacht of 34′ or longer is eligible to enter. A fun Race Division will depart from Newport, Rhode Island on October 28, with a stopover in Bermuda. Contact Steve Black, Cruising Rally Association, 12 Canonicus Ave., Newport, RI 02840; 401/848-0302.

    Darrell Nicholson
    Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Supported entirely by subscribers, Practical Sailor accepts no advertising. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him by email at practicalsailor@belvoir.com.