Mirelle
25-09-01, 20:08
If you own an older boat you soon become aware that the average chandler does not have the bits you want. Some bits are extremely hard to come by.
Now, if you have a biggish old sailing boat, with deck prisms, you find, sooner or later, that the thick glass inserts sometimes crack. You then learn that the rectangular type come in four sizes and two patterns, and that it is possible to put up with a deck leak for months, whilst you try to track down replacements.
Finding that I had one round and one rectangular glass insert cracked, I stepped into Classic Marine, Woodbridge (in whom I don't have shares, by the way) to order replacement glasses (the brass bits are of course fine!) I feared that the bits would have to be ordered and that I would have to buy superflous brass bits.
Not so. "Deep frame or rabbetted?" they asked. And handed me replacements from behind the counter!
I was tempted to ask for an astrolabe, but they probably have one!
Now, if you have a biggish old sailing boat, with deck prisms, you find, sooner or later, that the thick glass inserts sometimes crack. You then learn that the rectangular type come in four sizes and two patterns, and that it is possible to put up with a deck leak for months, whilst you try to track down replacements.
Finding that I had one round and one rectangular glass insert cracked, I stepped into Classic Marine, Woodbridge (in whom I don't have shares, by the way) to order replacement glasses (the brass bits are of course fine!) I feared that the bits would have to be ordered and that I would have to buy superflous brass bits.
Not so. "Deep frame or rabbetted?" they asked. And handed me replacements from behind the counter!
I was tempted to ask for an astrolabe, but they probably have one!