On 18 Apr 2009, at 11:30, Bruce Napier wrote: > Note the smiley! There's a string of apocryphal apprentice goof > stories along these lines, as in: > > "I was told to get the rainwater out of the shell before we craned it > in today, so I drilled a hole and drained it out" (as the shell > settles slowly on the bottom).
My ex- (and now late) father-in-law had a cruiser-stern narrowboat many years ago with the integral steps from the rear deck running down to the cabin over to right-hand side. He had been plagued by rainwater sitting in the outside corner of the middle step for some time, so he decided to drill a drain hole (into the bilge). Unbeknown to him the step had been positioned right at the start of the swim, and the outside corner was welded directly onto the uxter plate :-/ It was only after some time drilling, and then remarking how thick the steel step was, that he suddenly realised the error of his ways and stood back with a look of horror in his eyes! Fortunately he hadn't got all the way through... My, how we laughed, but the filled hole served as a visual reminder for many years to think carefully before you act.... -- Andy Greener n.b. Whisper Pangbourne, UK http://www.nb-whisper.com
