Date: Tue Oct 30, 2001 9:00 am

Wine can accept a taste from most replacement containers of other than glass.

The original owner of my boat left me a valuable clue about liquids storage aboard. Much of the bulk liquid of various types was stowed in plastic, chemical containers.

A testament to the validity of his genius....

As I had first moved aboard in 1991, after a long spell of harsh, tropical, yard storage of nearly five years, I was to discover that Vaseline Skin Care, alcohol stove primer, shampoo and acetone, stowed in these "bottles" was still fresh and usable even after 'cooking' in the tropical sun for so long. I recently finished using the acetone that had been aboard since about 1985!

These are sealing, screw top containers in various volumes. In investigating them later on I was to find that the manufacture of these reusable containers involves precise materials and precise temperatures for curing to ensure that the contact surfaces are left without the microscopic pores that are generally responsible for air, water and gas contamination of the contained liquids.

They are of heavy, opaque construction with a very substantial screw top and threaded neck. They are available in US and metric liquid measurement size/amounts from 1/2 pint through two gallon and several liter sizes as well. Most laboratory suppliers and chemical packaging suppliers sell them.

Gerry Smith had constructed several simple racks of teak with a second small "shelf" above the fitted base, each upper shelf was cut to a circular dimension just larger than the "bottle" to be contained within it. The arrangement was very secure and kept the various supplies available. The wine "rack" for stowing these containers would be simple to construct if so needed but these containers encourage stowage without the need for further protection.