Ah, the joys of brightwork. This Spring I put on another four coats of varnish while my boat was in the water.

I can still remember how good it felt just after the final coat was finished and I pulled the tape off.

Just then the guy in the next slip pulled his boat in and tied up. We chatted for a few minutes, admiring my gleaming handiwork, before I drove home.

I came back the next day and joy turned to despair. The varnish was all messed up--but only on one half of one side of the boat. I sat there trying to figure out what sort of freak atmospheric disturbance could have caused such a calamity.

Then it occured to me--my neighbor had hosed down his boat just after I left, splattering water on my wet varnish.

I can't win.