Every week my log fouls up with micro shrimps and the detritus they leave behind them. This means I have to tolerate right in the middle of my cabin a one foot high fountain, one inch in diameter, lasting second, once a week. I have taken the hull fitting apart and made the valve a proper seal and trigger sensitive but it still needs a considerable flow of water before it closes off. Now I am getting on a bit and like the comforts of home and the Autohelm mini fountain is preventing me from laying carpet in the saloon. Also my teak and holly cabin sole is looking a little tired and it is a problem to prevent the little accidents that the (boat)yardies so often have. For the previous 28 years I have had carpets in both of my previous boats, but then neither of them used a paddle wheel for the log. I wrote to Autohelm to enquire whether there was a suitable non-fouling transducer but, though they were very helpful, the eventual answer was "no". So I have now invented the "Autohelm Diaper". Take a two foot square of sailcloth, hem it all round and put an eyelet in each corner. To each eyelet tie a length of 3mm line and fit a cheap plastic hook to the end of each line. Estimate the position of the log transducer from the compression post and transfer this position to the lifelines on each side with pieces of tape. Now adjust the lines so that, when the diaper is pulled underneath the boat from the bow, it covers the impeller. Actually this is quite easy to do - I did it first time. The proof is when removing the log there is a slow upwelling of water and little need to fit the blanking plug. This has completely eliminated the fouling problem and now I can have the luxury that I deserve. Don Alexander donalex@compuserve.com