Recession hits Fiji
'Sarf & West mate, Sarf & West'
Pete Bernfeld
Tue 15 Nov 2011 21:09
Electric workers laid off as boat owner realises he can't afford to have
work done!
Well, not quite. The worker in question is 'Junior', Arun's son. I did
some sums last night, something I've been putting off because I really
knew what the answer was, but I didn't want Arun ordering bits then me
telling him, sorry mate, no moolah.
Anyway, having worked out roughly what still has to be paid for, and I
have a reasonable idea of the amount, I've decided to forgo the rewiring.
Arun will fit new batteries, local lead acid ones, he reckons OK for five
years. He'll connect up the VHF radio, solar panels and engine charging
system, nav lights when I get them and autopilot once I've committed
myself and ordered it. Interior lighting will be courtesy of my Chinese
Tilley lantern with the nice smelling anti- mozzie oil and battery
operated lights. I think I can reserect the gas hob, although the oven has
been junked. I guess I can manage without an oven, I have ( had) a recipe
for bread in a pressure cooker.
I'm meeting Martin the Mechanic this morning to tell him I'll be ordering
the engine spares at the end of the month. Hey, at least it's stopped
raining. Back to sunglasses and no lightweight shower jacket. I have one
by Gill, that I brought for cycling. Really neat, it's breathable (sort
of) and folds up into a pouch which is sewn into the back panel. I'd
forgotten that I had it, good for rainy night watches when it's warm rain.
Oh yes, this morning's bad news was that out of the three flexible solar
panels on the roof, only one is pushing any Amps out, Arun thinks that he
may be able to get the others online again, but not overly optimistic. One
of the large solar panels on the stern gantry was trashed in the sinking,
hopefully the other will be OK. I'm just waiting for a price on batteries
from NZ, if they can ship to Fiji, but it looks like I'll be getting them
from Jacob the Yamaha dealer, just next door to the boat. I did the rounds
of battery dealers yesterday with Arun, and I said that if there was only
F$50 in it I would rather give Jacob the business than the factory. In the
event, he was F$50 CHEAPER than the factory, so subject to being much
cheaper from NZ, he's got the business. Two starter batteries and three
200A/H deep cycle house batteries for F$2125, not too bad. Arun thinks I
could go for 70 A/H starter batteries, which would be a hundred dollars or
so cheaper, I just need to check the CCA's, but as I've only got two lawn
mower engines, they should be OK.
--
Fiji: +6799212518
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