On the move???
'Sarf & West mate, Sarf & West'
Pete Bernfeld
Wed 31 Oct 2012 18:08
First the slight downer. Bappu the electrician didn't show yesterday to finish the job, however the instrument panel is in situ, the ignition system works, the alternator charges the engine! One slight problem is the new temperature gauge is incompatible with the old sender but we can bodge that. Definitely no chance of getting the second engine 'on line' and Martin still denies having the s/motor & alternator. I'm not wasting any more of my life on him. I do have a couple of very small leaks, probably the lamination not 100% but to fix it the boat will have to be hauled out, so that's not going to happen for a while.
Now the upper. Sylvie and David from Puddytat have been really helping me the last couple of days. Sylvie kindly/foolishly aid she enjoyed cleaning boats....well, to me that's like a barman saying to me he enjoys giving away free drinks!!! Trouters now gleams although Sylvie says there is more to be done.
I hoicked David up the mast three times yesterday (!) and I now have working steaming lights, tricolour and sore muscles. OK I did have to buy a new tricolour unit in the end, the old LED unit was really pretty much shot. David's taken a look at a lot of the wiring, tut-tutted but sorted out what he can.
No sign of the new autopilot hydraulic motor being dispatched yet, I will have to chase that up tonight, which will be morning in the UK.
BUT....subject to running the engine under load successfully and it not blowing a hooley, I intend to put what fuel I think I can afford in tomorrow morning and cautiously motor over to the Tradewinds anchorage across the bay. I still have to sort out Immigration but all things being equal (have they ever been?) I should be able to leave Fiji in around ten days. I might even be able to still afford the Oz-World entry fee at the end of it as well.
I hope the next post will have a new position on it!!!!!!!!!!!!
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