Betwixt

 The lead bars each weigh about 25kg and are cut and shaped to fit tightly into the keel.  The spaces are filled with a very stable type grout.  Lead is sold in tons, and we needed 1,1 ton so we had to make it up with lead that needed to be melted into bars and other steel. We had started collecting lead about 30 years ago in the form of wine tops (remember those!) and these were duly melted and used.  The grout will be left to dry for about a month then painted with pond paint.  This will be the water tank. The cabin top is made with marine ply and to be sealed on top with fibreglass.  Waiting for the weather to warm up to do the fibreglassing.  Temperature needs to be above 18*C. Putting a lid on it Painting the underside white Pretty lead bars

 The problem with one-off builds is not knowing how things fit together from the start.  So with the plumbing we can only now make the necessary holes into the steel which requires clearing away the nicely painted foam etc and squeezing into small spaces to cut out the hole and then welding in the fittings and repainting.   Nice to find push fit plumbing fittings made in the UK locally.  Also found a good supplier of marine boat plumbing in Cape Town. Happy with the mock-up steps, the real one is made from Oak.  The steps have a cut-out so that each foot and leg can fit securely on each step (start with right leg) and being more of a ladder-style, it can be more vertical and take up less space.  Works very well! We are leaving it unvarnished for better traction.   

 The chart table has drawers with clever lift/unlock mechanism.  Galley drawers also completed.  So the woodwork is almost done, with just the shelving above the settee berths to be completed and fittings above the galley and chart table.  But later. John has made a mock-up for the companionway ladder.  Designed to take up the least amount of space; again another functional, aesthetically beautiful, minimalist, stairs by John Dickie. Next is working on the systems.  First the plumbing.  The galley will have hot and cold fresh water, and sea water.  The head basin will have cold fresh water.  There will be a sea water hose at the bow deck mainly to rinse off the anchor chain when it gets pulled in.  And a sea water tap aft for washing and cleaning. We have also completed our Open Water Dive course, done in Sodwana, and what a beautiful reef to learn diving at.  Learning to dive is of course all part of being able to go under the boat...

 2020 was an unusual year globally.  For our boat build it was a great year, just carrying on 7 days a week.  Progress was slow but sure.  Christmas day and New Year's day was just another day, working on the boat. Down aft, the engine compartment (John's engine room) was built with marine ply, which defined the quarter berths and lazaret.  I was to be the fibreglasser which I duly learned on the job, fibreglassing the lazaret bottom.  The two quarter berths had there support structures built and the slatted bases were made and varnished. The engine compartment was painted with several coats of intumescent paint. In the bow the chain locker was built and the bottom duly fibreglassed. The platform structure was made with slatted top of Ash and varnished.  A mock up of the head was made, lots of trial and error.  John will have to explain why we don't have a flush toilet.  Its basically going to be a bucket. Back aft, the quarter berth/seat for...