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.