OK so here is a short update to our progress as slow as it is.

No one wants to see pictures of a mess so we won't show any but for those who were around before we left home back in 2011, just remember the deck. The whole space under the boat here on the hard looks just like that.

So what have we accomplished? Lisa had managed to pull everything out of where I had stuffed it and reorganized everything she pulled out to some semblance of order. Curtains are back up for privacy and she has made some great headway in the sewing department. To go along with a new bbq is a new cover and the long awaited dinghy motor cover is finally done. We have started buying some provisions, mostly canned goods but with the freezer up to snuff we are starting to stack in some meats, three very nice corned beef roasts. We fill the freezer slowly so each entry freezes fairly fast.

I have been going around in circles with the stack of crap under the boat. Not that I am a hoarder but it is really hard to pitch boat parts when you just know that as soon as it is gone you will need it. But I am working away at is slow but sure. Ordered in some new waterproof bins to store small parts in that will stack very nicely in the bow lockers. By this weekend I am hoping to be down to just a couple bins left to put on the boat.

One of the biggies that I was concerned about was our reverse cycle heat pumps, i.e. our heating and air conditioning systems. I had to disconnect two of them to do work in the boat and the one for the main salon I moved the AHU across to the other side of the salon to free up space under the inside helm. My concern was that they were loaded with R22 refrigerant and that refrigerant is no longer legal to use. So come to find out Dupont has developed a suitable substitute which it turned out worked well. The process is quite lengthy. First we pressurized both systems to see if there was any leaks. The one was losing pressure but as it turned out it was the technicians gauge. Then we vacuumed the lines dry overnight and finally installed the new refrigerant and ran some water through the seawater lines while running up the systems. They all worked just fine.

I also finalized connecting both the generator and water maker up. After talking with another cruiser about the number of series membranes on the WM I changed plans and set them up for a series parallel connection. Will just have to see if that really improves the output.

Next week we are taking a ride down to Tauranga with Fraser and Helen Foote, owners of the boat yard to goof off and check out some interesting aeronautical endeavors. The ride is about 3 hours South of Auckland so will spend the night in Tauranga. Tim the yard foreman has arranged an overnight stay at his brother's motel.

Hopefully we will be back in the water by a week from this Friday. Then it will be to take Jeannette and Alistair from Riddlesden B&B for a day sail either on Saturday or Sunday depending on which looks the nicest. Bob and Ann want to tag along so the more the merrier.

All for now, toodle doo!

John