Progress bit by bit
27 May 2012 | Faraulep, State of Yap - Federated States of Micronesia. The Caroline Islands.
David
We continue to have a small leak which in itself is not a problem but it does not allow the fibre glass resin to dry as mentioned last night. This means we can still only continue to work during the low tide for about 2 hours a day when it is low enough so that the water stops coming in.
But the resin we put down last night has set hard. Unfortunately I have dripped some over the bolt ends so will need to sand them down to get the wood and steel we have prepared to put over them as strengtheners.
I have discovered I can run multiple lines of strong fishing line from the new bolts I put in last night down to where the rudder joins the hull and give it some more strength that way to support the weight of the rudder.
We continue to have enquires as to our progress including an elerdly man called Boat Master pictured above underwater with walking stick. Unfortunately he does not speak english - nobody his age does here. But he continues to provide advice with points and nodds.
About to go to shore to use the concrete slab at the hospital as a strong base to drill through the steel Thomas found for us. Hopefully we can find some more as it is strong and thin. This island was never visited by the Japanese or the US during WW2 so unfortunately there is not much in the way of steel scraps anywhere to be found - An odd complaint to have about a tropical island!
David