Frantic Friday 25th May

Action

On goes the rudder!

Last Friday really was 'Frantic Friday' in the boatyard. A constant lookout had to be kept so as not to get squashed by one vehicle or another. There are many different types of electric vehicles here that people get around on. You have to be alert as to where they are, as they are silent. My favourite are the electric skateboards that the young guys use. They look like fun as they zip around the yard leaning this way and that. The travel lift was constantly shifting boats back into the water. This Friday is definitely not as frantic but we have action here at Olivia. All the parts for our prop shaft  refit have arrived and Nautilus Marine guys are here putting the whole lot back together. It took four men to lift the rudder into place. It is very heavy, solid!

An Alien has landed! Just the bog n paint to go!

The rudder, steering assembly and prop shaft are all back together ready for a bit of fill and some paint on Monday. We are booked to go back in the water on Tuesday when Nautilus Marine guys will come with us to check that all is OK. Work begins here daily at about 6.30am (no sleeping in), but it means that most work is over by lunch time on Friday. Unfortunately we still have to stay in the boatyard for the weekend, but at least we have the courtesy car to use.

We intend to anchor nearby for Tuesday and Wednesday so that we can motor next door to The Gold Coast City Marina to refuel while I am still here to help Peter. We are also going to try out the new toy - Lily's new motor. It will be easy for me to leave from here as the Coomera Station is just up the road and a train goes every half hour directly to the airport taking 1 hour and 25 minutes. Then Peter is on his own for three weeks while I go back home to do some house jobs and see family.

A view of the steering assembly