Over the Xmas and summer period work took precedence and very little progress was made. However, I was able to buy some fittings to put aside for a later date, including engine mounts.
I had been contemplating what to do about fuel tanks. The originals were twin copper ones, under the aft deck either side of the rudder post. Whether they developed problems, who knows, but possibly with the conversion to diesel in the 80's these tanks were removed and a single stainless one fitted under the starboard side seat. I was not looking forward to costing up new copper jobs, but spotted a twin pair online in November and bought them for $200.00. The size is right - Jim remembers the capacity as 12 gallons, these are about 50 litres each - and the proportions are almost perfect. I had them freighted to Auckland and took them to a metal dippers on Rosebank Rd to have them cleaned out. On completion I got the call. Good news, they didn't leak. Bad news, they are mild steel with copper plating, which is no more. Aagh! Off to an electroplaters to enquire about copper plating - maybe it would've been cheaper to make new ones after all. The guy looked at them, then pulled out a scotch pad and buffed a small patch. Underneath the grey etch finish: beautiful, shiny copper!
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