Grinna

I was always of the opinion that aluminium gas bottles would be better on boats because the alloy wouldn't rust and leave stains and would survive much longer than steel. Turns out that 10 years is a good run for aluminium gas bottles because when they're tested at 10 years old the valve has to be removed and the valve, being a dissimilar metal, tends to tear out the weakened aluminium threads in the bottle itself and render the tank useless. While a smear of tef-gel or similar would probably prevent this, convention says that you never lubricate threads of gas fittings. So .... aluminiu

My grandmother was full of sage advice. In a situation like this where someone is saying "I wish 2nd hand boat prices were lower" she would probably say something like "Maybe you should wish in one hand and sh*t in the other and see which one fills up fastest" The market is what it is. If 2nd hand boats aren't selling the vendors will either wait until they do sell, or the price will drop until someone buys. It is a self-regulating system and just because you're not where you want to be in it doesn't mean that its wrong, crazy, ridiculous or anything else. It just is what it is. Don't

Now that looks like awesome fun!!

Ah .... so it wasn't just me that thought KM had screwed 2 dunny seats to the wall then.

Woulda thought names like "curry", "casserole", "roast", "BBQ", etc would have been better. Keep the little feathered blighters on their toes. BTW, how are negotiations going with the Combined Egg Layers Union over working conditions and ro(o)stering??

Never name anything you intend to eat. If they're just egg producers then I guess its OK to name them, but I was never that attached to our hens. Have fun with your chooks ... the cost per egg will drop, but by the time you factor in the costs of chook food (you'll need to supplement the scraps you give them) and the time associated with cleaning out chook houses and collecting eggs, the cost per egg will never be zero. The benefit is fresh eggs, scrap disposal and a bit of entertainment value. It does get a little frustrating when they go off the lay, but still require care and feed

Might have to test that theory one night Although not Seaforth at the moment, she's in pieces as the engine's getting new mounts, flexible coupling, cooling system stripped and tidied up, etc. Mayhem.

Any significant maintenance issues or challenges with a guitar on a yacht long term? Wondering about whether cruising long term is going to kill my 12 string or not.

Tsk, tsk Smithy .... you shouldn't leave the capo on the neck like that. It stretches the strings and shortens their life ... but I expect you knew that already. Hard to identify what the 6 string is ... a Yamaha perhaps???

Aaah Jeez .... we're an easy lot to please aren't we? Reward us randomly with rum every now and then and the occasional pics of some semi-naked bimbos and its all good.

It'll end up like Great Grandad's axe ...... 5 new handles and 2 new heads, but its Great Grandad's axe

There's a regular ferry service running from Westpark Marina to downtown Auckland that takes about 30-35 minutes each way.

Reallt Tuffy? More info on these cellular tracking type devices please.

Yeah, had 3 reefs in the main and the staysail up for the trip back from Mahurangi on the Anniversary Monday. Short and steep waves between Mahurangi and Tiri Passage.