No, we haven’t faded into the night like a number of web sites we have followed up. However I now understand the work involved in the type of static HTML site we had, and one of reasons some builder’s websites just stop.
So, as you can see my ever resourceful builder’s assistant has come up with all the software and a quick and dirty “BLOGging” course to allow me to help keep up this record.

So.. to Scrumble, I have just finished putting the epoxy/copper mix onto the keel of, Yes still!!, the starboard hull.
There was not a lot of building going on during the ‘dry season’ as I was busy working (for money) injuring myself, partying with the family etc.
I did get some done, in particular the following:
* concreted in some more steel uprights for the shed and have now achieved 3.5m at the Bow end.

* the Stem profile.

* more tape on each edge of the hardwood ply sacrificial keel.

* The big piece of biaxial glass over the keel and down/up the lower bilge panel and,
and during the last 6 weeks I have been busy fairing (making it worse in my opinion).

I have achieved quite a bit of planning including rough notes/drawings for a lot bits and pieces.

The need for a sander with dust extraction is paramount when you are sanding under the bedroom window, so I spent some time researching and pricing both on the net and locally. A Makita BO 6040 it was to be, and I must say it is very good now that I have “run in my arms”. Whilst buying the sander I was discussing the Makita extractor with the sales staff and just then spotted the “dalek”. So for around $400, my little bloke (actually from Carba-tec with black on stainless instead of green - so I think he is a re-badged Hitachi or the Hitachi is a badged Inox from Italy), will follow me along the boat as I work.

I also found a laminate trimmer from Ryobi, with a stronger motor and clear guide fittings for about 1/5 the price of the Makita version.

The finishing touches before the roll back over are off with the peel ply on the underside of the bridgedeck and a layer of resin/silica to seal the Duflex. I also hope to make up a couple of cradles for the hull to live in for a few years while I muck about.

The most frustrating aspect of having internet presence is the exposure to what I believe to be the biggest nuisance of the technological age - SPAM - in particular Comment Spam! I have taken precautions so that it doesn’t appear on this site, however it is still bewildering having to delete it all. You wouldn’t believe how many unsavory websites try to improve their page-ranking with Google by using automated methods to post comments with links back to their websites.

But a very positive and rewarding aspect is feedback from our readers. Thank you to those who have already posted comments to our site. I had previously missed the genuine comments within the spam, however I’ve isolated them now, and added a “Recent Comments” list to the sidebar, so that others may access them easily. Please be aware that all comments need approval by Tom or myself before they appear here, so therefore they may not appear immediately.

The lack of building is becoming embarrassing as it is obvious . However maybe not so obvious is that we have been productive in improving the navigation and search capability of this website.

This weblog is also a historical record for us and as the records increase so too does the requirement for organisation and presentation of this data.

In addition, and greatly concerning to me was the lack of categorisation and in fact what existed actually could cause a disruptive flood of data (photos) to a visitor.

Therefore (by limiting our sleep) we have now categorised the posts to add a new search dimension and a control for visitors over the amount of data they wish to view at one time (see new category menu at right).

Naturally one could always do it the old way by clicking “previous post” until the beginning or go to the Index of Posts and take your pick.