ALMOST THERE!!

 G'day ALL,
 If it wasn't 4 sum fantastic V8 Racing in NZ I'd be sending this Blog to you from the Gr8 Barrier Reef. However after busting my hump all week in preparation (wkoa) for a trip this weekend, it was bought 2 my attention that itz a race week! with the V8's in Hamilton New Zealand. Great win for the FORD team!
With a F1 race tonight as well, I'll simply have to delay my trip until mid week.
Last week I mentioned the wonderful engineering efforts of the kitchen shelf builders in Germany. After much cutting, chiseling, hammering and just a little swearing the old shelves were removed and the new ones fitted. "Only 36 less screws". Once the shelves were in place the new steps into the port (left) hull were fitted. WOW what a Diff! More stability, more access and way more practical. I've also added a prep shelf between the 2 floors for extra bench space .(it's under the cordial bottles).The kitchen is now 100% more functional.

After moving my efforts to the outside kitchen on Tuesday, it was thyme to set about making the outside Galley area just as practical.
This involved moving the gas cylinder off the rear deck, making a completely new mounting system for the Wok Burner and lotz of electrical terminating and final wiring applications (wkoa). The difference is amazing!, less clutter and more use-able bench space. This became so obvious during Friday's lunch preparation (wkoa), with a huge platter of Chicken Caesar Salad the main dish and a side order of baked mushroom toppers. SUPER YUMMO!
However the ever present  problem reoccurred, LOTZ of dishes 2 do! Luckily Noah (crazy Canadian) waz there 2 help.
The gardens have "Gone psycho" with the Cos lettuce being used for the Caesar salad, and everything else is growing faster than I can use them. Lotz of cucumbers, silverbeet, plus all the herbs have gone into ova-drive. I've been slowely transfering each garden bed into there final planters,these being a Decor 600mm water pot

The Wok burner now has found itz place, instead of always being on the bench or fish table. It took some "interesting engineering" to get the new stainless ("ultra-light" for Kenny), Wok surround mounted. I feel it still needz some work to make it stronger and more easily removable (when needed),No need to drill out rivet to remove, but the difference is obvious.  
The lack of wind flow makes the burner function as itz supposed 2! with heaps of heat for boiling water and also cooking crabs. I'm amazed how quickly the burner heats things and am now having to adjust (seriously) the amount of time I heat the water for washing the ever present "dishes"!
This stage nearly completes' the fit-out of the rear Kitchen/ Galley, with really only cosmetic upgrades to go . Oh and the installation (wkoa) of a Pasta maker.
B4 these "cosmetic " upgrades the kitchen / Galley will be put through its paces with a series of trips out to the Gr8 Barrier reef and to both the whitsunday and Palm Island groups.
The removal of the Wok burner has allowed the "fishing" table to revert back to it's intended purpose,with new knife racks, tackle shelves and rod holders fitted this week.

 I've also procured a new Gps/ Plotter for the Yot after the Tasmanian deal fell through with the owner not bothering to return my calls or enquiries.This addition makes such a radical difference to Galleycat's ability to go to sea "safely". As I now have digital cartography of the area's I'm sailing towards.Once the radar is also fitted the electronics for the skippers console, will B nearly complete.
 Although a recent upgrade to marine safety called AIS is fast becoming a must have for cruising Yacht's. This simple device sends out a signal via VHF radio telling all other boats / ships in your area- your position,who and what you are,your course and speed plus anything else you need to transmit.At about $800 it will be going in the wish list for now. However I'm still looking into the Seaclear and Memorymap computer programs which will both provide AIS capability.
We've also had a huge week in the itchy scratchy fibreglass dept
with the foam mouldings on the outside of the port / left hull finally receiving there protective layer of glass.
Also the new baffle / water diffuser has been fitted to the belly of the Yot.This should make a huge difference to the Yot's sailing,with the baffle preventing water from hitting the motor framework.
So now its nearly thyme to point this "work in progress" back towards the open ocean and for the journey to really begin.
I fully intend to spend more thyme on the "Reef" and cruising between fishing spots than I have up until now.
Thatz all from the Cat this week!
Enjoy your living time,

Captain Felix