$1699 for the keel so far, with Kevin's time for machining, welding and shaping still to come. This has turned out to be a very economical way of ballasting SibLim - and, of course, the oysters are going to have to leap out of the way very smartly as you take the ground, or they'll get a severe headache!

A small angle grinder is an extremely useful tool, for both wooden and steel boat building. Would not want to be without one.

$515.00 for 'half a ton of hardwood - possibly Soligna' (Sydney Blue Gum).

David Webb spotted this; I bid for it on Trade Me and won the auction.  Considering how much I spent on the Kwila for the skegs, I regard it as a bargain, especially as a lot of it is quarter sawn.  The main reason for buying it is for the deadwood between hull and keel, but I'll also get my rudders and rubbing strakes from it.  Descriptions of Saligna suggest that it's salmon pink, but this is more wine red.  David W reckons that this is because it's probably slow-grown, well-seasoned stuff.  Well, not much to complain about there!  There's not much room in the shed, so I've stacked the longer lengths outside:

$100.05 for a mini pump and extra slow WEST Hardener - necessary for big glue-ups in the summer.

$169.95  - 4.3m x 200mm x 50mm Alaskan Yellow Cedar

$150 - second hand Manson Supreme 25 lb anchor.  It's a bit scruffy, so I'm getting it re-galvanised, which will probably cost me another $70.

Recent good buys have been $76 for a Simpson Lawrence Anchorman windlass, $30 for a bronze reversing winch handle, $25 for a galley pump: all second hand.

And last week I was given a 10kg Delta anchor!

The second lot, David, although there is still a bit left from the first.  I like to buy fairly well in advance because if there is any flocoating to be done, it guzzles through the epoxy. 

I decided on the WEST system in the end, rather than the NZ equivalent, (whose name escapes me at present) because I have used so much of it and can anticipate what it does.  As well, All Marine provide it to professional builders round here, so sell it at a very good price.  I'm building at Norsand Boatyard, who offered me a very fair deal on the local stuff, but as they buy in vast quantities, it would need decanting, which sounded like a messy job. 

One of the many advantages of building here, however, (apart from the fact that it is a very friendly and welcoming yard) is that there is an on-site store that is well stocked and happy to order anything that isn't there, and their prices are very reasonable.  I make a note of the 'sundries', (already standing at around $600!) and at the end of the project, will publish a complete set of my costs.