bellows topic again

[Cap'n Jack]

Cap'n- ur not a million miles from me, anyone you can recommend if time gets the better of me & I have to pay?

Sorry for late reply, didn't get much PC time in Oz, trying to catch up now. I have to say that I don't have a great deal of faith in small boat mechanics, sorry and don't have any first hand experience of them around here. We have only been here for a few years as we lived in Marlow for 10yrs. Where do you live?

Also, this alignment thing, if the engine is aligned correctly then when you replace the sterndrive all will be well. However, if it's out of alignment then the drive coupler could be damaged. An alignment tool can be bought from Ebay again for between £90 & £100. I think that in the first instance though if you can Google the dimensions of the tool you could fabricate a broom handle to test it first. The priciple being that if the handle slips in without sticking then it must be ok, if it sticks at all or is difficult to push into the coupler then its out of alignment.

[betty boop]

no worries capn, thanks anyway. I'm in croydon so Brighton I sometimes get too but lack of ramps puts me off some what. in the end I bought all the gear from aqua part, nice guys, very helpfull with all the silly questions you have as a novice.

As for the dealers, in a recession, I wasnt overal impressed, 3 spoken too in person, one horendous charging but did call me back 3 time to confirm quote and follow thru, good business sense but not on price, even though i got the boat from them. the other 2 1 no reply no quote, even though he hinted at a winter turn down in trade would give a good price, the other - was interested in my outboard job only cos I said I had a stern drive job as well. when one fell through they gave up on the other as well, & didnt return my calls to order parts. oh well, theres room for a business advisers in the marine industry it seems. gizza job

[Ed]

Croydon eh, thats only couple of miles from me!

[Cap'n Jack]

lack of ramps puts me off some what.

Tell me about it. Our Environment Agency is paranoid about beach defences, consequently overlooking recreational opportunities, which as we all know leads to revenue in one form or another. One reason I have had for not building slipways are that bulldozers cannot move around them easily etc. etc.

Agree entirely about Marine Service Centres.

One more thing, Western Australia want telephone engineers as well as other trades. Work life balance revolves around a family life, 5 day working weeks starting at 08.30 finishing as 16.30. Good weather all year round with temperatures in the Winter at 22c allows family life after work. A 500sqm plot will average at AU$200,000 and a 4 bed 2 bathhroom house can be built for between AU$130,000 - $200,000 and I'm talking the muts nuts!! At 1.7AU$ : £1 thats a 4 bed house by the coast for about £200,000 - 250,000. Trouble is it's about 15,000kms away.

[Ed]

Is now a bad time to say I have Aus citizenship lol trust me with this weather and the fact their economy appears to work I've been temped !

[Cap'n Jack]

They don't have world recession. They avoided it by giving all families $20,000 to spend. You are so lucky to have Aus Citizenship, keep it going as much as you can.

When I am able to post photos I will.

Take care

[betty boop]

'' Western Australia want telephone engineers ''

been there, done that, long story, many moons ago, back in the days of YTS, making money was more important than trade or skill where I came from, who needed qualifications when you could earn easy money and uni was a word never mentioned in public

as a result i've never claimed one days dole money so I've not done too bad. BUT all I have is office/Business experiance, with 15 years on off as a telecoms engineer, When I appiled to move to AUS I was accepted on the grounds I had an apprentaship signedf by BT or A.n.other. unfortunately my qualifications came from the school of hard knocks and JFDI. nothing on paper all on CV which dont make the grade or prove you have what it takes. ther are other issues of course, wive etc etc

So no matter how hard I tried those telecom jobs in western Aus are always just one reach too far. & Oh how I know the cost of houses and the good life etc. but its all out of reach for me know bar a small miricle, & age is against Mrs B.

Skill training is a mistake my kids wont be allowed to forget.

But hey I'm open to offers as someones *beep* if they they got me a work permit?

[Cap'n Jack]

Know how you feel BB!