Delivery to the docks in Brisbane has now slipped until the 3rd January, although the vessel's ETA Long Beach is still 21st Feb, but if that slips a few days I will not be upset ! I must admit I do wonder how the person loading the car on the boat is going to get in and out of the car with the roof on, especially if he is a “large framed” shipping type !!! And the only other thing I am wondering about is how well the (new) battery will survive 45 days on the boat. It might just survive without going flat, but as I don’t have a battery isolation switch (is that something that in hindsight I should have fitted ?!), if it does go flat, how will they get the car off the boat at the other end ? Oh well, I guess that is not my problem !! But I will make sure that the battery is put on trickle charge for the full day just before the car is delivered to the docks.
·
Took the undertrays off so the rear view camera
could be wired up. I was given this by my 3 wonderful children for Christmas
because with the boot box in place on the back I can’t see anything in the rear
view mirror, and I know I will feel a lot more comfortable when on the wrong
side of the road or in Los Angeles type traffic if I can see what is behind, so
this seemed like a great solution, and I am very happy with the outcome. It has been wired in with an on/off switch so
if not required I can turn it off, and also so it can be unplugged and removed
from the car if needs be so minimize any temptation for theft.
·
While the undertrays were off, I did the last
oil change, putting in 5W/40 Castrol Edge, and a new filter. Will be carrying one filter and sump plug
washer as I will change the oil and filter in Anacortes when I get there in April,
before I push North into Canada and Alaska.
·
Cleaned and re-oiled the air filter. Will clean and re-oil this again in Anacortes
as well, unless it is exceptionally dusty anywhere, but am not anticipating
this in the damp and cold of Spring time.
·
Gave another waterproofing spray to the soft
top, and lubricated the cam mechanism in the tails as I am sure the roof is
going to be removed and put on again many times over the coming months !
·
The internal supports to counteract the weight
of the boot rack on the rear clam were also fitted and snugged up to apply
pressure up under the rear pads of the boot rack. I have used the boot rack extensively both in
Europe and here in Aus, and fine cracks were starting to appear in the gel coat
around the edge of the rear aero winglet, caused by the continual flexing of
the top of the clam. These supports are designed to mount on the longerons and
apply an equal pressure upwards directly below the point where the rack sits on
the clam. They appear to be somewhat
overkill engineering wise compared to what I had envisaged, but now they are in
and fitted, they appear excellent, and more importantly take up minimal space
in the boot. Their justification will
only be proved as the trip progresses.
·
I have also completely washed the wheels themselves, and inside the wheel
arches in order to satisfy customs requirements. It never hurts to at least
make it all look spick and span under there.
Now I am just waiting for all the stickers to be applied
on 28th Jan, and that will be it.
I can’t do any more!
