I will leave the reader's to make up their own mind as to how we are given service by the local supplier of Yanmar parts.


This is a starter motor off a Yanmar GM10 diesel engine. The engine is about sixteen years old but used as a back up power unit, both 12 volts DC and 220 volts AC, it has done no more than 450 hours or so.

The make of the starter is Hitachi, the model number of the starter motor is S114-303, I see no sign of a number on the solenoid but a USA site gives me AHSH16010 and a price in the USA of just U$12.33, which will now be R151.00 plus our local Vat @ 14%.

The starter motor is fine, the solenoid is faulty and knowing that a service shop will charge by the hour plus the parts I though it may be best just to buy a new solenoid?

The agents are Seascape ( ex IMS) near Cape Town, on phoning them I am told that the solenoid is not offered as a spare part, I must buy the complete unit, even before I asked the price I thought this to be bad news and in fact very poor service from the main importers into South Africa.

Here the complete starter motor and its solenoid costs R8658.00 plus Vat at 14% which will add R1212.12, giving a total of R9870.12 !!!  which is U$805.72 at the very poor exchange rate to the U$ we have right now.

So why do I find that in the USA prices for the starter motor and solenoid start around U$67.00 and up to U$97.00 ( estimate average ) we are poorly served here I think?

So in South Africa we pay U$805.72 and in the USA U$97.00 , read that again, these prices are shocking and just do not add up, or is there a huge import surcharge  we know nothing about?

Found today and on Amazon.com

Roy

Using some motor trade friends I was able to locate the correct 12 volt solenoid, the cost was R250 and that included 14% Vat (tax) so before tax I paid around U$17.90, which is fine by me, so why do the Yanmar agents not stock them I ask?

Bad service?


The starter motor is now at a well known auto electritians for a full service, brushes etc, before being refitted and back into use.

The car is complete and Rob the owner will collect it with a low bed trailer tomorrow.

A years work and then some, the trip was memorable!


Whats next? I have already re started on my own 1967 Hillman Californian Coupe, work on some Mirror Dinghy kits comes first, then its a re paint of the Californians body works.

Nice weather, no breeze really the wind indicator was doing 360s at some times !


More wind would have been handy but rather the calm then too much wind.



The club presidents boat, Chris Sutton was also Commodore of the HBYC for a number of years.

Yacht She, an ex TBA boat was there as well.



Yendo brought his Simonis 35 around Cape Point the day before, he had been at the FBYC for their Spring Regatta.

On our way back to the Hout Bay Harbour, Athol is putting the fenders back over the side.

Nice day!

Roy

Well sort of, we can expect some more rain but with the South Easter winds blowing up clouds we can be sure the seasonal summer winds will kick in soon enough now.


Hout Bay Harbour.


Chapmans Peak Drive in Hout Bay as viewed from the HBYC marina.

Tee shirt weather once again!

Roy

Not only that but being built right now, with one of our kits under construction, plans ordered and for another of our kits the i500 class boat will soon be a factor of the local sailing scene.


Watershed Boats have agreed to allow CKD Boats cc to cut these boats and supply as kits.


http://www.i550sportboat.com/

Check the link  for more information.

Roy

I was asked for a price on this nearly forty eight year old classic Singer Chamois and looking at the values in the UK used those, then added in our ultra weak exchange rate and came up with a number.

The engine is close to a Sunbeam Sport standard and does go quite a lost faster than a normal Hillman Imp, the price reflects the sport additions of course.



I was asked this question today and the only car I may offer ( and may not) would be the 1967 Singer Chamois we have owned for over twenty years.


A price? I have no idea, would it be as it is and the engine is perfect, starts first time even after standing unused for two weeks. The car can and is used as a daily driver when we have decent weather.


Restored will stack the numbers up but these cars are worth the cost and effort these days.

The car as seen has a lowered an monte carlo stiffer road springs and 13" wide rims, also the front brakes are converted to Ford Fiesta disks, they would all be removed and the car converted back to standard and 12" rims and tyres with the normal drum brakes.

Spares are imported normally from the UK, a recent load was flown in and the air charge was rather massive, many parts are here though.

 Not a pair of opening Hillman  Californian coupe vent light windows, I have just had UP deliver two from Ireland, the total cost was GBP140 plus Vat, when the parcel was opened only one was correct as the other one was from the standard saloon!

So it goes, another one and from England was collected by TNT today, with one more being sent from Scotland we should end up with a matching pair soon, at least my Imp car parts contacts are many.

This is the way we need to ship now, with the SA Postal Service on its knees due to continued strike acctions, the only safe way to get your order is to use a courier service, a British Seagull part posted months back just never arrived.

Below is the route some Imp Californian windscreen rubbers are taking right now:

Via TNT, last week we used UPS.

16 Oct 2014	04:46:34	London Heathrow Hub	Shipment Received At Tnt Location
16 Oct 2014	03:37:28	London Heathrow Hub	Pre-arrival Customs Clearance In Progress
16 Oct 2014	01:56:53	Northampton Hub	Shipment In Transit.
16 Oct 2014	01:55:00	Northampton Hub	Shipment Received At Transit Point.
15 Oct 2014	21:17:00	Exeter	Shipment In Transit.
15 Oct 2014	18:17:41	Exeter	Shipment In Transit.
15 Oct 2014	18:17:36	Exeter	Shipment Received At Origin Depot.
15 Oct 2014	14:32:11	Exeter	Shipment Collected From Customer

Roy

There are nine sets of wood Mirror Dinghy kit sets and CNC cut plys ready for building now, they may be sold as the person who placed the entire order is the person who will be issuing them to new buyers and we hope builders.


To see a larger image click on each picture.

The machine work was done by a qualified specialist, the cutting to size was done in house and took four days to cut to the specified lengths, some are also shaped.