[Alan Wheeler]

Cement comes from several sources in NZ. One famouse cement was Golden Bay, but the real Golden bay site has scince closed.
Kai Nui, Salt is bad bad new's. It stays in the cement and as the cement hardens, it turns back into a crystal. Then when it is exposed to water again, the crystal disolves and leaves a small pit. Many cystals can lead to a very porouse and weak plaster. I have just seen a hull this morning that I suspect may have had such a situation. It is being restored and I have just seen it for the first time. The plaster has small shell particles in it and the outer plaster skin is very pitted. I suspect someone has used sand from a beach. The hull has been sandblasted back very hard and has showed up cracks all over it. These are seriouse stress cracks as they are all around internal stiffenings. I don't know what this guy is going to do. I dont' have the expertise to help with suggestion with something this bad. But I am going to watch closely and see what he does and how,in the aim to learn something from him. Let's hope it is positive.