The HMG 43 is a classic flybridge cruiser with a well regarded reputation. We have recently started this large refit for this vessel which will be put into charter but being a 1971 model it needs a lot of work to restore. Apart from the usual upkeep from years of use the owner also wants a lot of modifications made. The first thing was to cut in a transom door to allow access into the back deck. The back deck itself had major problems so we pulled this up to find a lot of repairs required below it in the hull. On the back deck were a couple of old freezers which we removed as well. While the deck was off we also flowcoated the area below to give it a clean up. The new back deck will have camber to shed water with new laminated beams as the old deck was flat and collected water. The new deck will also be made from composite which will be much stronger and lighter. The foredeck and side decks are made with balsa core which required several repairs. The major repair was below the old bowsprit and anchor winch which we replaced a large section of the deck with composite. The original timber bowsprit was partly rotten so was replaced with a composite version. The three foredeck hatches were old and leaking and we discovered once we removed them that the deck was rotted below them, so this was cut out and repaired, and new hatches were fitted. The outside of the boat was stripped of most fittings with extensive stress cracking scattered everywhere needing repairs. The moulded nonskid pattern on deck was riddled with air voids from manufacture so to refinish this we ground off all the tread pattern to reveal a sound substrate for coating. We also removed the old teak duckboard which was in a bad way and are fitting a new larger stainless platform. Internally we stripped out the galley and large freezer under the floor, the lower helm console, the old fuel tanks, all electrical components and wiring, washing machine and ceiling lining. We have also ordered new cabin windows throughout to replace the old tired originals. With the rusted fuel tanks removed we will make new tank mounts in the hull for the new stainless tanks. We also removed the genset and are replacing this with large battery banks which will be housed in two battery boxes in the engine room. We are also replacing the props and prop shafts with new couplings. This ongoing project will be underway for some time so we will keep everyone updated as we progress.