Re-building the Dewdrop

Under Sail!

2008-06-11T21:10:00.002Z

Dewdrop under full sail at the SOIA International Paints Regatta on Rutland Water.

Launch Day

2008-06-11T21:07:00.003Z

Finally, after what seems like an age, I launched Dewdrop. She sailed wonderfully despite a few teething problems and, I think, looked very fine indeed.

Rigged.

2008-05-26T20:07:00.004Z

I tried the mast up and attempted to make sense of the rigging. I've got a little bit of work to do here to make it all work again.

Out for the last time.

2008-05-26T20:03:00.003Z

It's time to say goodbye to the shed.................at long last. All of the deck fittings etc are all in place and all that remains is to finish the anti-fouling and rig her properly.

Nearly there.

Thanks for the help Harold. (See told you you'd be famous one day!).

Looking good!

2008-05-26T19:59:00.002Z

I've had her name made up in vinyl lettering. It took a bit of concentration lining it all up, but I think it looks really well.

The varnish is coming along nicely

2008-04-08T21:11:00.002Z

5 coats of varnish later! I've got to give the inner cockpit another couple of coats, then I can re-coat all the gloss and deck paint. The new hatches are nearly finished (A massive thanks to Harold for that!) and once they're done I can complete the runners and apply some varnish to them.

The last remaining "big job" is the bottom. It really is a most unpleasant job scraping off all that old antifouling paint, but I'm half way there with it now and soon I can glass round the keels and apply the new paint.

Hope you're enjoying the journey as much as I am!

Waterline

2008-03-16T20:57:00.002Z

I tried to get the waterline as straight as I could and I used Cream to compliment the upper paintwork.

The Bright work!

2008-03-16T20:52:00.002Z

I've got 2 coats of varnish on the outer cabin superstructure now. The first coat was heavily thinned to allow it to penetrate into the wood. Again I've used International for this. The varnish is Schooner and thinners (Flow agent) No. 333. I want at least another 3 coats on so I think I'll be buying in some more!

Deck paint

2008-03-16T20:49:00.002Z

I chose cream for the deck paint and I think it works well with the blue. I used Blakes for this job and I'll put the second coat on when I've finished the varnishing.

Top Coat

2008-03-16T20:46:00.002Z

I've got the first coat of Baltic Blue on now. What a difference! This international paint is lovely to use and gives a great finish.

Undercoat

2008-03-16T20:41:00.002Z

Two coats of International undercoat went on next. A bit of colour on there has already made a difference. I sanded in between coats with 120 grit wet and dry paper and gave attention where required.

First Primer Coat

2008-02-20T22:30:00.002Z

I've got the first coat of primer on. This will highlight any areas I may have missed when filling/sanding. These areas will be put right and then primed again.

This process may be repeated several times until a perfectly smooth surface finish is achieved. Only then will the undercoat ang gloss be applied.

Plywood repairs

2008-02-20T22:27:00.002Z

Plywood is simple to repair and an insert repair, properly fitted, filled and faired can look good as new and, as you can see is invisable when painted.

Filling all the holes

2008-02-20T22:23:00.002Z

It's important to take time to properly fill all the screw-holes and blemishes before sanding them flat. This will provide a good base for paint to go on. It's really worth (no matter how mundane!) to put the effort in here as the resultant finish will be built on this preparation.

Companionway Cut-out

2008-02-11T21:17:00.000Z

This was a tense moment. All that work of bonding the Coachroof together and then I had to cut a hole in it!!

It worked out perfectly to size and I like to think this was down to judgement rather than luck! Although the plans and long accurate straight edges certainly helped......

As you can see, the new hatch runners were offered up to obtain a precise measurement for the cross member, as the tenon joints vary slightly no matter how careful you measure them on the bench. Let's not forget that boats need that little bit of "freelancing" from time to time!

New Hatch Runners

2008-02-11T21:12:00.000Z

I made up the new Hatch Runners today to the correct size and glued them. A "sash clamp" proved invaluable for this task.

I used 18mm Meranti for this job which I bought rough sawn and ran through a thicknesser to achieve the desired finish.

Cockpit Coamings

2008-02-11T21:09:00.000Z

The cockpit coamings look so much better with the half-round mahogany capping pieces glued in place. This hides/protects the end-grain of the ply and gives the appearance of one thick, solid piece of wood.

Finally some sunshine!

2008-02-11T21:06:00.000Z

I managed to get the doors open today in the glorious summer february sunshine (Global warming at it's best). Just hope this run of warm weather continues for painting and varnishing.

Tiller

2008-02-11T21:03:00.000Z

The tiller appeared, superficially, to be in bad shape, but just like the mast it'll sand up a treat. That 50 year old spruce is resillient stuff.

Coach-roof bonding

2008-02-11T20:57:00.000Z

I've bonded the last layer onto the coachroof. It's now 12mm as per the original plans. I toyed with the idea of going to 18mm for rigidity, but when I stood on top of the cabin this afternoon I realised that 12mm is plenty strong enough! It still needs to be planed flush and I'll remove the screws before filling in any holes.

A Helping Hand!

2008-02-02T21:43:00.001Z

Poor Dave (another Silhouette owner) popped by to say hello and ended up with a pot of glue in his hand!

Many thanks for the assistance Dave (one of the few to have seen Dewdrop close up!).

Cabin Doubler Pieces

2008-02-02T21:35:00.000Z

The first layer of coachroof was glued on today. As you can see from the pictures, I fabricated some doubler pieces all the way round to add rigidity and provide a bigger area for fixing the roof to.

On the front section I've extended the doubler down in between the two windows. This is to give extra strength as the majority of the surface area here is taken up with the window apertures.

I used some left-over 6mm from the roof for this job.

Companionway Step

2008-01-28T21:30:00.000Z

I needed to come up with a design for the companionway step. I've made a simple one that has masses of storage inside. It will also be a platform for the gas stove (pictured).

It will obviously be painted and nicely capped off to look good and it will be removeable to gain access to that area of bilge if necessary.

Scarpfing the Coachroof

2008-01-28T21:26:00.000Z

Here, as you can see, the timber has been scarphed and is layed out to check for fit. You can also see that after I applied the glue I found yet another amazing use for some Aircraft Chocks!

Cabin roof

2008-01-28T21:14:00.000Z

I've made a start on the cabin roof, finally. According to the plans it needs to be at least 12mm thick, however because of the pronounced curve this will be too difficult to achieve in one go.

I've decided, therefore to overcome this by laminating two layers of 6mm ply together in situ.

The next problem I encountered was the cabin roof void is wider than a sheet of ply! This will be overcome by scarphing additional strips onto the full sheet width then bending onto the cabin top to get the camber. (Easier said than done..................scarphing is a tricky business on such thin material and when using a power planer, great care is called for!).

The following pictures will hopefully illustrate what I've been up to recently.

You may also notice the different surroundings. My shed developed a damp problem which was affecting all the new timber, so I've moved her indoors! (Thanks to my management for that!). This should also be a massive help when it comes to drying paint and varnish.

Pictures

2007-12-02T15:56:00.000Z

Pictures paint a thousand words, so you can see for yourself where things are up to. Going through glue like it's going out of fashion!

More pictures

2007-12-02T15:52:00.001Z

Some more pictures of "where I'm at". Got to start thinking about colour schemes I suppose!

Life is............a pot of glue and a load of patience

2007-12-02T15:41:00.000Z

Things are really moving on now. As you will see in the following pictures, All of the decks, cabin superstructure and most of the cockpit have been finally glued into place. All of the cockpit coamings have been cut, checked for fit and are ready to be glued into place.

The cockpit floorboards still need to be made, as do the seat/locker lids.

Almost ready for the roof to go on..................

One-piece aft deck.

2007-10-23T19:30:00.000Z

After some deliberation, I convinced myself to bin the two-piece aft deck arrangement in favour of a single board.

This will be stronger and will not have any seams to get rid of when it comes to painting.

"That Hole"!!

2007-10-23T19:26:00.000Z

I've been putting it off for ages in favour of more pleasing jobs, but "That Hole" now filled in!!

I used a simple insert of 9mm marine ply here with an oversized backing plate (very much like an aircraft skin repair).

Just got to fill, fair and paint it now. Glad it's out of the way now....

FINALLY...........Back to work!

2007-07-24T17:46:00.000Z

Finally, after what seems an age, the lads give me a hand to "un-wrap" Dewdrop and put her back into the shed. It's a bit annoying having to vacate every so often, and with all the rain we've had, progress outdoors has been pitifully slow.

Still, she's back indoors now so I can crack on.

(Thanks Smeds and Neil!).

Companionway Framing

2007-04-23T19:25:00.000Z

The framing for the companionway has now been cut to size and screwed into place. This will, of course be capped with hardwood runners to accept the washboards.

I've also fitted shaped "doubler" sections to the top of the cabin bulkheads. This will add strength and provide a decent area for the coachroof to be screwed to. This was an original feature on the plans, and really quite simple to achieve. I used the bulkhead to mark out the shape onto some ply, cut it out and replicated the camber with a marking gauge.

Cabin Rear Section

2007-04-05T21:41:00.000Z

The port side, cabin rear bulkhead is now cut to shape and in place. It's still a little over-size on the companionway side. This will be rectified when I measure out the exact size for the companionway/hatch opening (1'10" according to the plans).

I've fitted the little brass porthole that I found on e-bay for £12! Looks great and it definately looks better than the "Butterfly" vent that was formerly in that position.

More new windows

2007-04-05T21:35:00.000Z

The front windows are now attatched wit the four "key" screws. Obviously they'll come off again to enable me to varnish the woodwork before being finally bedded onto silicone and screwed down.

Window Apertures

2007-04-05T21:32:00.000Z

The cabin front is now cut to shape and tacked in place, ready for the window apertures to be measured and cut out.

Odd looking panel!

2007-04-05T21:28:00.000Z

I've inserted the new 9mm marine ply board for the cabin front. Just need to make it fit perfectly before I give it it's shape and cut it out. (Looks a bit odd).

Re-Born.......................again!

2007-03-29T21:04:00.000Z

You might be excused for thinking you were looking at a Silhouette Mk 2!

(the cabin front is just a rough template at this stage)

Using templates

2007-03-29T20:57:00.000Z

I really do find the use of templates is a massive help. I use cheap thin ply, hardboard or whatever I can get my hands on.

I just fiddle around with it until I get it absolutely right then use it as a guide for cutting out the more expensive marine ply.

If I get the template wrong I just set it aside for use on a smaller job and start again!

Here, I'm using some thin ply for fabricating the starboard cockpit coamings. As I found with the large Hull templates, they're not symmetrical, so a little "creative adjustment" is required!

Starboard Cabin Side

2007-03-29T20:53:00.000Z

The starboard cabin side (complete with new window) is now complete and tacked into place. Next step will be to prepare the cockpit coaming as per the port side.

Fitting the windows

2007-03-29T20:44:00.000Z

It's important to pilot-drill all the srcrew holes with a very fine drill, taking care not to go all the way through. I used 2.0mm for the job. This prevents the wood from splitting when you put the screw in. It also gives the screw a good true guide to follow which is important when using large dome-headed screws.

I found that if you put four "key" screws in first it holds the Perspex to enable you to drill all the other holes without fear of slippage.

Great care and patience was called for here!

Cabin window

2007-03-21T21:25:00.000Z

The port cabin window is now fitted. It will be re-seated onto a bead of silicone after the cabin etc get varnished.

It's important not to tighten the screws fully down onto the wood once the sealant is in place. This could cause the Perspex to shatter around the screw holes when the boat flexes.

Steady As She Goes!

2007-03-21T21:23:00.000Z

It takes a steady hand and a keen eye when cutting out for the windows. One slip and the whole cabin side is written off..................

Let's not get carried away...............

2007-03-20T20:29:00.000Z

Things are looking good now and it's so easy to head off in several different directions (I learnt this early on!).

Once I've sorted out the starboard cabin side and coaming, I dismantle everything and have a dedicated glueing session.

This means I'm not messing about mixing small quantities of glue and I don't get so far ahead that I forget things.

Takes a lot of discipline though...............................

Double Thickness

2007-03-20T20:23:00.000Z

As per the original plans, the cockpit coamings are double the thickness of the cabin sides i.e. 18mm. I made up an exact template of very thin cheap grade ply and used this to cut the two coamings exactly to size.

They'll be laminated together in-situ to hold their shape. I've left the after ends a bit long as they'll need to be trimmed to fit the rear coaming.

Coamings

2007-03-20T20:16:00.000Z

Everything went according to plan today. I got the port side decks cut to shape and tacked on. I also realised after studying the plans that I had to fit the cabin side and coaming before working out the next bulkhead/cabin rear.

I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.

A bit more Boat-Shaped!

2007-03-19T20:01:00.000Z

Finally it looks as though things are starting to look a bit more boat shaped again. It's funny how, after all the feelings of dismay and thoughts of giving up, there's a massive light at the end of the tunnel.

I can definately begin to see the fruits of my labour now.....................

Starboard Side Deck

2007-03-19T19:56:00.000Z

Today I also cut out the starboard side deck and tacked it in place. It still has to be glued and filled, but it looks so much more complete already. Tomorrow I'll attack the port side.

New Bridge-Deck

2007-03-19T19:48:00.000Z

I got he cockpit floorboards finished today. All that remains is to fit four brass lift-rings for access to the stowage beneath. (and paint of course).

I also fitted the new Bridge-Deck. I've still got to adjust the ends once the coamings go on, but as you can see from the picture it'll look great when it's varnished up.

I used 12mm ply for the floorboards and they remain a loose fit to allow easy access to the cockpit bilge/stowage space.

For the Bridge-Deck I cut a piece of 9mm ply out of the same sheet as the bulkhead. This will be glued and tacked into place.

Cockpit Floor

2007-03-15T23:00:00.000Z

I got the cockpit framing finished tonight. I also fitted the framing for the flooring. It's really taking shape now.

Fresh Paint

2007-03-15T22:55:00.000Z

I had some time to kill, so I took the opportunity to slap a coat of primer on the exposed new wood. This will afford it some protection now. I was getting a bit mouldy and grubby!

I also got a first coat of bilge paint in the cockpit area before the floor goes in.

Glassy Finish!

2007-03-12T21:16:00.000Z

Finished varnishing the mast today. With a little bit of effort and lots of preparation you can achieve an excellent finish.

It's worth removing all fittings if possible as this gives a more even coat and protects the wood under the fittings.

I applied 3 coats of professional grade varnish, leaving each coat at least overnight. I rubbed each coat down with very fine sand paper and cleaned it off with white spirit before applying the next coat.

I found it very therapuitc, and if you get the preparation right, you get a fantastic result.......

Bridge Deck Framing

2007-03-03T17:12:00.000Z

I've put the framing for the Bridge Deck in place. It will need to be glued and the bulkhead top shaved flush.

The forward Bridge Deck frame will match the slight camber of the aft frame once the next bulkhead goes on and gets screwed to it.

Cockpit Framing

2007-03-03T17:06:00.000Z

I've made a start on the framing for the cockpit lockers. I had some lengths of oak 1" x 1" in the shed and they're absolutely perfect for this job.

The cockpit area will look so much better when it's got a coat of paint/varnish on it and the lockers are in place.

Sprucing up the Mast!!

2007-02-22T21:14:00.000Z

I decided to have a break from the hull this evening, so I laid the mast out on a bench and set to with my new belt-sander. What a brilliant tool. It's gone from a tired looking, weathered old flaky mast to a really nice piece of spruce.

Note the convenient use of a set of aircraft chocks to raise it off the bench!

I should get some varnish applied fairly soon.

Working Nights!

2007-02-22T21:09:00.000Z

As you can see I don't have a lot of light to work with in my shed at night. Roll on the Longer evenings!

I've tried some of my previously made cabin superstructure for size. I think I'll get away with just a few alterations.

Aft Deck

2007-01-03T16:52:00.000Z

I've got the Aft Deck cut roughly to shape now. It just needs to be trimmed a little and recessed to accept the Side Deck stringers. Again I've tacked it into place.

Once I see an improvement in the weather I need to have a couple of days dedicated purely to gluing everything into place.

Pulpit

2007-01-03T16:45:00.000Z

When I removed the Pulpit, it was in a bad way. Years worth of gloss paint had built up and where the paint was chipped away, it was beginning to corrode.

I had it blasted and re-sprayed with aircraft grade paint and it looks good as new! Only cost me a tenner, too!

I couldn't resist trying it in place to get a feel for how it'll look. When properly fitted, it will sit on two teak pads.

Stbd Hull

2006-11-16T19:06:00.000Z

The new Stbd Hull panel tacked in place. Note the new and improved quarter panel!

Stbd Hull Panel

2006-11-16T18:57:00.000Z

After a little deliberation, I decided to replace the Stbd Hull panel too. I simply reversed the original template (however I did need to modify it slightly as nothing on a boat is exactly symmetrical!). After I was happy with the fit I used the template to cut the panel out of a full sheet of ply.

I bought some new "quick grips" and they really proved their worth here.

I also made up the Stbd quarter panel while I was at it (the old one was a disgrace-someone used 6mm ply and packed it out with car body filler....).

Now all that remains is to drill the rest of my fastner holes, countersink them all and "glue and screw" the lot.

Quarter panel

2006-11-16T18:53:00.000Z

After careful measuring, I've now fitted the port side quarter panel. I used a bit more MDF packing to make up a template first. It just needs a little bit of a final trim before being glued into place.

If only!

2006-11-06T20:59:00.000Z

Here's another original sales poster, this time for one of the later GRP MK 3 models. Interestingly enough, the price on there seems to be about the going rate on e-bay forty years later! Could that be deemed as holding their money........................?

Clean buttstraps!

2006-11-06T20:21:00.000Z

It's imperative to clean all of the old veneers and glue residue from the buttstraps before bonding the new ply. It's a little time consuming but critical for a firm bond.

Not very sticky glue.......

2006-11-06T20:18:00.000Z

Over time, the rot has rendered the glue between the topsides and the frame completely useless. As you can see the old ply just peeled away effortlessly with the point of a chisel!

Work begins again!

2006-11-06T20:10:00.000Z

Finally, work can begin again. I've had shed trouble again, but she's firmly back indoors again. I've re-begun in earnest by removing the starboard hull panel. Only the top section of this panel was actually rotten, however I preferred the idea of a complete new panel than patching things up.

Another bulkhead appears!

2006-08-29T20:13:00.000Z

Today I cut out the cockpit forward bulkhead. I've left it over-sized on top as this will be planed to shape when the Bridge-deck gets fitted.

Again, for this job I've used 9mm marine ply. I've put the best side facing the cockpit as this will be varnished. The other side won't be seen under the Bridge-deck and will be painted in any case.

Room to manoeuvre.........

2006-08-29T20:09:00.000Z

It get's quite awkward cutting out from full 8'x4' shhets in tight surroundings. Old pallets are just the job, though, and it doesn't matter if you cut into them!

New Knees!

2006-08-24T22:14:00.000Z

The two new Knees finally finished today. These were cut out of teak using a band saw from the old rotten oak ones as templates.

They're ready to be glued and fixed into place now. (Between the side decks and forward frame).

Should look nice down below, too........

Room to breathe

2006-08-22T19:56:00.000Z

There was a nasty damp problem in and around the cockpit area in the past, so I've cut a decent sized vent into the bulkhead.

This will be below the cockpit floor level and will allow the air to circulate more freely.

It also means that should any water find it's way into the lazarette locker, it will run straight into the cockpit bilge and not accumulate behind the bulkhead like before.

In with the new!

2006-08-22T19:51:00.000Z

I used what was left of the old rear bulkhead to mark out for the new one. Had to get a bit creative here with some fancy measuring!

I've used 9mm marine ply here, same as the hull. It's just loosely in place for now ready for the framework behind it to go in before glueing it all in and planing the top profile.

Out with the old.......

2006-08-22T19:48:00.000Z

I removed the rear cockpit bulkhead. Came out remarkably easily too. It stayed intact enough to use as a template for the new one.

Ready for the glue

2006-08-16T16:31:00.000Z

The hull panel is all trimmed up now ready to be glued in. I've taken out the two knees where the foredeck meets the side deck. I've got a nice piece of mahogany to make the new ones out of. A little job for my lunch hour, I think..............

Trying it for size

2006-08-10T21:43:00.000Z

Once I'd cut the hull panel to shape, I tacked it in place to check for fit. I've left some wood proud at deck level to be planed flush later. All that remains now is to pilot-drill and countersink all my screw holes and "glue and screw" the panel in place.

Using the template

2006-08-10T21:35:00.000Z

I removed the bigger template and simply used it to mark out the ply.

Lady in Red!

2006-08-08T20:46:00.000Z

Ian Arnold very kindly sent me these pictures of his boat "Christeel". As her name suggests, she's actually constructed from STEEL! Probably the only steel Silhouette afloat.............

Great effort Ian, You've done an amazing job!

Original Plans

2006-08-08T20:35:00.000Z

Having a set of the original plans certainly helps. Mine were kindly given to my by a member of SOIA (many thank's again Mike!), however they can still be bought for about £100. I think.

Having a seperate "tidy" area to view the plans over a coffee and escape the chaos helps too!

Shaping up..................again.

2006-08-08T20:31:00.000Z

Not quite the "Proper little Ship" yet but she's definately becoming a wee bit more "ship-shape".

Templates

2006-08-08T19:37:00.000Z

Here's the "packing wood" templates in place!

Good Progress

2006-08-08T19:28:00.000Z

Made a great discovery today..................the packing that protects sheets of marine ply in transit is perfect for making templates! It seems to be a kind of MDF, but it's quite sturdy, lightweight and extremely flexible.
Good job I didn't buy that sheet of hardboard after all!

Anyway, I got the templates cut out and tacked in place. Just got some "fine tuning" to do on them before using them to mark out the ply.

Back to work!

2006-08-02T19:34:00.000Z

Moved Dewdrop back into the shed today. My 9mm marine ply has arrived so I cleaned up the framework ready for the new hull section to go on.
I've decided to make a template out of thin hardboard first so I get the shape exactly right on the ply.
I'll be so much happier when that's on and I can start work on the decks.

Got my shed back!

2006-07-31T07:26:00.000Z

Just been told I can move back into my shed on Thursday. I can really crack on with things then without worrying about the weather/lugging heavy tarpaulins about etc.

I work in a training establishment and part of the deal is I have to move out every time there's a course on. Should be ok until after christmas this time, so hopefully I'll be posting a lot more progress pictures soon.

2006-07-23T14:42:00.000Z

History

2006-07-23T14:14:00.000Z

Had some good news at last....... I contacted the sail registrar of the Silhouette Owners association to see if he had any history on my boat. He has a wealth of information on silhouette's and keeps the original records of many.

I could'nt supply him with much information as my sails had "gone missing" so no sail number was present. I did, however have the original build number which was carved into one of the forward frames.

I could'nt believe it. He had her on record! "Kathleen-Charlotte" was built in 1960 and has the sail number "471". She used to sail out of the river Blackwater before moving to the Kennelworth area.

I've informed Mr. Heald of the SOIA of the name change etc., and he's updated the records. I'm pleased to discover that she's one of the original "Hurley" built boats and with the sail number "471", one of the oldest still around!

Light at the end of the tunnel

2006-07-06T20:35:00.000Z

This picture was taken at a Silhouette association rally on Rutland Water in June. Dave (wearing the hat) was kind enough to allow me to sail on his beloved "Polly" for the weekend. She's been restored to an exceptionally high standard. This was sent to me to remind me what I should be striving for and it's certainly renewed my vigour! Many thanks to Elizabeth for being kind enough to send it!

Foredeck

2006-06-23T21:11:00.000Z

At least my new foredeck still looks good! Soon the decks all round will match.

Cutting out the damage

2006-06-23T21:05:00.000Z

I've removed the damaged hull sections and both side decks plus the aft deck. Everything is ready to be cleaned up now ready to accept the new marine ply. Had to order a sheet of 9mm marine ply for the hull work.

A dark day....................

2006-06-23T20:54:00.000Z

I stripped back some paint on the top-sides and to my utter dismay the dreaded rot has reared it's ugly head again. I can't dscribe how gutted I felt. Nothing else for it but to get to the bottom of the problem........literally. All the new cabin structure has to come off. A proper inspection of the hull has shown extensive rot to a complete hull panel on the Port side. A small patch forward of the chain-plates and some small areas close to the deck on the Starboard side.

I've decided to renew all of the decks while I'm at it. I've removed the bridge-deck and the rear bulkhead as they just won't be acceptable now.

***NOTE: IN A WAY THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED HERE WERE A BLESSING IN DISGUISE. ONCE I'D REMOVED EVERYTHING I REALISED I'D BEEN CUTTING CORNERS AND HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRCTION ALTOGETHER. IT'S IMPORTANT WITH A PROJECT LIKE THIS TO YAKE PROPER STOCK OF THE SITUATION AND NOT RUSH IN. THEREFORE FROM THIS POINT ONWARDS, THINGS TAKE ON A MORE LOGICAL AND PROFESSIONAL PATH. HOPE YOU'RE ENJOYING MY JOURNEY! Jim. ***

What a difference some paint makes!

2006-05-11T19:58:00.000Z

I've had to move out of my shed for a couple of weeks!! I took the opportunity today in the sunshine to peel back the cover and apply a coat of primer to the new wood on the fore-deck. When the weather permits, I'll drag the cover off to sand, fair and prime the decks all the way round while she's outside. That way I'm not just looking glumly at a big green tarpaulin! What a differesne a touch of paint makes, though!

Foredeck

2006-05-11T19:52:00.000Z

The new fore-deck finally gets glued down! It took quite a bit of sanding to fair it all in. The mahogany plank in the deck centre is a wee bit rough arond the edges, so I'll have to be a bit creative with a well matched filler! I do think that holes in boats look better when covered with wood!

New Windows

2006-05-08T09:47:00.000Z

Last week I took the old windows into the Engineering Workshops at work, to see if they could replicate them. I picked them up today-cut to shape, with all holes drilled for £10. BARGAIN!

They used 6mm clear perspex for this andI've had them made 15mm bigger all round to enable me to bolt them on, using stainless steel screws on a bed of clear silicone.

The old method was to use window "Rubbers" much like in cars or old caravans but apparrently this method leaked a lot. I also think the bolt-on method will look much smarter.

Proper Little Ship

2006-05-02T21:22:00.000Z

She's starting to look like the Proper Little Ship that she once was...........

Taking shape

2006-05-02T21:18:00.000Z

Things are really starting to take shape now. (Just got to knuckle down and finish that fore-deck so I can ge some primer on it!).

Planing the edges

2006-05-02T21:15:00.000Z

I'll plane the edges into shape tomorrow in my lunch hour (yes, unfortunately I have a real job too!!).

Coach Roof

2006-05-02T21:09:00.000Z

I originally planned to use 12mm ply for the coach-roof, however this proved virtually impossible to bend. So I've resorted to using 4 sheets of 6mm ply (2 each side) which will be Laminated together with Cascamite glue. Thanks to Will on the SOIA forum for that tip! So far it seems to be working well.

New Coach Roof

2006-05-02T21:06:00.000Z

The new coach-roof get's cut to size, tacked on ready to be planed to shape.

Back in time!

2006-05-01T10:57:00.000Z

If only boats were still this cheap!

Sexist Sixties!

2006-05-01T10:52:00.000Z

My wife didn't appreciate the write-up on the "Wifes Galley"!

Cockpit Lockers

2006-04-30T13:54:00.000Z

The new cockpit lockers are now in place. Again I've used 12mm ply here. The starboard locker will have a hinged lid on it. The port will be sealed as there will be a bunk underneath. The bridge-deck is sound and I believe it will sand back so I have'nt replaced it. One thing I did notice in the cockpit is that because the cockpit does'nt drain away, there's a ventilation problem under the floorboards. I had some damp going on there(smelly too!). I've therefore decided to make a duckboard (probably from teak) to alleviate this.

Cockpit

2006-04-30T13:48:00.000Z

The cockpit lockers were in a bad way, so they had to go! The previous owner included some lovely 70's style tongue'n'groove in the cockpit lockers, however, with a heavy heart I took a hammer to it!

Original Layouts

2006-04-30T13:44:00.000Z

Here's one of the Brochures showing the original layout options!

Inside

2006-04-30T13:37:00.000Z

The interior will get a complete re-gloss and some new floor boards. I'll make these from 12mm ply as the old versions were really flimsy! I've decided to build in a little galley on the port side. I hope to work it out so that the lid/cover will double up as a handy little chart table. I intend to relocate the port bunk to a quarter-berth under the port cockpit locker. Apparently this was a build option on the original boats by Hurley Marine.