We're still working on the boat on the hard

A blog with extra technical contributions from the skipper.

Mark has spent months planning, building, learning new skills, problem solving and working on the boat. He's been out there through the winter and sweltering in the sun. The progress on the boat is amazing but most of the structural work he's done can't be seen from outside. We've now reached the stage where we can start putting paint on, to make her look prettier and to protect her from the sea.

Wildflowers and boatyard

As I stand outside, roller in hand painting the sides, people keep telling me what a good job I'm doing and how she's really coming along now - hardly seems fair does it that after all Marks work that suddenly I'm getting  the credit!

Sat on work bench painting hull

This refit blog is one where progress is best shown in pictures so with my apologies to anyone trying to see this with rubbish internet either floating on the oggin or deep in the countryside, this is what we've been up to:

Work in progress

The back deck had disintegrated in a couple of places making walking over it quite challenging, it was also letting water in whenever there was rain. This meant the next set of hull repairs would be subject to damp immediately making replacing the deck essential at this point. The whole deck has been removed and rebuilt with new lockers and a better area for us to use.

Fresh wood deck laid

Man working on deck

Bare wood on deck

Grey primer layers

Completed back deck and new davits

Chain plates had been an area where water was able to get in and then rot the wood. This caused a large soft area on the starboard side.

Man epoxying hull

Primer and filler on hull

And an even bigger big patch of rotted wood on the port side. This is where most of the water was coming in from through the deck. This water then damaged the wood aided by a combination of  a large barrel used as an auxiliary fuel tank (long gone now) which prevented air circulation and an old repair which was just a large area of thickened epoxy (this does not flex with the original wood, first allowing water in then trapping it there). This is hopefully the last major area of hull to be repaired.

Hull with rotten section cut out

With the hull rebuilt, sanding, filling and priming have been going on. The deckhands have been earning their keep helping out with sanding and painting. The grey is just the primer, she will have more top layers put on to make her look less like a battle catamaran.

 

Sanding, filling and priming

Some may remember the 'crack from L'Aber Wrach' (yes, that does rhyme). Although the skipper did an amazing job of fixing a large hole on a beach with mainly hand tools it was never pretty. Having now been sanded, filled and reshaped it looks much better. 'Proper job' as one neighbour said.

Prepared bow

Sail drives, seacocks and anodes are also on the to do list.

Sail drives and anodes

We've still got a lot to do before we can get back in the water and can finally get off the hard. I'm looking forward to the moment I can write about being back in the water.

Grey primer on hulls