Nereid of Freshwater Bay.
The 15th of May and the endless summer is still with us. Balmy days, light winds and sun beaming down on us.
But when I got there, the main door was closed.
OMG has the place been locked up... no the other door is open, so I poked my head around the corner and there was Jeff and a Canadian marine engineer friend. A brief chat and a love of old wooden boats was confirmed. He was quite taken by the boat and expressed surprise at the length of the drive shaft (no supports). Maybe Thornycroft had a different way of doing things then.
Leon is the new shipwright on the job and he was finishing off the strakes on the port side. The rest of the boat was in good shape and the area between the old and new hulls is to be finished in glass (about 15 cm). That will leave him open to work on the topsides while someone else takes over work on the rest of the hull. It's clear that the epoxy has been going on internally as it's still dripping out of the bottom of the hull. All good for the boat, I'm sure.
The stern cockpit appears to be getting some work, though it is under canvas. However there's a lot of sawdust on the bottom of the boat and that leads me to believe that somethings being done. I'll be back next week to see how things are progressing with a quick peek during the Women's State Keelboat Championships on Saturday.
But when I got there, the main door was closed.
OMG has the place been locked up... no the other door is open, so I poked my head around the corner and there was Jeff and a Canadian marine engineer friend. A brief chat and a love of old wooden boats was confirmed. He was quite taken by the boat and expressed surprise at the length of the drive shaft (no supports). Maybe Thornycroft had a different way of doing things then.
Leon is the new shipwright on the job and he was finishing off the strakes on the port side. The rest of the boat was in good shape and the area between the old and new hulls is to be finished in glass (about 15 cm). That will leave him open to work on the topsides while someone else takes over work on the rest of the hull. It's clear that the epoxy has been going on internally as it's still dripping out of the bottom of the hull. All good for the boat, I'm sure.
The stern cockpit appears to be getting some work, though it is under canvas. However there's a lot of sawdust on the bottom of the boat and that leads me to believe that somethings being done. I'll be back next week to see how things are progressing with a quick peek during the Women's State Keelboat Championships on Saturday.
The 8th of May and it's budget night as I begin to type in this summary of what I saw today.
Jeff has been progressing with the boat and has been gradually reducing the step between the old hull and the new planking. The rubbing strakes are now starting to go on and on the starboard side he has the one that came off in one piece, back on the hull and held in place with screws that will no doubt disappear. As I walked about with the camera he was working with the other side, fitting the old strake (broken) and working out the fit for the new piece he was to put in place. Apparently he'd spent Sunday turning some Queensland beech that was at hand into a suitable piece.
I had the opportunity to look into the port side of the hull, taking a look at the shelves in the little cabinet on the portside. By a stroke of luck, there was a Thornycroft blue print of the boat available. Out came the Samsung for a quick copy and reproduction. Once I'd had look at the blue print I was able to confirm in my mind what I though was there and learn more about the build of the hull and its fit out. Take the time to peruse it and see for yourself. The seating was quite generous and as I mentioned there was provision of a drop sided table in the main cabin.
The placing of a mast was interesting and I await the finishing of the boat. The original design had a fixed canvas awning (since replaced with a fixed plywood? top) and even allowed for a portable hood in the forward half of the boat. I still think that the helm would have had to cope with whatever the weather gave him, but someone may tell me differently.
Jeff will be away for the next few months and hopes to return in time to see the yacht in the water. I look forward to meeting the next shipwright on the job.
Jeff has been progressing with the boat and has been gradually reducing the step between the old hull and the new planking. The rubbing strakes are now starting to go on and on the starboard side he has the one that came off in one piece, back on the hull and held in place with screws that will no doubt disappear. As I walked about with the camera he was working with the other side, fitting the old strake (broken) and working out the fit for the new piece he was to put in place. Apparently he'd spent Sunday turning some Queensland beech that was at hand into a suitable piece.
I had the opportunity to look into the port side of the hull, taking a look at the shelves in the little cabinet on the portside. By a stroke of luck, there was a Thornycroft blue print of the boat available. Out came the Samsung for a quick copy and reproduction. Once I'd had look at the blue print I was able to confirm in my mind what I though was there and learn more about the build of the hull and its fit out. Take the time to peruse it and see for yourself. The seating was quite generous and as I mentioned there was provision of a drop sided table in the main cabin.
The placing of a mast was interesting and I await the finishing of the boat. The original design had a fixed canvas awning (since replaced with a fixed plywood? top) and even allowed for a portable hood in the forward half of the boat. I still think that the helm would have had to cope with whatever the weather gave him, but someone may tell me differently.
Jeff will be away for the next few months and hopes to return in time to see the yacht in the water. I look forward to meeting the next shipwright on the job.
Its the 1st of May and there's a distinct nip in the southerly whipping around my heels as I walk into the workshop but it's pleasant enough inside.
A hasty meeting with David Hobbs, who had been around the boat earlier on in the day, but as fortune had it, he was on his way to a staff meeting so our time was short, but cordial. Jeff was working hard on the hull, cleaning up the dynel that was on the lower part of the hull from a previous time and I wasn't going to disturb him except to let him know I was about.
The bow of the boat had been finished and a fine job too. The shape remained classical and there was some nice detail to fit around the old brass? fittings that remained from other days. Plus he'd taken the time to replace the timber leading into the bow piece, just a short section of timber on each side, but enough to strengthen it. It was mooted last week that the transom could be replaced or recovered and so it was. It will make a handsome derriere to present as you pass someone on the river.
The job in hand though was the tidying up of the junction between the new and old hulls and the dynel sheath, while probably still in good shape in the top half of the lower hull, was being cut back to accommodate the fairing job that would present a neat and tidy hull shape, eliminating the step between the old and new sections of the hull. I'll look forward to see how they finish the bottom of the hull.
PPE ( epoxy ) is being painted on the inside of the hull by David on his time off and its a fair indicator as to the hulls condition. Where the epoxy can be seen on the outside of the hull, its a sure sign of repairs required. Generally on the lower half of the "wet" area of the hull. Otherwise I've had a look at some of the fittings that still exist on the boat. There is almost a century of window attachments, sliding door frames and I do remember a lovely drop side table that may have lived on the aft deck, though that has disappeared. (Probably gone home to be restored). I wonder whether the supports for the for and aft cabin tops will be brought into the 22nd century as well, but they are still holding up well and could probably live another 20 years or so.
It appears that Jeff is returning home in a few weeks and will not be around for three months. Something about the opening of the sailing season in the Americas. But I'll have him telling me what's happening next week, so all is in good hands.
Enjoy the images.
A hasty meeting with David Hobbs, who had been around the boat earlier on in the day, but as fortune had it, he was on his way to a staff meeting so our time was short, but cordial. Jeff was working hard on the hull, cleaning up the dynel that was on the lower part of the hull from a previous time and I wasn't going to disturb him except to let him know I was about.
The bow of the boat had been finished and a fine job too. The shape remained classical and there was some nice detail to fit around the old brass? fittings that remained from other days. Plus he'd taken the time to replace the timber leading into the bow piece, just a short section of timber on each side, but enough to strengthen it. It was mooted last week that the transom could be replaced or recovered and so it was. It will make a handsome derriere to present as you pass someone on the river.
The job in hand though was the tidying up of the junction between the new and old hulls and the dynel sheath, while probably still in good shape in the top half of the lower hull, was being cut back to accommodate the fairing job that would present a neat and tidy hull shape, eliminating the step between the old and new sections of the hull. I'll look forward to see how they finish the bottom of the hull.
PPE ( epoxy ) is being painted on the inside of the hull by David on his time off and its a fair indicator as to the hulls condition. Where the epoxy can be seen on the outside of the hull, its a sure sign of repairs required. Generally on the lower half of the "wet" area of the hull. Otherwise I've had a look at some of the fittings that still exist on the boat. There is almost a century of window attachments, sliding door frames and I do remember a lovely drop side table that may have lived on the aft deck, though that has disappeared. (Probably gone home to be restored). I wonder whether the supports for the for and aft cabin tops will be brought into the 22nd century as well, but they are still holding up well and could probably live another 20 years or so.
It appears that Jeff is returning home in a few weeks and will not be around for three months. Something about the opening of the sailing season in the Americas. But I'll have him telling me what's happening next week, so all is in good hands.
Enjoy the images.