Hi everyone,
Well work started on the few planks I need to replace on the starboard side. Quite amazing there is not that many I feel need replacing, that decision is based on the condition of the ones already removed, remarkable to say the least. First job though was to do something about the forest of nails sticking out of the hull. So driving the nails in and riveting them all up was next on the agender.
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| Forest of nails |
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| Nails hammered down |
Each nail was wraped with caulking cotton single strand and 5200 sealant before driving them fully home. I left them for 2 days like that before starting the riveting.
After that process Chris (Custom Canvas) armed with a sledge hammer took station outside, and with a dolly, held the nail heads fimly in place while I cut them to length inside and wellied the ends over the roves with a hammer. It took us 2 days but now below the hull shape is back to were it was. And also amazing, I re-tightened the rigging back up and to my great suprise and relief full tension was achieved in exactly the same place on the bottle screw threads
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| Hull now back in shape! |
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| Battey locker view |
2 views of the inside after all the nails were finished
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| Rest of the boat view, Riveting isn't it? |
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| Fore foot removed |
With that job done splined templates of the planks are in progress for replacing the planks required on this side. BUT...... There is no rest for the wicked, so while that is going on, the fore foot? (let me know if thats right) the little bit in front of the lead keel, needs TLC, as this bit, the lead Keel and the Deadwood down aft took the full force of contact with that hard stuff they call LAND. When I say little bit, its a big lump of wood! but compared to the deadwood it is little.
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| Damaged block. it used to be Oak. |
Pretty well chewed up for sure, and no saving this. Note how long the bronze bolts are! they took a while to get out as well.
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| Wedged in position to drill the bolt holes |
2 views of the core block before shaping I am using to replace it with.
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| view from portside |
The core block is an unknown type of wood. I have asked everyone what it is. It is so heavy and dense it does not float! and Hard doesn't even start to describe it. Could be ironwood, red hart, or even lignum viti, don't think it lignum cos I've ruined a few chisels on a piece of that before.
And finally a pic of me shaping the dammed thing. Note I'm hiding in the shade, it took a good half hour to saw the bit off I'm pictured doing here! Other bits are done in combination with power tools, I'm not completely stupid, this is hard work.
So work is continuing and now I can just about make out a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, well more like a loom really.
More later
Roy
