Slow Progress

Work has been very slow going since the summer. A combination of weather, work and 'shelter' haven't helped. I bought a lump of oak for the forefoot and a curved piece with just the right grain flow for the stem. The forefoot piece was supposed to be seasoned by air drying. It is however very moist. The fact that is was so heavy that the delivery driver could not move it from the pavement where it was craned to, should have been a clue.

I have got as far as cutting it down to the basic size and shape of the original forefoot but, not being seasoned as claimed, the cracks appear. As I have a couple of days off work, I will re-appraise the timber and see whether I need to source some new timber. This was purchased from a specialist Oak timber merchant so all a bit disappointing.

I found a piece of solid wood, then I woke up.

I have been neglectful of my blog but work has continued. Esliina's decks have been lifted. My plan was to very carefully lift the teak with a view to reusing at least some of it. Unfortunately it was not to be. It was too britle and was not just screwed to the deck beams but nailed side on to each other. As can be seen she will need some new deck beams. I am hopeful that by the end of the summer that first piece of 'new' wood will go in and the destructive phase will end.

Winter: Not much progress

Progress over the autumn and winter has been very slow. I have decided that I should not dismantle the deck or any more internally until the keel has been dropped and the wooden keel replaced. To this end I have been building a wooden cradle that Esliina can be lifted into leaving the ballast keel on the ground.

The keel bolts will not be unscrewed and having sliced through one it is obvious why. Somehow both bolt and surrounding nut have developed into an 'ovoid' shape, so no amount of brute force is going to shift them.

I had bought myself a Black and Decker angle grinder but after half hour use it packed in. So no more Black & Decker tools for me.

I have purchased some timber for the planking. This timber was for sale on ebay at a very attractive price. Although descbibed as Mahogany, I have yet to establish the true nature of this timber. It might end up back on Ebay.