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.

I hope I can remember how to put her together again!

Esliina is now free of fibreglass (although I am still trying to dispose of the horrible stuff) and stage 2 has started. I am rather hoping that my stage 2 is the right one. Before replacing any of the planking or framing I have decided that the keel and floors should be tackled. To get to the Keelson I need to remove the internal bulkheads. To remove the bulkheads I need to remove the cabin and the decks.

I have now removed the roof from the saloon and doghouse (tongue and groove softwood) and have numbered all of the beams so that I will have at least some idea how to put her back together. The cabin sides will need replacing but I am intent on keeping as much of the teak deck as possible.

Nearly plucked

Is there no end to this fibreglass

The battle continues against the sheathing. The decks are not as straight forward as the hull as to strip the GRP it is necessary to remove the numerous fittings. The rule with the fittings is that one bolt or screw to each fitting is impossible to remove. This slows things down but I am getting there. Having stripped the glass from where the chain planks exit the deck, it became apparent that the deck has rotted as well. Not just rotted but the mahogany has reduced to mud. Unfortunately the GRP adheres better to the deck than the hull and it is very difficult not to damage the teak decking. I hope to be able to salvage as much as possible.

Fibreglass removal