Adam F

Xmas end of year parties and workload have slowed up last few weeks but another step forward anyway. My building inspector (aka Pete R) was kind enough to pop up last week to make sure I was getting the important structural detail correct under the deck. A few very helpful pointers and I was back underway. What you see here is the under deck structure complete. Deck shelves around the outside and beams between the bulkheads. All this now gets a coat of resin to seal the timber, before sheathing the whole lot in grp. It then gets flow coated in dark grey before I can start to fit the new deck. A couple of weeks of over Xmas should see this wrapped up ready to start refitting the cabin in the new year. The last of the toys came this week... An early Xmas pressie... So we will have the new breed of Raymarine EV-100 auto pilot, and a 1kw transducer with Garmins latest GSD26 black box running it.

The main issue I've been having is the short days and colder weather. With the new job, working during 'office' hours isn't really happening, so I'm having to grab the odd hour in the evenings... Tiring work. It's a real bonus when we have a free weekend and amazing how fast things progress given a full day on the boat. The other issue is the cold weather, it's not great for curing the resin... With the amount of heaters and lighting on the boat, I'm not looking forward to the bill next spring! With the amount of work to do, I've basically turned her into a mini workshop, so the boat has permanent power, and lighting and several heaters. Anyway, on with the progress report. First off, I got boarded doing the prep jobs so 'treated' myself to installing a few bits of bling. The main deck lazerette hatch now has gas struts to lift the massive hatch, a new shines, proper locking handle to replace the toy ones. I've also cleaned the filth from the bilge, and started work on the battery shelf. The battery boxes are now all done and complete. If anyone wants the moulds, should before I burn them. Back in the wheelhouse, I've templates and cut sections to fill in gaps in the rear bulkhead, installed the first deck shelf, and fabricated the shelf to take the 100l water tank. The final update is from this evening, where I've managed to template and level in the two main bulkheads. Really pleased with this last bit as it signals closer to getting the new deck in. The new deck will be 8" highest than the old one, storage underneath is cavernous! Im away this weekend, but next week, ill acetone and clean down the hull, foam the bulkheads in and glass them over.

So much for thinking I was nearly there. Another 5 hours of grinding was required to get every last bit off. The only bit built properly on the boat was the toilet cubicle.... The bloody thing would have survived a nuclear blast, absolute nightmare to get that out. I honestly didn't expect to have taken the boat back this far... I'm now left with what isn't far off a bare set of mouldings! Anyway, we are here now. GROUND ZERO! From here on in I start to add things...and the rebuild starts!

Chris, it's a good observation, and another reason I've taken the boat back as far as I have. The boat has 8 bulkheads in total but all have limber holes, so no water tight compartments. My plan going forward is to seal these off hand have 4 water tight compartments will electric and manual bilge pumps.

No, it's not an Ebola outbreak in Dorset.. Me trying my best to protect myself!

Just read the last post and the photos make I took easy! It was an absolute pig of a job. I've even bled for the boat today... Apparently diamond cutting discs are pretty good at cutting leather gloves and human flesh :-((

Major progress today, and not a job I was looking forward to - I'd rather have been out in NZ in the sun with Ian, and not on my back under the deck with a grinder and sabre saw for 5 hours. Despite a full set of PPE I still ended up covered in itchy grp dust, it literally got everywhere. Anyway, I'm now very close to the stage where things stop getting worse and start getting better. The wheelhouse deck is completely gone, just a bit of final grinding and cleaning and then it's time to order in the marine ply and start templating bulk heads ready for a new deck to be glassed in. Wheelhouse dash.... Gone! Forward bunk... Gone! Middle section... Gone! Galley section... Gone Everything... Gone. And hoovered. Mountain of dust. Bloody glad that job is done! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Maybe it was a typo Rob and he meant mileS away......

Only a mile, carry it!

Bit more progress this weekend. No going back now! Managed to strip out all of the electrics and all of the woodwork. All that is left now is the hydraulics and then it's time to done the dusk mask and look like I'm an Ebola doctor before setting to the interior fibreglass with a diamond disc! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Can I bring the new axle back? I'm in Essex for the next two days, and Mersea trailers are only 5 mins from my depot in Colchester? Let me know ASAP.

Awesome! What an experience, and well done George.

And how it looks after a few hours ripping out.. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Its going to get worse before it gets better.... The list of shocking things I find grows by the minute. This boat really was built by a blind guy in a rush! Take a look at the pics.... Cardboard used as a gap filler, shoddy electrical connections, the metals strip used to hold the whole cooker in place, steaming lights attached to bits of broom stick with silicone, the throttle control with m8 bolts on m6 studs..... I won't go on! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

No going back now! Hats off to Percy at Elvey Transport, he earnt his money today. JV was huge on the back of his 8 wheeler, but the narrow lanes of Dorset were only the start. Reversing into my lane with only 2" to spare between buildings was the next stage, and then craning it over a grade II listed building and wall into the drive. Anyway, she's back and work has begun in earnest! I only had a few hours on her this afternoon, but managed to strip out the galley,fridge, helm and roof lining. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Awesome! Good skills buddy.

Try hydrofoils? Works for Manta?! :-)

As you've seen very much down to personal preference. I've had a wooden Martini, great knife, but I was gutted when it bounced over the side... £40 gone. My fav has been the Storm yellow handled ones but they aren't made any longer. For me it's not always about how sharp but how they feel. Al like them long and bendy, il like them short and stiff, more like a boning knife. I know have a collection in my box and use all of them. Buy a selection and don't spend a fortune would be my advise. Btw. My 'kitchen' filleting knife is a storm knife... I sharpen it with one of those pull through worlds best sharpener type jobbies.

So haulage date set for 4th Oct. Then it all ready kicks off! Finished the CAD design for the refit to give me a reference last night. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I know bigger is usually better... But these screen shots came off the sub £100 units currently on JV I'm tempted to go with these 600w unit and upgrade if needed? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

This is what Garmin recommend for the new package on JV, however at close to £1k I'm wondering how much better it will be over a 600w unit for a tenth of the price? Any of you guys running a 1kw transducer?

Thanks mate, in no rush.

I'm after a small amount of scaffolding fittings to borrow for a few months when JV comes home. Ive got a stock of poles but the fittings and brackets I had all rusted. Does anyone have a small selection I can loan? Thanks

I need to organise some half sleepers, 12x12" etc for when JV comes home in a few weeks so that I can choc her up. I'll need to borrow them for about 5/6 months max (I hope!) Does anyone have a stash I can borrow?

Another day, another mould! This time is grp battery boxes. We have big 210ah units x2 on JV so off the shelf ones won't do. These are just basic boxes but 2 moulds are needed as the lid needs to be slightly bigger than the base to over fit. I'm also learning as this project goes on and this time I'm using melamine board for the mould as it will give a better finish than mdf. I'm also doing the corner fillets properly with plasticine this time, and wondering why I haven't used it before, easy to use and give a super finish. Haulage contractor coming tomorrow to work out how we get JV into my driveway. Looking at bringing her home mid oct, when the major works will start. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk