The Stays'l Schooner -" Prince Madoc".......The Boats Progress

2012-01-09T09:34:00.000-08:00

Well - The gales (90 mph), the wet, the cold are gone - still a bit cold though ! Kammy and myself are getting over the flue,coughs and colds during the past 2 weeks - YES - not quite the "Merry Xmas" we hoped for!

Anyway - we are up and running again,.....however, STILL moving stuff around to make room for the Dr.Who Experience and Elenas' visitor portacabins.Dr. Who is DEF off my Xmas card list!! LOL !!

Here we have Kammy on the first day of less than 99% humidity and gales applying tye first few coats of varnish to our mahogany clad wheelhouse . look real good now. It was STILL mighty cold up on deck!!

2011-11-02T14:17:00.001-07:00

First mock up of water/fuel/battery levels - wiring done by Kammy.

Here we have the first layer of constructional mahogany vaneer on the wheelhouse.Quite a fiddly job and lots of clamps. This will transform the wheelhouse and once varnished the windscreen and side windows will be fitted.

THEN we can start on the "dashboard" for the sailing instruments,compass,radar display,etc.

2011-11-02T14:11:00.000-07:00

Plastic pipr for the various wires within the mast finally being fitted .

Can't believe I'm actually drilling a HOLE in the side!

2011-11-02T13:55:00.000-07:00

Kammy the with his turn as the cook.

Spiders are all very well - but the legs get stuck between your teeth !!

"Skippy" ,Dylan, "Kammy" and "Snowy"

2011-11-02T13:36:00.000-07:00

Ah - the varnishing - makes it all worth while !!

Accentuates the designer Alan pape of his amazing sheer line of the boat.

2011-11-02T13:20:00.000-07:00

Hers we hqave some pics of Scotty (New Zealand) and his masterpiece coming togfether very nicely!

From the assembly qand fitting of the diferent teak pieces that were machined shaped,laminated ,glued and attached to the steel cap rail of the boat - right through to the final sanding and then -.......the varnishing that brought it all to life.

Great job !

Scotty !

2011-09-11T02:59:00.001-07:00

Here's our "Koncentrating Kiwi" - Scotty, hard at a crossword.

Main Mast sides

2011-09-11T02:48:00.000-07:00

the aft stave and corners glued in place.

"Skippy" (!!!) tightening down one of the 65 pairs of clamps.

Top spacers,keeping the side staves in place while they are clamped securely at the bottom.

ALL done - now a day for the glue to cure.

This shows the aft staves and corners glues and the top spacers ready for the sides to be glued and put in place - then clamped.

No pics of the glueing process...........no spare hands available!!

Main Mast

2011-09-11T02:40:00.001-07:00

Here we have a happy kiwi and crew drudging through tightening the 65 sets of clamps holding the aft timber and corners in place while the glue sets.We had 60 minutes before the glue started to harden.......NO MISTAKES........HESITATIONS.....COCK UPS ..........we..... DID IT !!

the galley

2011-09-11T02:27:00.000-07:00

here's the galley coming along nicely,mug and glass holders made by Alex out of soild Teak.

Hob in place, touch controlled - wonderful!,sink in place - hot'n'cold running water and some "squeezy" for the all important dish washing!!

Cupboard frames for the left and right to be made places for the coffee,tea etc in front.

Must find room for the wheatabix!
Oven (Kams' "Owen" ! ) and the fridge soon.

2011-08-21T13:34:00.001-07:00

Out of this chaos of timber pieces - we hope to be borne a mast!! On the right is the final scarph of the side pieces - 7.5 " x 2"...... x 65 feet!

This is a rough sawn scarph prior to surface routing in the scarphing jig - which makes a perfect scarph.
Next step is to plane and taper the fore, aft, and side pieces in their full lengths - ready to assemble the main mast

2011-08-21T13:31:00.000-07:00

Here's Kammy (Poland) struggling away in the limited space of the en-suite heads for the double cabins.Through the doorway is the carcass start for the foremast cover,between the two heads .

2011-08-21T13:21:00.000-07:00

This is the galley coming together at last = lots of underlying work !Here we see the smoke/grease filter and the start of the teak cup and glass holders.

Alex ( Colorado - USA) getting those holes drilled for the cups.

The old ply mock up - on the new beech workyop and teak fiddle.

2011-08-21T13:16:00.000-07:00

Her's Scotty (New Zealand)persevering with the sanding of the caprail side pieces - once the cap rail is complete - it will make a huge - huge difference to the look of the boat - accentuating the beautiful "sheer" lines of this Alan Pape design.

2011-08-21T13:05:00.000-07:00

we have here the basic start to the cap rail - being fitted around the side of the bullwarks .Huge job undertaken by Scotty ( New Zealand) The laminated "J" pieces joining the

transition between the mid,side decks to the adt (poop) deck will be covered by solid pieces of teak.

All the bolt heads you see will be counterbored and hidden under teak plugs, the sides will be solid teak too,all rounded and sanded...then... comes the varnishing !!!

2011-08-21T12:56:00.000-07:00

here's some much belated pics - this is the great "mock up" for the aft cabin heater grills - the outlets on the top, the intake slots at sole level for the heater matrix and at the back is the larger intake grill for the aircon unit which is behind the grill.
Well done Dylan - all works great!....NOW.....to make it all in teak !!

2011-06-20T13:28:00.000-07:00

The first board planing of the masts' corner posts -four of them 65 feet long!

Alex going "solo" and on the right Dylan "taking the strain" for Dave with the "back pack dust collector!

Long boards !!

2011-06-20T13:24:00.001-07:00

dave holding the completed trailboard pattern
- neat scroll work!

Trail board.expansion.

2011-06-20T13:22:00.000-07:00

Kam and Dave cutting out the finished pattern for the Trail Boards.

This intricate,beatiful design will be transferred to teak at a later date.

Aft heads (toilets) plinth-

2011-06-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

here Kam is starting the aft cabin heads plinth.On which will sit the toilet and cupboard under the handbasin.

Focsle berth

2011-06-20T13:14:00.000-07:00

Kam is staring the fitting of the carcass for the focsle berth - over the (anchor) chain locker .The stainless srteel pipes are the chain pipes - guiding the abchor chain from the windlass on deck - to the chain liocker below tyhe new berth.

aft cabin heating covers

2011-06-20T13:09:00.000-07:00

This is the "weetabix" pattern scribed on to a ply board -then on to 19mm ply for final fitting of grating before the teak is cut

.The slots on the lower edge is the cool air intake for the heater matrix,the hot air will escape through grills on the upper flat teak coverboard.

Here we have the remnants of many breakfasts !!!-

Weetabix boxes ALWAYS come in handy for pattern making!

The cove and boot top lines ....lookin' good!

2011-06-20T13:05:00.000-07:00

2011-06-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

Alex - "all my own work "!! completes the undercoats for the boot-top and cove lines.
One the right are the "shark fins" ropelines.

Top - Alex painting on the ropelines

Right - the start of the cove line undercoat.

Trail board.

2011-06-20T12:42:00.001-07:00

How does THAT look Dave ?

Seeing how the shape of the Trail board fits the cove lines with a smooth and fair flow.

Cove and boot-top lines

2011-06-20T12:36:00.000-07:00

Alex and Dylan making sure the line was "fair".

Cove and boot-top lines

2011-06-20T12:30:00.000-07:00

Here we have the marking out of the Boot-top and cove lines.Really difficult even with extra strong magnets to help hold the plastic conduit in a "fair curve" for marking.

Worked well in the end.

Here we have Kam (Poland),Alex(USA ) and Dylan (France)

New crew !!!

2011-06-20T12:13:00.001-07:00

Now is the time to introduce the two new crew members....... We have Kamil ("Owen") Janczulewicz(Poland) and Alexander (pronounced with a distinct RUSSIAN accent) ("Hub") Petit ( Colorado,USA).

Comunication has sometimes been strained when Kamil (holding his framework) was yelling at Dave - the OWEN - the OWEN !!! - Dave said...what ARRE you talking about - the OWEN ??.

It was a few minutes when Dave realised that "V"s are pronounced as a "W".

Kam ("Owen"! LOL) has never heard the end of it!! You would think that USA/Brit comunication would be somewhat easier ( apart from some US spelling mistakes ( !!! LOL )but when asked if the one hole in the beautiful work-top he varnished fited the HOB - he said - "HUB ??" what the hell is a "HUB"??? - "HOB" to the rest of us !! ha ha !!

So I hope you all love the "familly portraits !!

Frame work for the Oven.

2011-06-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

This is the frame work Kamil is making to hold the "owen" ( OVEN to the rest of us!!) in place under the worktop.

Gslley work top

2011-06-20T12:02:00.001-07:00

The new galley work-top - solid beech.Alex applying the last coat of varnish.The holes are for the "Hub" (Hob to the rest of us !!) and the sink unit - with the "Owen"underneath.

New workshop

2011-06-20T11:44:00.001-07:00

This is the new workshop - every machine you could want - will turn the project around for progress on the interior,etc.

2011-05-05T10:32:00.001-07:00

The portacabin has finally arrived after 3 months of negotiating with the Vinci BBC construction site opposite the boatyard, to allow the truck through their site! It took quite a while to persuade them to lay me a ramp down to the boatyard level (about 50cm drop) so the low-loader could make it!
Lots of work inside now, partitions to come down and double doors put in - but overall good condition - it's going to make a grrrrreat workshop !!

It's ARRIVED !!!!

2011-04-03T04:42:00.000-07:00

Bow thruster leg FITS

Stb prop ON!

Port prop and anode ON!!

They both FIT !!

Contra-rotating props.

2011-04-03T04:36:00.000-07:00

Here we go again - right size hole in the right place for the right size bow thruster leg!

Looks good!

Bolt holes and gasket to secure it all together.

It FITS !!!

Hydraulic motor and cage fitted.

Here we go again - drilling the correct size hole for the correct size (at last) bow thruster leg.

Quite the piece of kit - hydraulic driven, contra-rotating props.

it's IN !!!!

2011-04-03T04:24:00.000-07:00

Running free as the wind !!

Tied off so it doesn't slice my head off - went up fairly easily .

Finally received the new re-furbished windvane.Went up fairly easily - the ladder stayed put this time!

2011-03-26T05:08:00.000-07:00

Air intake ducts for the engine room.Will guide fresh air from the dorades on deck,insdie the aft heads and then into the rear of the engine room.Next job is to fit them!

2011-03-26T05:05:00.000-07:00

View of the bunk matress set up in the aft cabin - Maple sprung slats,a layer of foam AND 2" of memory foam on top ......pure decadence!!

2011-03-26T05:02:00.000-07:00

Motor cage location.

Well, at last I have been able to get the new rolled plate welded into place.Next step is to drill the holes for the bow thruster (again!).

2011-02-20T06:10:00.000-08:00

The Bowthruster guys have at last sent us the correct bowthruster leg and after the third attempt - the correct props !

So we have had to cut out a piece of the tunnel with the old , larger, wrong size holes and replace with a new piece of rolled 10mm steel plate.

This has yet to be welded in place - then the new holes drilled for the correct leg!!

Onwards..... and upwards !!!!

2011-02-20T06:09:00.000-08:00

Well - not a lot has happened - we are still awaiting the arrival of the new portacabin for our workshop ! Not so much the cabin - but the access road !

2011-01-09T12:57:00.000-08:00

Also the new taps (faucets to all you yanks!!LOL!!) in the galley. Hot and cold running water - woohoo!!

2011-01-09T12:54:00.000-08:00

Just a little progress while I'm on my own - new shower mixer and tray - and all the relevent plumbing you can't see!! Works real well.

2010-11-28T09:45:00.000-08:00

we finally and at last (!!!!) drilled the holes to fit our bowthruster ....but...they sent us the wrong leg - a size too big !!! more next week!

2010-11-26T05:58:00.000-08:00

The facia for the heating radiators in the saloon being drilled and cut by James (Canada),behind these will be small computer type fans to give a gentle flow of hot air and dissipate the heat more efficiently.Covering the vents will be brass expanded grills.

2010-11-26T05:52:00.000-08:00

Now ..... the carcassing of the saloon seating is almost finished ! It has taken a long time due to the complexities of the curves involved,strength maintained and a compartment for the freezer unit.

2010-11-26T05:49:00.000-08:00

Start of the fitting of the bowthruster .. to seat the hydraulic motor mount neatly on the tube I chose a nrather quick setting "plastic steel" - 5 mins !!! wasn't enough time !! This wekend we have a 40 minute working time with another make .......we'll see !

2010-11-26T05:35:00.000-08:00

We have at last marked in the water line !!!! had to wait quite a while for the wind to die - as it made the laser level shiver ! We were able to add the lower line of the boot top too.You can't see the laser line - but it's there!!

The upper line is a bit more tricky 1 and so far attempts at a smooth fair curve the length of the boat has not been successful - however ....!!! ... we are awaiting the dilivery of some rare earth magnets which we will glue to the plastic marking edge - hopefully we slide the edge around and get that fair curve!!!

2010-11-26T05:24:00.001-08:00

well - the last few months have been interesting ! Ups and downs,things happening,problems and solutions !

My Laptop gave up the ghost some time back and with all my blog info on it - prevented updates!

The biggest "Down" has been the weather - wild wet and windy - as in gales>Our super workshop was flattened FOUR times in three weeks - disn't help matters or moral.

Thses pics show before and after.......multiplied by FOUR.

The fourth time was the last straw and we are eagerly awaiting delivery of a good sized portacabin soon - now THAT will be great!!!

Birthday !!

2010-09-06T11:11:00.003-07:00

Well - it was Daves' birthday - and the boys dragged me much against my will ;-) LOL -around the "Packet" with my fav Brains SA ( "skull attack" !!) and then the "Waterguard".Not satisfied, it was back to the boat for "Rum'n'minties - and - a surprise birthday cake - a jam and choc DOUGHNUT with a single candle in the middle!!!!!!! Thank goodness there wasn't any room for all the other candles- cos I had enough trouble blowing THAT sucker out!! LOL !! (NO - I'm not going to tell you how many candles there should be!)

Another great time with great company!

Getting there!

2010-09-03T05:21:00.001-07:00

NOW - we're getting there ! The final undercoats before the addition of the waterline,etc.

We have James (Toronto)with us now and with Brent (Colorado) have gone to great efforts to get this done - great work - and ...the "Madoc" looks great!

2010-09-03T04:52:00.000-07:00

Workshop tent up now.MUCH better!!

2010-08-22T12:28:00.000-07:00

This is our board planer for the mast timbers - 12" wide! Made up from a planer thicknesser unit - a lot less expensive than a commercial board planer (at £1,200 )!!and - it works!!

2010-08-22T12:23:00.000-07:00

The night the generator broke down!!

2010-08-22T12:15:00.000-07:00

Our custom made fridge has finally arrived.With the door off a domestic "tabletop" fridge it all looks real good.With inside of our fridge wider than the door there's almost the same capacity as a under worktop fridge!It remains now to fit it all together.

Rain.........

2010-08-22T11:50:00.000-07:00

Well - rain stopped all the real progress this week,We couldn't get the hull ready for the last grey undercoat to go on this Sat/Sun.
Ugh!
Not to worry - we started erecting the new "workshop" marquee.Much, much better than the old tent which the gales ripped apart.

2010-08-08T12:08:00.000-07:00

75% of hull sanded - almost there!

We fitted the new washing machine - quite a job- a little trickier than in the kitchen... and 30" off the floor (sole!).

The drier was far easier though.

Also fitted the saloon fan heater and the bass speaker - the start of our integrated suround sound system !!! The Reflex horn is yet to be fitted.

The glue finally arrived ! So we managed to glue another two scarphs this weekend. That makes the four, square corner pieces for the main mast complete.

Next to sort the timber out for the fore and aft pieces` and scarph them.Then the port and st'b timber boards and scarph them.

After that plane and square edge ALL the scarphed board lengths ready for shaping the mast tapers.

2010-07-31T11:56:00.000-07:00

No new pics for this weekend - lots of work accomplished but.....same ol' stuff !
Hull sanding is coming along fine,
Seating area sole bolted down permanently - ready for the seating framework.
FOUR more mast scarphs sawn and faced off .... but the glue didn't turn up in Friday :-(
so we couldn't glue the last remaining corner posts for the main mast.
Not to worry - they will be done during next week fer sure!
Fridge interior arrived and was test fitted to make sure it was just right - that's been taken back now to fit the shelves,etc.The ply outside carcass (fridge) and compressor are all ready in the galley.
The last two battery main cables are fitted, ready for the last two batteries to complete the bank.

Saloon seating/table area.

2010-07-25T13:09:00.000-07:00

Major effort this weekwas clearing the saloon ready to start the seating carcass.

Watch this spot!

More scarphs!

2010-07-25T12:36:00.000-07:00

The shed's never long enough !!

Facing off the rough saw cut with the router and sliding jig.

Sawdust flying everywhere!

Two more scarphs

And - another two!

Two more complete pairs of scarphs have been cut and faced off with the router and jig.More resorcinol glue will be with us next week (after payday!!)During the week we will cut the last two scarphs which will complete the four corner posts.Next will be to saw and plane these to the finshed sizes.

The fore,aft and side planks will be next to scarph.

2010-07-25T12:29:00.000-07:00

Another week passes,weather slows the hullsanding,etc down but we've fitted the fridge compressor ready for the delivery of the custom built fridge itself,the outer pl;y case is there to fit it in and then fill the space between with expanded polyurethane foam.

Hopefully then now more funny tasting milk!!

2010-07-18T13:38:00.000-07:00

As much as I love Asda canned "Irish Stew" = very filling and nourishing for £1 !!!

Thank God for a decent Cook ......... Brent cookin' up a storm!!

Mast Making

2010-07-18T13:31:00.000-07:00

Another TWO scarphs this weekend - that means two corner pieces of the main mast - two more to go.Then the sides and fore& aft pieces.Here Brent is making the first "rough" cut with the circulat saw - to be made just right with the router as before.

2010-07-18T13:15:00.000-07:00

Navigation table mocked up in ply - to make sure there's enough room ! Can take full size chart with ONE fold!

2010-07-18T13:05:00.000-07:00

Well - another week has past and we're getting along with things just fine.Gales the other day -demolished our Gazebo over the woodworking bench and tore a huge panelout of the workshop tent.All under control and will be repaired soon!

Batteries have been installed permenantly under the starboard side bench seat ( two more to be added soon) all controlled by the new 3 stage sophisticated battery charger ( posh price too!!) together with the inverter for 240 volt power.

Saloon start.

2010-07-07T12:44:00.000-07:00

This is the start of the portside - the seating,cocktail cabinet and the navigation station and also the permanent location of the household batteries,charger and inverter,etc.The permanent sole was laid and the main hold hatch fitted.

Watch this space!

The First Mast Scarphs.

2010-07-07T12:16:00.000-07:00

Plate nuts all tight, glue oozing.....perfect!

Dave getting those nuts tight - one by one!
Ready for the glue.....

Laser target at the end of the 70 foot 4"x 4" scarphed and glued and spot on the target cross.

The laser at the other end. I have allways been worrying that the mast scarphs would be a devil of a job - the carpentry,joints,etc are basic stuff -but our first two scarphs made us a lump of Sitka Spruce 120mm x 120mm.........20 metres in length !!!

With the mast strongback carefully laid out , bolted together and fixed to the heavy steel trestles, all made level and straight.

The scarphing jig and router facing frame, all worked out beautifully! All the preparation came together.......

2010-07-07T11:43:00.000-07:00

Brent,starting on the hull exterior - a huge job. Juha at the work bench.

The beginnings of the workshop.

The workshop tent and the bench.

The CREW - Dave (Cardiff!) - Brent (Colorado) and Juha (Finland)

After a disastrous year, one way and another, the Prince Madoc is on the go once again - at last!

We have a new crew - Juha ( Finland) and Brent (Colorado) hopefully Ansell (USA) to join us in August.

Our goal this summer is to paint the outside of the boat,add the water line,boot top coveline and fit the rubbing strakes and cap rail.

Also - build the masts!

MAST MAKING !

2009-07-15T05:45:00.000-07:00

It's been a hell of schedule getting this new site organised and the mast timber sorted and ready for machining the scarphs, the timbers are 38 feet long! Well the jig was made for the router and the 12:1 ratio slide made for the router and its jig!

First the cuts were rough sawn with a circular saw, fitted into the slide. clamped and then the router milled off the saw cuts and made a perfect wedge !

The gluing clamping boards and bolts will be made next and then the first two scarphs glued up !

Then one corner post will be complete ready for machining to size and the rebates and chamfer cut. Then there's three more !!

The Mast Shed - 70 feet !

2009-06-12T07:42:00.000-07:00

JOINING CONTAINERS TO MAKE THE 70FT MAST MAKING SHED.

2009-06-12T07:23:00.000-07:00

THE BOAT MOVE .

2009-05-24T04:22:00.001-07:00

Teak and Sitka Spruce stock for deck and masts..

2009-05-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

Ian sat on our Burma (Myanma) Teak stock all quarter sawn ready to cut off the deck strips and coverboards,margin planks, cap rails, etc There's about 2 tons here, half of our stock - the rest is for the interior fitting out.
Well - here's the new site, looks quite nice here in the sunshine - but when the wind blows..........
Sitka Spruce for making the 67ft and 57ft masts.They will be hollow and oval in shape,when they are finshed and varnished ( lots of varnish!) they will be real works of art !
Ian is here in the container storing the Sitka - 38ft lengths with NO knots, straight as a die!On the left is the mahogany constructional vaneer to cover the steel work of the wheelhouse,the darker timber is more teak boards planed ready for use.

2009-04-07T16:04:00.001-07:00

Stainless steel sea water intake filter finished - s

tops any debris entering the manifold supplying the cooling (sea) water to rhe engine,generator,gland/cutlass bearing lubrication,supply to the heads,deck-wash andgalley.

Fresh water plumbing - miles of it! hot and cold,two supplies from the water tank(640 gallons)

one feed to the tank(from the water-makers), sea-water feed to the heads,etc grey water from the heads and black water pipes to come !

2009-04-07T09:07:00.000-07:00

New crew.......l to r.....Ian (South Africa),Dave (Wales!),Dylan (France) and Scott (USA)

2009-04-07T08:54:00.000-07:00

Starboard double cabin with the timber and ply cleats ready for the decor teak ply to be added,covering the joints will be teak pillars,etc

Dylan Roi ( France) has joined us to help move things along.Dylan is a Med student - so his time is precious and his help invaluable !

Deep sea seal on the prop shaft with it's water lubricating supply(coming up from the bottom right T joint) and anti-syphon escape tube(coming from the seal down to the bottom right)The tube traveling along the bottom from the T joint is the seawter supply to the Cutlass bearing.On the shaft itself is the anti-galvanic corrosion carbon brush gismo - this will protect the shaft and prop from galv corr from the sea water.

Foc's'l cabin,collision bulkhead on the left and ply cleats ready for the decorative addition of teak ceiling strips.

Scott ( USA) with us for a short while - clamping the hydraulic supply,return and control pipes to power the bow thruster and windlass.

2009-04-07T07:58:00.000-07:00

Ian (S.Africa) teeth like rivets !! - pinning the ply cleats with rivets to the steel frames - ready for the decorative teak ply and teak "ceiling" strips to be added.

Aft Cabin starboard side,looking aft - the "rough" framewrok for the bunks,etc

Aft cabin with the steering box,location of the seat and the aircon evaporator unit under.

Aft cabin, port side looking aft.

14th January 09.

2009-01-20T02:08:00.000-08:00

Ray fitted the aft cabin upper berth supports and Dave fitted the one way valves and supports for the engine and gennny exhausts.Next will be the making of gaskets and fitting the exhaust outlets.Here you can see the steering box,the shaft and the gear cog for the auto pilot.

10th January09

2009-01-20T02:03:00.000-08:00

Dive compressor located on it's base,yet to be attached to the main engine so it vibrates "in unison" when operating.8 cfm - it's a cracker!

We also have a "hooker" compressor.This is placed in a rubber ring or dinghy,with two 30ft lines and a demand valve on each, you can dive all day to 30ft - that's until the petrol runs out!

8th January 09

2009-01-20T01:47:00.000-08:00

Completing the main engine and generator system is next.Ray and Dave have been fitting the starter battery,box and connectionor the generator also at last the new panels,Accoustic pads have yet to be installed.Ray checked and altered where needed the complete exhaust pipes,etc for the main engine and genny.We fitted the anti-sypons for both as well.

23rd November 08

2009-01-20T01:41:00.000-08:00

Washing machine and drier fully installed and working - so no more (expensive) treks to the local laundromat!

16th November 08

2009-01-20T01:19:00.000-08:00

Ray and Dave have now been able to fit the radiators in the double cabins, fix all the central heating "snags" ( leaks!!)too! Ray fitted the expansion vessel and we soon got the central heating boiler working properly. That took a visit by a specialist oil burner engineeer who tested the diesel oil pressure,jet size and ignition adjustment.Dave fitted an automatic thermostat - so now we can wake up to a warm boat!

9th November 08

2008-11-09T12:14:00.000-08:00

Dave and Ray (Canada) have now finished the bulk heads between the double cabins and the heads, as well as the partition for the navigation table. They have been using the tick stick method to make the bulk heads (see pictures). Next is the bulk heads between the double cabins, and the bulk heads in the aft cabin.The will have accoustic linings before cladding with the finishing teak vaneered plywood.

5th November 08

2008-11-05T12:15:00.000-08:00

Now the crew is down to Dave and Raymond. Raymond is twenty years old and from Canada, he has been in the UK since November of 2007. Its been a bit hectic since they started but now Dave and Ray are almost done the central heating. The tubing is in and the engine room is set. Just working on the bulk heads between the double cabins, once that is done the radiators are in and the central heating is off!

9th October 08

2008-10-09T13:33:00.000-07:00

A very lazy day waiting for glue to dry! First thing we glued up the frame of wood work that Jack had been putting together in the aft cabin. Also started work on a curve to link the step to the side of the boat. Photos tomorrow will explain!

8th October 08

2008-10-09T13:28:00.004-07:00

Jack carried on with the wood work for the base in the aft cabing, completing the last of the frame which forms the panel for the radiators and the intital step off the floor which the rest of the construction of drawers and beds will sit on. Mike carried on with the hydraulic mounts.

1st October 08

2008-10-01T11:01:00.000-07:00

Carried on with the plumbing in of radiators and the other last jobs which need doing! Not much to say here really, its a long job that is finally almost done!

30th September 08

2008-10-01T10:57:00.001-07:00

We are now on a central heating mission! Making plates to reinforce the joints in the pipe and stop them jumping around too much. Mounting and plumbing in the last of the radiators! Soon we will be starting some proper construction work on the inside!

27th and 28th September 08

2008-09-29T01:49:00.000-07:00

Dave went off to his Army Reunion, on Saturday Jack and Mike went to the Great British Cheese Festival! Did some painting in the late afternoon!

26th September 08

2008-09-27T05:05:00.000-07:00

A very unproductive day! Jack and Jim spent most of the day shifting hangovers. Managed a few small jobs though, some more caprail and painting up some more of the bits chris welded. Apart from that not much! Jim has now left for Ethiopia white water rafting for a month! Then hes travelling on to the seychelles and Madagascar for Dive Master training and to volunteer with some research projects!

25th September 08

2008-09-26T03:42:00.000-07:00

More caprail! Painted another coat underneath one of the palms. Also we cleaned painted the mounts for the washing machine, tumble dryer etc that chris had welded. Jim carried on working in the engine room. Fairly chilled as it was Jims last day here! Then down the pub in the evening!

24th September 08

2008-09-24T13:39:00.000-07:00

More Cap rail and painting under the palms to start the day! Jack and Dave fitted the radiator for the saloon while Jim and Mike carried on plumbing in the boiler in the engine room.

23rd September 08

2008-09-23T13:06:00.001-07:00

First job of the day was glueing some more of the cap rail, Then we mixed some paint, painted uder one of the palms and also the bottom of the keel. Mixed up some fairing and slapped some more on the deck. Then after lunch it was inside, Mike and Jim worked in the engine room fitting the central heating pump. Meanwhile Dave did some soldering on the copper pipes and Jack replaced some cardboard floor with wood! Chris the welder came over in the afternoon and welded all the mounts we had prepared over the last couple of weeks.

23rd September 08

2008-09-23T13:06:00.000-07:00

21st September

2008-09-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

YEAH..............another coat, piece of cake !!
Jack and Mike prepped the underneath of the keel and gave that a coat too.
All looks real good !!

20th September

2008-09-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

Relaxed day today after the hard work of the prep and painting - everyones nackered!
Jack and Mike went off sailing. Dave planning out the central heating finned tube radiators.Made a "jig" to bend a metre long straight rad into a curve to fit the main saloon. Now all the rads are ready to fit into place and get plumbed in to the ring main.
Tomorrow - another coat of paint?

19th September

2008-09-20T01:50:00.000-07:00

We finally managed to get a coat of paint on today! After a few hours of preparation, hoovering the hull and making some final repairs. Then on with the paint!

18th September 08

2008-09-19T01:41:00.000-07:00

To the boat show today to dream about the boats! The most expensive sailing yacht? A 4.5 million Oyster! Jim was most excited about a folding catamaran and was sailing it all the way home!

17th September

2008-09-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

Today we were expecting to paint until we woke up and it was raining! We took the morning off, Mike went onto town to find the library. After lunch we took up the floor in what will be the two double cabins to put some plumbing in and make some changes to the floor. Jim went to work in the aft cabin fitting the radiators. Jack and Mike sanded the fairing down that we put on the deck yesterday.

16th September

2008-09-17T04:03:00.001-07:00

Jim, Jack and Mike spent the day putting more fairing on the deck, after cleaning it and making sure there was no dust by scrubbing, brushing and hoovering the deck! We filled in all the major holes on the deck, theres still a long way to go! We also prepared the hull for the first coat of undercoat which we should be able to do tomorrow, filling in a couple of cracks with epoxy, sanding down the last bits of fairing and brushing away the dust. Dave was working in the aft cabin planning, also our finned tube radiators turned up and he started work on mounting them.

15th September 08

2008-09-15T12:27:00.000-07:00

Mike started by cutting out some pieces of wood and filling in some gaps with silicone for to complete the deck head and make sure there will be no air trapped underneath the teak when its laid. Mike and Dave then tacked the various pieces of steel which need welding. Jack and Jim did some more work outside, Jack sanding and painting over some rust on the deck and sanded down some patches of fairing, Jim put some more fairing around the outside of the hull.