Steaming Ahead

Green oak for ribs and copper nails obtained from the Boatyard. Green oak stored in a carefully controlled environment to prevent sawn small section 3/8 x 5/8 timber drying out - long wet grass! Oak planed and cut to length and correct cross section, remembering to clean corrosive sap residue from tools.....

Steam box built out of wall paper stripper, laser bottom mast and some gaffer tape worked very well. Ribs steamed for a good 30 minutes and then they bent easily into place . I didn't break any!

Pilot holes drilled with 1.5 mm ( I haven't got any imperial drill bits) before driving 14 gauge copper nails. I can now remove and replace the remaining broken ribs and finish riveting the nails mid week. A very productive days work.

Steady Progress

Knees and deck framing now epoxied to transom. The boat is starting to feel much more rigid.

Suitable oak for ribs found at the Boatyard. Should be ready to start steaming at the weekend. I need to connect the wall paper stripper to a piece of broken RS400 mast (I knew there would be a use for it) .....

Need to progress work as garage required at the end of February to repair Bobtail's much younger sister ready for the coming season.

A New Year

This year Bobtail will be 60 years old. I hope to have her back on the water for a party but there is still a lot of work to be done. However today saw a big change in her appearance.

With the loan of a bevel gauge, sharpened plane and chisels her new transom has been cut and shaped to fit. An easier task than I expected. Even carving the number wasn't too tricky. Must be the choice timber supplied by Aldeburgh Boat Yard.

Must go out and clean of the excess epoxy before it goes too hard. Next on the list are new ribs. Another trip to the Boatyard to find the right materials and advice.