Blog — Friday , 5 July, 2019

Monday, July 1, 2019

The tanks have been lowered to where they are sitting on the tank bearers in the bilge. Later, stainless steel straps will be used to secure them in place.

The deck beams have many bolts, rivets, and fasteners through them, and places that would show in the interior cabins are set below the surface and bunged (plugged). Here the team is going around and touching up the paint on those spots.

The first coat of undercoat has been painted on the port side of the hull. The seams between the hull planks have become completely invisible.

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

Ian and the Sterling and Son team have started on the final fairing of the starboard side. In the lower picture, the teak splines made from wood from the old teak deck and inserted into the plank seams can be seen. These seams are caulked with oakum the same as normal, but above the waterline splines are inserted to help hide the plank seams after painting.

Paul is holding a meeting on the deck, discussing the imminent sub-deck installation.

Nat is applying another coat of varnish to one of the masts. They expect to apply 12 coats of varnish before they’re done.

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

These are the cut-outs on the main mast, which will take the internal load plates of the original wrought iron “Lower Doubler.” They support the loads transferred from the lower stays and prevent any twisting or rotation of the fitting on the mast.

Work on the main deckhouse continues in the interior restoration tent. This is the teak-paneled front with a central window.

The heat and humidity are high inside the hull, where the sole bearers are being installed. Fans help a little.

Thursday, July 4, 2019

Michael and Richard have begun laying the plywood subdeck from the bow back.

Lewis and Nico are lining the sail locker in the stern with wooden slats to provide something to crawl around on. It’s a cramped space for sail bags and lines. The slats stop sail bags, etc., from lying directly against the hull and they are clearly marked in the original drawings (below).