One of the rewards of working on a project like this is the people one comes into contact with. One "meets" people on internet forums, when one is searching for product, in general interaction with people. Everyone is interested in such a project - to a greater or lesser extent - and many want to help in any way they can. Some come with advice, recomendation of products, help with supplying products, and not least moral support ( this should never be underestimated: there are many times that the project can be overwhelming, and remembering the kind words can help maintain focus... and composure!).
Some of our suppliers will be getting special mention during the blogg. These are companies that have provided exceptional service in some way - not necessarily just ridiculously good prices. If a company has "sponsored" us I will be very clear that they have, other mentions are for outstanding knowledge, product or service.
One such company is http://www.westfieldfasteners.co.uk/ who have supplied us with stainless-steel fasteners for fixing the new ribs/frames. They have provided excellent quality products, quickly, at very competitive prices. Doesn't really get better!
For those living in sweden that find they need some SS fasteners at good prices, but maybe do not need quantities that will give good discounts - contact me and we can see if we can bulk up on an order ( +46736495401)
Now it's back to the boat. I'm currently cleaning the inside and sanding while some of the ribs are removed, before fitting the new ribs. This is a dirty, smelly job: with almost no comfortable place to be. Hopefully I will be finished tomorrow! Then i can start fitting some ribs.... At long last re-building, not tearing down! :)
PhilMac
fredag 27 januari 2012
torsdag 12 januari 2012
The Ribs are connected to the...
The first, "trial", pair of ribs fitted well... So I bit the bullet and pulled 10 pairs of the half ribs to be sent to the fabricators!
Before removing them it was necessary to support the hull a little more. With so many ribs away and the planking in the keel removed, the bulk of the hull is only resting on the stem and sternpost, and a few very poor ribs. So a support at either end to was placed. The stern lifted about 2 inches - so she had sagged a little - not too much to worry about: and after new planks and splining she will be stiffer and stronger than before.
The bow did not move - which answered a question I had about her shape. In the bow, just above the waterline, she looked a little "hollow" and I was worried she had dropped a little ( maybe because of her bad stem). That she did not return to shape with some force convinces me she was made that way.
This wasn't a hard job now the bilge is open, just tedious, cramped, and dirty ( the ribs in the counter will be a pleasure!). Once "set-up" it only took an afternoon. Pulled about 400 plugs out of the planking that is left, probably only 800 still to pull - for the steel rib jobs. Again this went very quickly - but only after Oscar worked his wonders with a welder and made a tool for the job.
Sadly found some more planking that is beyond saving - but the stern-post seems better than at first glance. The stem is in "dubious" condition, but much seems to be in a previous repair. The repair certainly was functional, but I am not happy with the way it was done and how the planking was fitted to it. Nor indeed the repairs on the planking at that point - two short planks butt joined at the same point in the port forefoot... The continuation of one plank is also very poor - so I'll cut back one and scarf in a new piece, the other will be replaced entirely. Now up to about 210m of planking to be done... Might need to treat myself to a new plane.... ;-)
Left a list of jobs for Oscar to carry on with and returned home to see the family and catch up with some "work".
Before removing them it was necessary to support the hull a little more. With so many ribs away and the planking in the keel removed, the bulk of the hull is only resting on the stem and sternpost, and a few very poor ribs. So a support at either end to was placed. The stern lifted about 2 inches - so she had sagged a little - not too much to worry about: and after new planks and splining she will be stiffer and stronger than before.
The bow did not move - which answered a question I had about her shape. In the bow, just above the waterline, she looked a little "hollow" and I was worried she had dropped a little ( maybe because of her bad stem). That she did not return to shape with some force convinces me she was made that way.
This wasn't a hard job now the bilge is open, just tedious, cramped, and dirty ( the ribs in the counter will be a pleasure!). Once "set-up" it only took an afternoon. Pulled about 400 plugs out of the planking that is left, probably only 800 still to pull - for the steel rib jobs. Again this went very quickly - but only after Oscar worked his wonders with a welder and made a tool for the job.
Sadly found some more planking that is beyond saving - but the stern-post seems better than at first glance. The stem is in "dubious" condition, but much seems to be in a previous repair. The repair certainly was functional, but I am not happy with the way it was done and how the planking was fitted to it. Nor indeed the repairs on the planking at that point - two short planks butt joined at the same point in the port forefoot... The continuation of one plank is also very poor - so I'll cut back one and scarf in a new piece, the other will be replaced entirely. Now up to about 210m of planking to be done... Might need to treat myself to a new plane.... ;-)
Left a list of jobs for Oscar to carry on with and returned home to see the family and catch up with some "work".
The sharp eyed amongst you will see Oscar's Plug-tool Mk.1. Despite having removed thousands of plugs over the years - to varying degrees of speed, tidiness, success, this tool makes the job much easier, faster, more accurate, with less risk to the surrounding wood... This is the sort of thing that can make a job like this so much faster and easier - and so help keep motivation levels high.
Oscar is brilliant at this kind of thing. I think when we get the boat finished, I'll help him get on top of his house repairs... Then 2-3 weeks to neatly draw all his ideas, make them, test them, then send them to my patent agent. Some will never be of any commercial success, but at least if they are registered they "get out there" and somebody finds a job easier and maybe even drops a mail to Oscar to say thanks.
torsdag 5 januari 2012
So it begins...
It would be impossible to describe all the preparation that has led up to the start of work: but to give some idea...
Price enquiries with untold number of suppliers. Confirmation of provenance - foolish to start a project of this scale without being certain the boat is as described. Searching for drawings - that have not been found... If anybody can help? Drawing details to help me understand what I want better ( I tend to work a little more "seat of the pants"), so I can delegate work better. Research into other restorations to help with decisions about techniques.
And that is just at my end! Oscar has completely built a workshop, with a good floor and insulated so we can work through anything the Swedish winter can throw at us... Inside an historic barn. This while restoring his house, installing solar heating, maintaining his antique Jaquard loom - and weaving on it, and both of us running our businesses, and holding down a family life!
Anyway work started before christmas. I had a window of 4 days to "begin". My goal was to remove two of the steel ribs - to confirm how we would do it, and to get them to the fabricators so we could ensure that they could live up to their promises ( so as to not leave a cliffhanger - they did! In good time and to price, spec. and quality!).
This meant removing the toe-rails, covering-boards, and garboards. None of this was expected to be hard - just time consuming. Until I found the covering-boards and some of the toe-rails fixed with hand-made nails buried under plugs! Bugger!
Thankfully the wood being removed was never going back onto the boat - so I could be a little brutal - out with the hole saw, cut around the nail, then remove the fastenings after the boards were away.
Then start cutting the fastenings on the ribs I had chosen. I chose two of the short ribs running from the turn of the bilge into the keel - as these are in the first stage of the replacement and would allow us to develop a routine. The steel is overlapped by a wooden rib that continues to the deck. The overlap is about 8cm and hides a rivet... Only one route - cut the rib to get at the rivet and get the steel out in one piece. We will have to scarf a new tale onto all these wooden ribs - 36 in all! This I will make a little longer, and stagger the scarfs to spread the load... More work! But I can make a jig to cut the the scarfs, so it shouldn't be too many more days.
Once the ribs were out we left them at the fabricators, tidied up and I went home to my wife and Christmas... Leaving a list of work for Oscar, if he had the time.
Price enquiries with untold number of suppliers. Confirmation of provenance - foolish to start a project of this scale without being certain the boat is as described. Searching for drawings - that have not been found... If anybody can help? Drawing details to help me understand what I want better ( I tend to work a little more "seat of the pants"), so I can delegate work better. Research into other restorations to help with decisions about techniques.
And that is just at my end! Oscar has completely built a workshop, with a good floor and insulated so we can work through anything the Swedish winter can throw at us... Inside an historic barn. This while restoring his house, installing solar heating, maintaining his antique Jaquard loom - and weaving on it, and both of us running our businesses, and holding down a family life!
Anyway work started before christmas. I had a window of 4 days to "begin". My goal was to remove two of the steel ribs - to confirm how we would do it, and to get them to the fabricators so we could ensure that they could live up to their promises ( so as to not leave a cliffhanger - they did! In good time and to price, spec. and quality!).
This meant removing the toe-rails, covering-boards, and garboards. None of this was expected to be hard - just time consuming. Until I found the covering-boards and some of the toe-rails fixed with hand-made nails buried under plugs! Bugger!
Thankfully the wood being removed was never going back onto the boat - so I could be a little brutal - out with the hole saw, cut around the nail, then remove the fastenings after the boards were away.
Then start cutting the fastenings on the ribs I had chosen. I chose two of the short ribs running from the turn of the bilge into the keel - as these are in the first stage of the replacement and would allow us to develop a routine. The steel is overlapped by a wooden rib that continues to the deck. The overlap is about 8cm and hides a rivet... Only one route - cut the rib to get at the rivet and get the steel out in one piece. We will have to scarf a new tale onto all these wooden ribs - 36 in all! This I will make a little longer, and stagger the scarfs to spread the load... More work! But I can make a jig to cut the the scarfs, so it shouldn't be too many more days.
Finally getting ready to work
Some of our extra "help"
The covering boards on their way - notice the plugs left in the sheer-clamp hiding the bloody nails.
Before and after at deck level
Inspecting the mess after removing the port garboard
Not for the faint hearted - but at least it gives me a good excuse to carve up a nice bit of oak!
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