This could start to get boring but sanding has started on the cockpit........ one point though... we're so pleased to be close to a power source (directly behind us - a bonus this year as we're normally two extension leads away!)
Latest update here ..... Cockpit Page
Sunday 24 November 2013
Sunday 17 November 2013
Today's Efforts....
I'm going to change the way I'm setting up my posts I've decided.
Rather than describe what we're doing each day in some detail on a 'post' I'm going to give an overview, and create a page for each area of the boat we're working on. That way I can include a 'link' to the relevant page and I can keep the progress all in one place.
Winter Cover
Having started to build the frame yesterday we've now finished it off and covered it with the tarps.
We're all ready to go....Winter Cover Page
Cockpit
I've treated the area of the fungus so am leaving any further sanding in that area until it's dry.
We've replaced the locker covers with temporary MDF versions cut using the originals as a template and taken them off home to start work on.
Follow progress here.......... Cockpit Page
Rather than describe what we're doing each day in some detail on a 'post' I'm going to give an overview, and create a page for each area of the boat we're working on. That way I can include a 'link' to the relevant page and I can keep the progress all in one place.
Winter Cover
Having started to build the frame yesterday we've now finished it off and covered it with the tarps.
We're all ready to go....Winter Cover Page
Cockpit
I've treated the area of the fungus so am leaving any further sanding in that area until it's dry.
We've replaced the locker covers with temporary MDF versions cut using the originals as a template and taken them off home to start work on.
Follow progress here.......... Cockpit Page
Saturday 16 November 2013
Started on the Cockpit............
So the big task today was to start to construct the frame for holding the tarpaulin away from all the exterior woodwork. We want to be in a position to be able to fold the tarp back if weather permits or work underneath it if it turns cold but without it touching the sides to ruin our efforts on varnishing when we eventually get to that bit.
The other half outlined the plan for how it was going to be fixed in place and we duly set off to the local DIY shed to procure the necessary. We also got a couple of sheets of 18mm MDF to make the temporary locker covers for use whilst the originals are at home.
Final treat was to buy a new paint and varnish scraper! We already have a heat gun that we used last year but the scrapers that came with it weren't brilliant. In view of the amount of varnish stripping being done this winter the least we could do was buy a decent one. In all our years of tackling jobs we've always learned that good tools are half the battle!
Luckily we don't have another boat parked up next to us currently so we had plenty of space to spread our stall out. The other half started work on the measuring and preparing of his timber for the frame and I started scraping varnish in the cockpit.
I was anticipating using the heat gun but found that the scraper was actually doing a good enough job on it's own - especially as the panelling is tongue and groove so I'm working on the grooves first on each section before doing the flat bits.
Progress on the frame today? Well it's in place and measured up ready for the purchase of the tarpaulin.
Photo's below of the current state of the varnish and the slight trace of fungus I found when I started (things are never simple - the first diversion off the plan...)
Follow the progress on the cockpit on the page directly relating to this:
http://heardtosher.blogspot.co.uk/p/cockpit.html
The other half outlined the plan for how it was going to be fixed in place and we duly set off to the local DIY shed to procure the necessary. We also got a couple of sheets of 18mm MDF to make the temporary locker covers for use whilst the originals are at home.
Final treat was to buy a new paint and varnish scraper! We already have a heat gun that we used last year but the scrapers that came with it weren't brilliant. In view of the amount of varnish stripping being done this winter the least we could do was buy a decent one. In all our years of tackling jobs we've always learned that good tools are half the battle!
Luckily we don't have another boat parked up next to us currently so we had plenty of space to spread our stall out. The other half started work on the measuring and preparing of his timber for the frame and I started scraping varnish in the cockpit.
I was anticipating using the heat gun but found that the scraper was actually doing a good enough job on it's own - especially as the panelling is tongue and groove so I'm working on the grooves first on each section before doing the flat bits.
Progress on the frame today? Well it's in place and measured up ready for the purchase of the tarpaulin.
Photo's below of the current state of the varnish and the slight trace of fungus I found when I started (things are never simple - the first diversion off the plan...)
Follow the progress on the cockpit on the page directly relating to this:
http://heardtosher.blogspot.co.uk/p/cockpit.html
Monday 11 November 2013
The Gaff Saddle.....
So, not having much time this evening, what to do?
The leather covering the Gaff Saddle, Jib Traveller and Boom 'bit' were in a very dry state when we bought Charm last year and so, having done my research on the internet tried various things in an attempt to put some life back into our basically sound leatherwork items.
This year, during the summer, I treated the gaff saddle with Ko-cao-line (once I'd got over the shock of it being a rich pinky red colour when I opened the tin) as used by horse lovers as I'd read that it fed leather, waterproofed it and didn't rot the stitching (unlike the Neatsfoot Compound I'd previously been using).
Tonight I've applied a generous amount in to the leatherwork items (more than I was able to when installed on the boat) and will now wait to see how it works over the next few weeks. To be honest, we'd decided to replace the leatherwork this year, so if I've used the wrong stuff and it all goes pear shaped then we haven't lost anything!
As with everything these days I guess I should caveat my blogs with the phrase that I'm telling you what products we're opting to use for information rather than out and out endorsement - it's up to you whether you use the same if you're refurbishing like us......
Pics below for interest.......... and signing off.... :-)
The leather covering the Gaff Saddle, Jib Traveller and Boom 'bit' were in a very dry state when we bought Charm last year and so, having done my research on the internet tried various things in an attempt to put some life back into our basically sound leatherwork items.
This year, during the summer, I treated the gaff saddle with Ko-cao-line (once I'd got over the shock of it being a rich pinky red colour when I opened the tin) as used by horse lovers as I'd read that it fed leather, waterproofed it and didn't rot the stitching (unlike the Neatsfoot Compound I'd previously been using).
Tonight I've applied a generous amount in to the leatherwork items (more than I was able to when installed on the boat) and will now wait to see how it works over the next few weeks. To be honest, we'd decided to replace the leatherwork this year, so if I've used the wrong stuff and it all goes pear shaped then we haven't lost anything!
As with everything these days I guess I should caveat my blogs with the phrase that I'm telling you what products we're opting to use for information rather than out and out endorsement - it's up to you whether you use the same if you're refurbishing like us......
Pics below for interest.......... and signing off.... :-)
 |
| The Gaff Saddle, Boom 'bit' and Jib Traveller |
 |
| The 'red' stuff .... told you it was a good colour! |
Sunday 10 November 2013
First Jobs After Lift Out
Charm came out of the water on Friday so, having taken half a day's holiday to go down to the boatyard to secure her up and find where she was we set about jet washing the bottom before she had the chance to dry out.
We used Seajet Shogun antifouling last winter as we'd used it before with good results. However, as we'd had a 'racing scrub' mid season courtesy of a mix up with the boatyard our efforts with our baby jet wash was a whole lot quicker and easier than normal!
When we purchased Charm her bottom had been stripped and primed by the previous owner so, not knowing how long it had been since it was done we primed it again and slapped on two coats of Seajet. We have a little bit of work to do on the keel at the stern where the 'racing scrub' had taken the antifoul off completely but generally we're pleased with how it's ended up.
We also gave the hull a wash and rinse so that we could see what damage / discolouration would need attending to; luckily again, very little.
That was Friday, yesterday was wet and a 'domestic' day so, today's jobs amounted to the following:
A sign that winter is upon us is the fact that the garage has now turned into a chandlery and woodworking shop and the car is outside on the drive!
We used Seajet Shogun antifouling last winter as we'd used it before with good results. However, as we'd had a 'racing scrub' mid season courtesy of a mix up with the boatyard our efforts with our baby jet wash was a whole lot quicker and easier than normal!
When we purchased Charm her bottom had been stripped and primed by the previous owner so, not knowing how long it had been since it was done we primed it again and slapped on two coats of Seajet. We have a little bit of work to do on the keel at the stern where the 'racing scrub' had taken the antifoul off completely but generally we're pleased with how it's ended up.
We also gave the hull a wash and rinse so that we could see what damage / discolouration would need attending to; luckily again, very little.
That was Friday, yesterday was wet and a 'domestic' day so, today's jobs amounted to the following:
- Flushing the engine with fresh water - carried out with me holding the hose into the sea cock (and getting thoroughly wet in the process...) whilst the other half did the dry bit
- Cut and polish - cutting the hull with Farcela paste compound to get rid of some annoying little rust spots that had appeared from somewhere and the yellowing along the waterline. Following that, a good layer of Mer (the version in the black bottle that's supposed to last 6 months) left for 30 mins and polished off with an old linen tea towel (no posh cloths for me - I have a favourite that does the job better than anything else I've used and just needs a good boil wash).
- Removed the tops of the lockers to bring home ready to strip and varnish over the winter
- measuring up to enable us to work out what we need to construct a cover that won't touch the woodwork when we start to varnish the cabin sides and cockpit.
A sign that winter is upon us is the fact that the garage has now turned into a chandlery and woodworking shop and the car is outside on the drive!
Saturday 9 November 2013
Getting Started...
Having bored my facebook friends mercilessly last year with updates on the work we'd completed on our new boat I decided to create a blog to a) record what we are doing this winter for anyone who is interested and b) enable a sigh of relief on fb for friends who aren't!
I'll post some details of what we did last year to bring our progress up to date in the next few days....
I'll post some details of what we did last year to bring our progress up to date in the next few days....
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