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