It’s hard to believe that it was May when I wrote the last blog post. The last few months seem to have vanished in a blur of trips to Aberystwyth to collect one daughter from university, trips to Norwich working on the other daughter’s house and time spent re(?)-decorating our son’s house ready to let… Continue reading Where did that summer go ? (May to the end of July 2021)
Hull painting again.
Not a lot got achieved during yet-another lock-down in response to the Covid virus. This time I didn’t have the boat on my drive before hand so had to be patient and wait until travel was allowed again. Particularly difficult as the boat storage is in another county so I was having to keep an… Continue reading Hull painting again.
Marine ply replacements for “exterior” grade temporary parts.
If you have read the first few bits of the restoration story you will be aware that I did some quick fix work on the companionway boards and the cockpit locker lids using the best plywood I could find at the time. Every boatbuilding book I own warns you to use proper marine plywood and… Continue reading Marine ply replacements for “exterior” grade temporary parts.
Bilge pumps big and small. – Getting a dry interior at last.
One of the common themes of this whole boat restoration has been the family reminding me of the pensioner who hit national newspaper headlines and the evening TV news a few years ago having spent years restoring an “old” boat only to sink within an hour or so of the launch. As you might expect… Continue reading Bilge pumps big and small. – Getting a dry interior at last.
Cabin headlining + moving a daughter to her new home.
<Rant warning> If I learned nothing else from the camper van it is that I never want to try to do headlining again in the way VW did it. Fortunately the original boat version is more like the hull lining so there will be no saggy uneven tensioned cloth, no hoops that try to flip… Continue reading Cabin headlining + moving a daughter to her new home.
Simple solar – Fitting the mounting plinth and electrical installation. 25th May – 28th July.
Monday 25th May Yet another bank holiday when nobody is supposed to be going anywhere significant. Progress with boat projects seems to have slowed almost to a halt due to suppliers not delivering. The holdup with the fiberglass delivery is that the catalyst was not actually in stock. Doesn’t really matter though as I need… Continue reading Simple solar – Fitting the mounting plinth and electrical installation. 25th May – 28th July.
Making a start on hull painting.
Essentially the appearance of the hull below the rubbing strake hasn’t changed since Rathenice arrived almost 4 years ago. Having worked on rigging and interior finish during lock-down, I was ready to start on the hull just as the weather changed for the worse. Paint has been ordered and delivered but there just hasn’t been… Continue reading Making a start on hull painting.
Solar panel mounting – May 10th to 25th
The middle of the month seems to mark a bit of a slow-down phase for boat restoration because I am wanting to get plywood and some oak strips. The lockdown is beginning to ease a little but I am still having trouble getting marine plywood. TP are now open for more extensive business again and… Continue reading Solar panel mounting – May 10th to 25th
May bank holiday weekend & VE day aniversary.
This one is the first of my “As we go” blog entries. I really should also put in the retrospective bit to explain how I come to be able to progress with my boat restoration when, like everyone else in the country, I am supposed to be on what has been termed ‘lockdown’ in response… Continue reading May bank holiday weekend & VE day aniversary.
You have to start somewhere (first post but not the start of the story).
So this is my very first blog post about restoring and sailing a fiberglass sailing boat built in 1973 and now named Rathenice. Although I am by no means qualified or even experienced in any of this boat restoration game, hopefully readers will find inspiration from my personal journey through marine engineering, electrical work, painting,… Continue reading You have to start somewhere (first post but not the start of the story).