<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).
Cabin wall lining – If it was the camper van they would be “door cards”.
The title might seem like a totally un-connected with boat restoration but bear with me and it will make sense. It feels to me as if I have been here before only last time Matt and I bought in the decorative lining cards ready done and then struggled to adapt some of them to fit… Continue reading Cabin wall lining – If it was the camper van they would be “door cards”.
Boat electrical system.
I have already written about the engine related electrical system install and included the charging of the starting and domestic power batteries from the Dynastart. Apart from the starter and fuel cutoff solenoid valve there has been no mention of other electrical loads and the two battery isolation switches are the nearest any of those… Continue reading Boat electrical system.
Easter “holiday” – No holiday for the “lock in” part of the population or front line clinical teams but time to work on the boat for me.
Good Friday (Bank holiday) Early start again today (only slightly before the alarm but still earlier than needed). Started by fitting conduit for the navigation light cables. Initially fixed with the sticky foam that comes with them but I know that wont stay attached to the fiberglass for long so I used the remaining resin… Continue reading Easter “holiday” – No holiday for the “lock in” part of the population or front line clinical teams but time to work on the boat for me.
The new normality – Back to work + the whole population supposed to be under “lock in”.
Tuesday Not sure whether it will be exactly normality but I am back at work from today following 14 days “self-exclusion” after Helen’s bout of breathlessness. Key things are to get caught up with the patient safety things and hopefully better setup to be constructive in any future working from home scenarios. There… Continue reading The new normality – Back to work + the whole population supposed to be under “lock in”.