It is now coming towards the end of July and I am about three months behind where I wanted to be with the Lady Evelyn restoration project. Whilst I can blame the weather, tides and a myriad of other things, it really comes down to me and what I thought or think I can do within the time I estimate it takes.
For example, the boat wheelhouse was almost ready to be painted in April. All that had to be done was the last roof panel, yet here I am in July saying the same thing.
The roof is about 90% completed, but its not finished.. That last panel was left because the boat went over onto her side again, then the engineer doing the welding has not come back to finish off the last wee bit and then my own generator decided to die. Not to mention that the pelmet has yet to cut back as well.
Most of you reading are probably thinking that I procrastinate about painting or getting on with other jobs but here is my reason for not painting. If I apply the undercoat (wheelhouse is already primed) and then two topcoats of gloss and the engineer comes back to grind/weld etc then all the paintwork that has been done around those ares will be tarnished and burned. I also believe that no matter how hard you try, cutting in paintwork at a later date makes for a weak point as well as often leaving a slight off colour between the new and older paint.
You can see here a definite paint discolour despite the fact this was from the same tin, but two days apart.
On the subject of painting, most of the work carried out over the past few weeks has been the removal of old paint and then the priming of the cleaned up area. The job was made considerably easier by the purchase of a small grinder along with sanding discs. This makes life so much easier when trying to take away rust that has bitten deep into the metal work. taking it off by hand was a very slow and painful process.
Sadly my wee generator died about three days after getting the grinding tool. I found it very difficult to start and then on closer examination I found a major leak of oil from around the head. Between that and over tightening the carburettor bolt and destroying its 'seat' inside the bowl. It was given the 'heave ho' and a new one purchased.
A note on the new generator, I have to say a huge thank you to my fiance for getting it for me. It's demise came at the wrong time for me financially and she stepped in and got me up and running again through the powers of Mr eBay. Thank you princess!!
This is me working away with the grinder and our original generator before its demise.
One of the things you can't really see was the fact that between Bob and myself we managed to remove the old beds for the winches. This has cleared up the deck no end and its amazing how much space this seems to have left. The beds were held in place my steel threaded rods, although not high tensile, they were bolted up hard under the deck and through the cross beams. We took a sledge hammer to the tops and knocked them through, using another slightly smaller rod to push it through. There was a satisfying 'clunk' every time one was knocked through and it hit the engine underneath.
The only bits of wood left to come off the deck are on the stern where the base of the davit's that held the trawl doors is located. To think of that, I might make that the next job.
The removed wood is surprisingly heavy and still in pretty good condition. I have hung onto them as they might be useful somewhere along the line.
You can see where the winch bearers sat here from the discolouration of the deck.
I have included a picture of the wheelhouse and its various stages of paint work below. The only parts left to be done is the removal of the last part of the radar, the stripping back of the last of the roof above the wheelhouse itself and the pelmet. I should say a huge thank you to my youngest son Aonghas here who spent literally hours chipping away the roof without a single word of complaint.
You can see the pelmet and the state its in. This will be cut back about two inches from the top and two inches from the bottom, clearing up all the rusted through areas.
This part of the roof took almost three days work. Adding in the sides you are looking at almost 14 days work all by hand.
The day I finally completed the front, back and sides was a huge relief. Now only the roof to finish off!
To the right of the last picture at the bottom, you can see the runner for the wires bolted to the side of the gunwale. These have all now been removed as well. All the metalwork that was redundant on the deck was cut away by Bob from Ardrishaig, who has an engineering company based there. Bob also welded up much of the rest of the metal work that was needing done including the mast, the new step going into the wheelhouse and finally patching up funnel casing on the wheelhouse roof (Yet to be finished). It was Bob who also dealt with re-welding up the leg after that storm!
That 'infamous' leg! Now bolted and properly welded in place.
So that almost brings everything up to date. The job I recently started was the stripping down of the woodwork above the deck and into the corner of the gunwales. It can be half done with the grinder but you have to be very careful and not let the grinder (With sanding disc attachment) run away with itself as it eats into the wood very quickly. Once it has been stripped and cleaned I soak it with a 50-50 mix of Linseed oil and White spirit. After that I will coat it with wood primer and then undercoat/tops coats etc.
The job is quite a slow one as the areas being done are not the easiest in the world to get at.
So watch this space for pictures of that process.
With regards to the hull and getting her afloat and onto a mooring. I have priced the five inch nails and they came in at a very reasonable £260 for 200, delivered to the house. So my next capital purchase will be for them. Then finally we can start to re-nail her and get the hull finished.
I have had several long conversations with people about the nailing process and I am not as distressed about the whole process as I was six months ago. I have been given good sound advice from various people (you know who you are!) and they are happy to come and show me how to do it as well, which is great.
I am so looking forward to ripping out the old caulking and re-nailing, only to re-caulk it again... (Not!)
One final thing to mention. The vessel is going back to her original name of the 'Bountiful' . Once I have finished the wheelhouse painting and cleaned up the bow, her name will be put back the way it originally was. She may also get her fishing numbers put back on, albeit with a wee red line through them, but that's under discussion at the moment. Ill also make sure her 'shamrock' luck line is restored to its full glory as well.
Sorry should have mentioned! You can now view this blog on your mobile phone, it actually looks quite good as well.
Sorry should have mentioned! You can now view this blog on your mobile phone, it actually looks quite good as well.
Until my next entry!
Aye.
