Restoration of Whimbrel 1999

January l999Week l at Penpol- trial fitting of stern post/aft D-W successful -good news indeed. Whimbrel rebuild has now started!

February: week2 in Penpol- more new faces in boatyard -Henry -time served shipwright very knowledgeable/ helpful. Original keelson dropped out after all remaining frames cut through (+ extra props in place) Hardboard patterns made for upper & lower sections of keelson. Whimbrel now spineless but looks better without old keelson.

 

March l999 -20cu.ft oak delivery from Whippletree - 211 +311 planks for hog,fore D-W and 160 of 211 x 1/211 strips for frame laminations (total £820). Hog assembled from 2 + 311 planks:nice but 311 short! Fore D-W rebuilt -811 wide,611 deep and 61 long (triangle). 1 pair of 311 by 121 by 1811 wide oak planks (8cu. ft) purchased for new keelson: very heavy indeed -long suffering trailer. Eventually rough cut on massive bandsaw with moving table at nearby ex- chicken farm but still needing much finishing with electric planer for bevels.

 

 

April 1999- Trailer fully loaded for Cornwall run -burst tyre after 10miles forced early return. Lesson of the day- little wheels (& tyres) need lots of air pressure (50psi) Second attempt successful. Good company at Rockhaven Gardens-Wendy then Andrew for rest of week. Easter (week2) at Penpol-new keelson dry fitted into hull-good abutment on to sternpost/aft D-W. Strenuous week lifting keel sections in & out every day for floor hanger and keel bolt drillings ete using Davels powerful (vicious twist) drill with 3011 long drill bit! Ballast keel cleaned up with needle gun an air compressor (Phills tractor unit-useful chap).Dirty work. First attempt at making stern frames: disastrous -'told off' by Brian. Patterns taken for S/B midhull frames. Completed stern post/aft D-W hog,keelson bolted in place and primed -looking good . Very tough week indeed -need good rest at work to recover. Second attempt on replacement frames -starboard midhull (no bevels).Each frame made from 4 of 2” x 0.5” laminates steamed then glued (Balcotan) -only in pairs initially.8 prepared in total. Fore D-W completed -required surface planing at Lavers (most accommodating)

 

May l999 - week3 at Penpol (postponed by 7 days-lack of enthusiasm!) Cheek patterns confirmed correct shape of new frames -each glued to 1.511 overall thickness. Unsuccessful screw fastening -revert to copper nail riveting -(much better and rapid with Henry's assistance but noisy. Eight frames - S/B nos:13 ~20 replaced and rivetted up. Looking good. Fell off ladder -hard landing on ground -no broken bones- but painkillers for 7days! Ladder top now fastened securely to sheer plank. Patterns taken for alternate port frames 13-20. -'bad news' bill from boatyard - overcharged for yard use and Henry's labour-challenged successfully. 'Windmill' yard very pleasant location for stage 2 rebuild - Kevin/Kevin most agreeable -reasonable charge. No need to expedite removal from Penpol unless further Isurchargingl.Quotations for transport from £530 ~800 + cranes £150 x2

 

June l999- fast production line build of port frames 13-20 + S/B 12 + 20. Overproduction resulted in twin P14 x 2 and P21 x2! Steam-bend-glue-clamp-clean up-restart again-13 in all. Time to spare- bowsprit started and nearly completed.

 

July 1999-week4 -joined by David Groom (Gadebury care manager) -tremendous worker -really excellent with cutting out recesses for frame ends. Replaced on Friday by Dave Clout (trust me I'm a welder)- also a demon worker. 11 frames replaced, new fore deadwood (mast support) and aft end of lower bow stem timber made good by top and starboard infills (Dave G). Weather very hot -work hard going. A real step forward indeed! Trev. taken to hospital with chest pain ?cause. Thorough tidy up - templates for frames 22-25 made. Frames 22-25 (twinned) + S/B 12 made up. Order placed for larch planking + pitch pine for stringers -Traditional sail (Salcombe)

 

Aug 1999 -overnight trip in Grahams tired VW transporter to collect 10cwt load of seasoned ]arch for planking. Successful trip not with -standing numerous mechanical challenges-warning lights/buzzers alarms ete -exhausting but worth it. Plenty of wood for lower planks both sides + spare. Week5- alone in B&B -planking fraught with bevel type problems (steep learning curve). New planks look good. Four more frames replaced. Week spoilt by silly mistakes! Welcome help from Jamie.

Sept 1999 - spoilt frames (from week5) made good. Port side lower planks roughed out. Arrival of Whimbrel -(sans ballast keel/rudder) -brought by Brian Pope on boat trailer. Hair raising lift off by mobile crane -disaster narrowly averted due to boat rotating inside strops (due to inadvisable climbing inside boat). Boat eventually secured safely on ground at Great Revel End Farm -still looking rather sorry for herself -reframing continues from 25 onwards -both sides. Propellor shaft removed.

Oct 1999 -Plugging time! Plank damage from old fastenings made good by internal 3/811 oak parallel plug followed by 1/2" cone shaped external redwood plug. Time consuming but effective. 40' elderly portcabin purchased (£560) for workshop +rest room -off loaded in wrong location but too heavy to move ourselves -external/internal window shutters fitted,security and power laid on - impressive premises !

Double curved frames with complex bevels fitted around rudder post -the ultimate test in frame fitting. Few stern frames salvaged including solid frame for main sheet horse. Several frames secured by screws instead -less satisfactory than rivetting. The transom does not look quite so good -will need further attention

 

November 1999 -

Portacabin moved by 'Groundforce' (farmer & crew) into correct site using tractor + trailer and crane combination. Tremendous achievement -pity about the cracks in the roof! Weather still holding fair. Stern frames finished at last-time to move forward. Old paint stripped off starboard side -long slow job with making good all plug holes -followed by grey primer below waterline and white above. Starboard sheer & 4th + 3rd planks fitted -great improvement.

 December 1999

                              Wrought iron keel bolt forged by Welder Dave into mushroom ends -using farmer Paul's forge -not a success! Lifting frame with detachable legs constructed by Welder Dave -very heavy (l ton) and robust -excellent design but costly at £1000. Mobile crane -manned by father & son: Dave lift 3.25ton cast iron ballast keel on to lifting frame with legs fitted. Hull now positioned on top of keel and keel bolts fitted . Finally boat + frame lifted with difficulty due to severe hull crush (two frame ends snapped) into correct location then legs detached and frame lowered to ground level. Phew! Crane crew excellent -£150 -bargain. Whimbrel beginning to look like a proper boat at last. Keel bolts will have to be replaced later on -fore/aft alignment of keelson on ballast keel slightly out but remediable. S/B sheerline looks terrible with unsightly midships 'hump' - due to beam reduced by 8ons due to hull crush but easily widened again by 2 1/4" internal props between frames. Bow also jacked up -transon to follow, looking much better now. Frantic rush to finish filling, scraping and painting of S/B side. Flattering photos taken at safe distance on Dec.20th -then progress update sent to Trevor/Henry and Bob Pizey (Cornwall) + Seasonal Greetings etc. Xmas target achieved.

 

Return to Main index - Onto the next Diary Page