Boat Maintenance tips for a stress free fitting out time

Boat Maintenance tip # 4

When the weather is gets better it is time to start getting the boat ready for the new season, so make sure you have all the necessary gear to do the jobs, if not order them now through our mail order service

Boat Maintenance tip # 5

Get your charts send to the chart agents to be checked & corrected if needed, also next liferaft checked and or ordered from hirer for new season

Boat Maintenance tip # 6

Check your standing & running rigging before the start of the season better to be sailing than sitting on the hard all season waiting for a new rig

Boat maintenance check list for stress free winter refit.

Boat maintenance tip #1

Get refit list checked and order your antifoul this week in time for getting the boat in the water for Easter

Boat maintenance tip # 2

Check your sails are in good condition and if in need of repair get them to the sail maker this week before the rush for Easter starts

Boat maintenance tip # 3

Remember to book your launch date now as time is running out to get your boat on the date you want to be afloat

Closing down for the Christmas break and will start again in the new year!

Today is going to be our last day at work until the new year and I would like to thank all my clients for their business this year. It has been a difficult year, but there has been some points along the way. So until next year, wishing you all a Good Christmas and hope to see you all in the new year.

The next three planks get steamed and bend into position

This photo shows the front end of the planks as they are steamed and bend into position and left to go cold before taking them off and cutting the plank ends to fit the stem and plane the rebates on the plank to fit the plank below.

This photo shows the planks amidships where the boat is starting to take shape and the hull is starting to look like a boat.

This photo shows the planks starting to build up round the transom of the boat.

The third phase was to start to fit the bulkheads in the toilet compaprment and dry fit the new windows

The first job that had to be done was to repair the damaged window surrounds that had been damaged when the old windows were taken out to be replaced.

This work had to be done to a number of the windows down the startboard side

Much of the problem was caused by the lay up not being thick enough around the window surrounds leading it to break.

Once the repairs had been done to the window surrounds then the new windows started to be fitted back in the window surrounds

Then the first side was dry fitted and then it was the turn of the other side

Once these were done then the front windows were fitted in place.

While the windows were being fitted the toilet compartment bulkheads were being fitted .
In this photo the front and aft bulkhead panels are fitted in place before they are lined with formica.

This photo shows the bulkhead that fits fore and aft to leave the piece for the doorway.

Another photo of the front and side bulkheads in place before being removed to be covered with formica and then fitted back in place with oak trims in the edges.

The refit continues with a good compounding of the hull and a clean out of the inside.

So the hard work begins with the hull being given a good compounding and removing of some of the bad marks the boat as got over the years especially the one it has got on the port side amidships. In the first photo it is cleanly seen.

In the second photo it is gone as if it was never there in the first place.

The same it true in the next pair of photos the cockpit in a dirty state and then

In the next photo the cockpit carpet and the surrounding area is given a good vacuuming and makes it look at lot better.

The starboard side is given a good compounding and it bring up the true colour of the hull.

This photo is of the inside of the cabin with it given a clean up and sorting out of the cushions and table into the correct storage positions.

The table when not in place as a double bunk infill is placed on the locker opposite the galley/sink area.

Now the rest of the refit can continue with the rest of the jobs on the refit list.

The second phase of the P{rincess 25 refit

The next phase of the refit was to seal up the window holes to keep the weather out of the boat while the new windows were being made and so that work could continue on the inside of the boat.

At the same time the hull was compounded to give a good look at the hull and see how much work the hull was going to need to bring it back up to a good condition.

This is a photo of the forward end of the main cabin giving a good look at how the front as been brought back to a good condition after a good deal of cleaning and polishing as been done .

The main cabin under the floor and in the lockers as been painted out with white bilge paint to lighten up the cabin and make it easier to find items in the lockers once the boat is back in commission.

A photo looking down the port side looing forward.

A photo looking down the starboard side looking forward

This photo shows the area in the toilet compartment where the seacocks are is painted as well.

The next phase is to put the new bulkheads in the toilet area and sort out the tanks and galley area.

We do refits on Hardy Marine boats

We get asked from time to time to work on Hardy Marine & Princess yachts boats. Having for many years worked in the marine industry. I have come across a number of these boats and done work on a number of their product boats. I have a great deal of knowledge of Hardy boats having worked for them for 7 years during the 1980's. Also while working for another company worked on a number of the Princess yachts range of boats especially the smaller Princess from their product range. Therefore having a good deal of knowledge of their boats and how they are put together and how their systems work.

So when asked to do work on these boats it is easier to work on these boats.

The first Hardy boat I am presently working on is a Hardy Navigator 18 which is in need of a good deal of TLC and general tidying up as it has been left to go a little.

This photo is of the outside of the boat after it had its first session with a compounding machine and the difference it made getting rid of years of dirt that had build up over the years.

This photo is of the port side after it had been given the same treatment, but side is need of a great deal more work as it as damage to the hull gel coat amidships that needs reworking and being back to looking like new once more.

This photo shows the condition of the cockpit wiring down the starboard side, just hanging down without being clipped up and made to good a professional job.

This photo shows the condition of the cabin doors and how they have weather from leaving the cockpit cover off and letting the weather damage the varnish on them

This photo shows the condition of the back of the cockpit where it is in need of a bit of TLC and re-organising

This photo is of a view of the cockpit showing that the boat is in need of a good cleaning up.

This photo shows that the window seal as given way and that the windows are in need of resealing to make them watertight once more

This photo shows how the rubber in the windows as become shorter over the years and is in need of replacing to ensure the window is watertight.

This photo shows a jungle of wiring that needs sorting out and making safe and easily managed in the future

The steering position is in need of a general sorting out and tidying up to make it more workmanlike able to be used easier by its new owner.

This photo shows the VHF which as been removed to get tested and if need be replaced with a more modern unit.

This is just the start of this refit and will be posting more photo and text about the work as it progesses along the refit.

So the second row of planks gets steamed into position.

This photo shows the front end of the plank being steamed into position along with its sister plank on the starboard side being done at the same time.

This photo shows the boat starting to take shape as it grow out from the keel.

This close up shows the plank in position on the stem and before the rebates are planned on after it as cooled down

The second plank being helded in place by old fashion peg cramps/

Another photo of a peg cramp being used to hold a plank in place.

The clinker dinghy is now taking shape.

Final dry fitting of the two garboard planks

Another photo of the final fitting of the garboard planks on to the stem.

A photo of the curve of the plank has it goes along the boat and over the mould stations from being upright at the stem to laying down along the length of the boat.

Red lead primer on the edges that fit to the keel rebate and the stem and the transom to ensure it is well protected.

This photo shows the keel rebate matching up with the transom angle.

The stem and keel ready to final fixing of the garboard plank after it has been painted with primer.

This photo is of the starboard side ready to fix the garboard plank.

This photo shows the secong plank being offer up to mark off and cut to shape.

This photo show the second plank being bend round the first mould station

Now the boat is starting to take shape.