Saturday 27 February 2016

Sorting out the electrical system to make it simple to use and to maintain.

 Originally the wiring system had a number system, however over the years the system paperwork as disappeared and the systems the lifeboat needed during its working life are no longer needed so they are going to be removed to be replaced with a very simple system.


No manual to work too and the system is no longer used so all this system is going to be removed and an easy to follow system pt in its place. 

The original system which is no longer needed now that it is going to be a river boat and just needs to start the engine on a 24 volt system.


Four volt meters a bit over kill  


An over kill system which is not needed any longer




Now for the fun part removing all this wiring and making it a simple to use system

More the conversion of the yellow lifeboat

Starting to fit the toilet/shower room bulkheads to close off that area from the rest of the boat 


The battery box area before they are put into a proper battery management box and with its own inverter system to run the 240 volts systems off grid


Fitting the first of the bulkheads to the side of the boat, Once fitted then the fibreglass will be cleared of flowcoat back to bare fibreglass and the bulkhead will be glassed in position. 


The first parts of the fore and aft bulkheads starting to be fitted into position ready for the areas top and bottom to be cleared back ready to glass in these two part of the fore and aft bulkhead.


The original engine manual or at lease part of it


Saturday 20 February 2016

Busy week going looking at boats and projects around the country.

This week there has been a lot going on down at the workshop, The main part of the week as been spent on getting the Mai-Star Class dinghy ribbed out and sorting out the patterns for the breasthook and quarter knees and sorting out the wood to make them next week.

Other jobs that were sorted out this week was to fitting of a replacement automatic electric bilge pump to Mai Star II after the original bilge pump had given up the ghost after 8 years of service.

Looking at other jobs that possible clients wish me to quote on and taking phone calls for new special projects that possible clients wish to have built over the coming months.

Next week it will be back down to the river Thames to get on with work on the yellow lifeboat and get on with its conversion to a river boat and studio for its owner. Then there is another lifeboat to look at to do a possible conversion to and turn this one into a liveaboard boat for its owner, This one is in the pipeline as the owner decides which way they want the interior to be set out.

Then there is the works dinghy to sort out and get back on the water and in service again then there is the restoration of the 56 year old Enterprise to finish off and get sailing for the new sailing season.

  

Thursday 18 February 2016

Progress on the new dinghy for an old client wanting a new dinghy for the new sailing season.

The dinghy also ribbed out just the fron few to do when I get my next green oak shipment


Time to take a look at the plans and see what can be done while waiting for my next timber shipment 


Making patterns for the breasthook 


and the quarter knees 


Also take a look at making the mast step and mast thwart as well


Patterns made for the knees and breasthook  


Wednesday 17 February 2016

Starting to nail in the ribs and once finished the next stage will be to fit the gunwales and seat stringers and the centreboard case.

This shows one side with the ribs all steamed in and ready to be nailed in place


The only problem which happened was that the second plank down from the sheer strake over night top edge spilt and so will have to remove plank and fit a new plank once all the ribs are nailed in place 


good to see the ribs going in at last and the dinghy stop being a jelly mould 


The brace in the middle is there to push the ribs up against before removing it to fit the ribs on the starboard side up against later.


Brace removed and the starboard side ribs going in position 


Getting there just a few more nails and roves to go and the next stage can start.


Now for a project of a completely different kind.

A completely new type of project being undertaken by the team at J-Star Boat Services to convert this ex Shell corporation lifeboat into a liveaboard and sightseeing trip boat.


Its nickname is the Yellow submarine 



One of the first jobs will be to convert the side opening hatches into a pair of sliding doors 


Sort out electric wiring for the engine and sort out the 240 volt shore supply   


Make a battery box and which will be vented and make it high enough to make into extra storage and a table.


Completely renew the galley 


Cooking area and get it up to spec to pass the BSC


Then sort out the engine wiring and instruments and get them working correctly and up to spec. 


Thursday 11 February 2016

The hull of the new dinghy is now finished and now the fitting out can begin.

Finally the last plank is now being fitted 


The final rebate being cut and the plank being fitted to the stem


The first of the moulds been removed as the plank is nailed in place.


The second mould now removed and 


finally the lot are removed to leave a big void to fill with centreboard case and seats and mast step


Looking up towards the stem after four of the twenty ribs have been steamed into position


Saturday 6 February 2016

Port side planking complete and just got to make the starboard side plank and then make a start on the fitting of the ribs.

Just giving the top plank a coat of thinned varnish before fitting to the dinghy


Starting to fix in position 


The apprentice starting to nail plank in place 


Using peg clamps and wedges to fit plank in position 


The apprentice about half way down the port side


Finally fitted and with a second coat of thinned varnish to finish it off for the day


Dry fitting port side top plank and then varnishing ready to put on next day

Dry fitting the plank , finally got to the top plank, Once these two planks are fitted then can make a start on making and fitting the ribs.


Fitting well round the moulds 


Now that it is dry fitted time for a coat of thinned varnish


Making sure to seal the end grain on the plank where it fits the stem.


Starting to make port side top plank and sanding down the inside of transom

Hand planing the last side of the port hand top plank and getting it ready to dry fit to the dinghy 


Starting to sand the inside face of the transom 


Sanded back to its unbleached surface and now ready for varnishing 


First coat of varnish and looking good 


Belt sanding plank to get rid of the plane marks