Progress on the Classic Enterprise restoration

The Enterprise restoration is coming along well with the deck now finished off apart from the final coats of varnish towards the end of the restoration. Now we have made a start on the inside of the Enterprise scraping and sanding down the inside and fitting the inspection hatch in the front buoyancy tank and now have the two drain holes in the bottom and then fit the drain plugs. The seats and aft thwart have come out to be sanded down and re-varnished, when finished put to one side to be stored until the rest of the varnishing is finished in the dinghy, when it will be refitted in position.That is going to be sometime as the inside needs a lot of sanding and re-varnishing. There are a few items to go back on the deck especially the front spray rails and the mainsheet traveller and the jig sheet fairleads and the front handles. 

The mast and sails will need some work as well. Mainly the mast as this needs a complete overhaul with standing and running rigging needing to be replaced, the pulleys need to be removed, freed up and replaced if need be to ensure when we go sailing it all works correctly and there are no breakages.

So although we have come a long way so far there is a long road ahead to get the enterprise back on the water. 

We have to find some new buoyancy bags to go under the seats and behind the aft thwart, so going to be a trawl through the internet for these as well as the rigging. So happy hunting on the internet for these items.

The colour change is almost there as the layers of undercoat build up.

The change from grey primer to white is almost complete with several coats of undercoat going on.

Now it is ready for the final fine filling and the last couple of coats of undercoat before the ivory top coat goes on  

Just got to do a small deck repair on the port side and the toe rail and rubbing stake can go back on and painting on the hull can be finished off.

The Shetland Family Four refit is coming along with compounding the hull and superstructure

Compounding the hull is coming along well with the surface dirt and oxidation of the surface gelcoat coming off to leave a shiny finish  

Just got to do some gelcoat repairs where there are a few deep scratches  

The superstructure is coming up well with a bit of elbow grease 

All to gether the hull is coming up well for a 30 year old boat

Just got to sort out the inside and reline out the hull and cabin sides and then it will be put up for sale 

1930's Yacht refit coming along well with paint going on the hull.

The yacht started the day with fairing filler on the hull then came the long job of sanding the filler back and flattening the paint back to a smooth finish

it took a while, however it was worth the time to get it fair

Then came the coat of primer to seal the surface and highlight any areas that were missed 

After it was painted grey primer it was left for several hours to dry off and then it was painted with white undercoat again. 

Work coming along well on the Enterprise and restoration work on a tried Shetland Family Four Motor Cruiser

The deck on the Enterprise dinghy are coming along well with the last of the very thinned down coats of varnish being applied. 

The grain of the plywood is now filled and now the surface can be sanded to a flat finish and the varnish depth can now be build up.

The inside and the bottom panels of the dinghy have been given a good cleaning so the bottom can be primed with yacht primer before the bottom panels are re-painted with anti slip paint

Now it as been cleaned both the bottom and the side panels the varnish work can be sanded down to bare wood where necessary 

The Shetland Family Four Cruiser is now getting a good cleaning on the outside before compounding and polishing the hull and superstructure

 The hull and superstructure now cleaned and now waiting to dry off before compounding and polishing the boat and doing the odd gelcoat repair. 

Restoring a tried Shetland Family Four and get it back into commission for the summer

Much of the work on the Shetland Family Four is cosmetic and will be straight forward to sort out 

A good polish of the hull and superstructure and a coat of fresh antifouling paint on the bottom  

The inside is where the most work will need doing apart from the need for new cabin windows 

It is going to need a new set of cabin side linings as well as a new roof lining panel that need re-covering 

A new cooker will be needed 

The cushions should be ok however the cockpit cushions will need renewing and the electrics will need upgrading to meet today's standards. 

When this is all done then a new engine will be fitted and the boat will be sea trailed to ensure all is working OK.

Finally got the quadrants finished off and started on the next project

Got the most difficult quadrant sorted and sealed down

It as been a long job and at time difficult however the end result is worth the time

The next project to restore this old Enterprise to its former glory

Find a spot and start there

One job well on its way the decks with a fresh coat of varnish.

First coats of thinned varnish on the decks

Today the first coats of thinned varnish were applied to the decks and they have come up quiet well after they were sanded back to bare wood.

Just a lot more coats to go before the thicker coats of varnish can be applied

Sanding the decks of the Enterprise

 Sanding back the decks to bare wood

After the first sanding 

 Same being done to the foredeck

 Coming up to a good surface

Foredeck coming back to a good condition, just need a lot more sanding  before several coats of varnish 

End of a fruitful week with a number of jobs done and others underway.

After removing the last of the lead ingots it was found that a few of the ribs are in renewing as time and ill fitting ingots had done their damage to the surface of the ribs

These are two of the badly damaged ribs in the lower part of the bilge near the centreboard case.

 

The area of the bilge down by the side of the centreboard case now cleaned of the water and the loose dirt

A whole lot better just a quick cleaning with a washing up liquid and sponge and a scrubbing brush   

Same job here and then un

Ongoing busy week with a number of jobs getting done

The second long length of quadrant being fitted on the 1960's ketch

One length carefully screwed and sealed down now ready to have the screw holes plugged with hardwood plugs

Front part of the plank ready to be fitted  

The front part of the top plank starting to be fitted

Almost there just the joint to be cut and glued together, then it will be ready to caulk and putty up the seam and paint the top plank