Starting to remove years of paint to see if the underlaying wood can be saved and can be varnished and getting the hog out of the boat so that a new hog can be fitted

Test patch to see if the gunwales and capping rails can be varnished 

Starting to remove the hog out of the boat as patches are rotten and to be placed once the hull as dried out enough to glass in a new hog and the engine beds 

 

Off loading off the trailer and blocking it off and leveling up before the work starts

Having deciding on where in the yard the boat was going to be while the dismantling was going to take place it was time to get the trailer out of the way. 

Because the boat had developed a bit of hogging it was decided to just block at each end and let the  boat return to its correct shape before starting to refit the inside 

With nothing in the way it will make it easier to work on the bottom of the boat and the keel which is going to modified to take a propeller shaft 

Work getting off the trailer was made a lot easier by using the gantry to lift the boat which when you work by yourself is a get help.

 

The conversion of the Pulling boat to a motor launch is well underway

On the first day in the yard it was emptying out all the loose equipment and floorboards

The next morning it was the turn of the floor bearers and the forward and aft thwarts which are not going back in after the boat becomes a motor launch 

The next job was to remove the rowlock blocks and sort out the way to get to the rudder fittings which will have to be changed to a different design to hold a new designed rudder

 

Mast and lifting keel support post being made and glued together, once the glue cured it will be profiled and glassed in position

The iroko planned to thickness and then cut in half and the grain reversed against each other and then glued together 

Then joint glued with epoxy glue and plenty of cramps  

Once the glue is cured a quick run through the planner and then radius the corners and fit the base on to the hull and bedded on with profile filler and the whole post will be glassed on to the front of the centreboard case 

 

New project boat which has come to the yard to convert this pulling boat into a motor launch

New project boat just come into the yard for conversion from a pulling boat to a small motor launch  

It was full of the last owner equipment which will be got rid of over the course of time, much of it will be recycled or used in some way, however, not put in landfill  

The builder plate, showing it was build in 1995 

The old equipment now removed and put in storage and now a plan of action to be set out to remove some items from the inside and what needs to be put in position to fit the engine beds and stern tube and make a new rudder and skeg and propeller guard 

let the fun begin now the boat is empty of the old equipment and a blank canvas is before us to convert the boat.

 

Removing the carlins and seeing how far the rot as gone and how much more as to beremoved to get to sound wood.

Now that the carlins are removed as well as the wood on top of the beam shelf,it can be  seen how much work is going to be needed to sort this area of the deck beam structure.

Apart from the old iron fixings there appears to not be much wrong with the beam shelf that a small piece of grading will not put right

This is the only small area that is in need of repairing 

The top of the transom looks like it is going to need renewing as it is in a poor condition on the starboard side, so before any work is done on the deck. It is going to have some major work done to the transom

 

Mai Star II carlins being removed after being measured so that they can go back in position once the cabin sides are removed and so have the put the deck beams back in position without any cabin in the way

The original carlins are past their usable life and are being removed to make way for new carlins and beams that will be fitted in much the same way as the original parts. The only difference being that the tie rods will be made out of a nonferrous material  

The carlins beams position were all measured before they were removed so we know where they all go, so when rebuilding the deck structure they will all go back in the same position  

Both ends of the short beams that are fitted to the beam shelf are fitted with a half dovetail joint which is the way they are going to be refitted  

The wood on top of the beam shelf is all going to be replaced with new hardwood so that the deck beams and deck will have a good sized area to get fixed to when it time to relay the deck 

The forward part of the deck is good condition just needs to be faired up after the new top strakes are made and fitted  

 

The Cornish Crabber centreboard case glassed back in position, Now the reinforcing webs haveto be designed and glassed in and the ends re-enforced to complete job.

The centreboard case is now glassed in position with the same amount of fibreglass and then more as been added to strengthen the joint.

The lay up is over the original to ensure it now part of  hull once more 

The webs are going to be placed in position either side of the re enforced area of the centreboard case to make it more ridged and to make it possible to take the loading over a larger area 

The next job is to make a post to stand up the front face of the centreboard case to support the mast and to attach the centreplate lifting gear to as well 

 

The new oak and larch to start the rebuilding of the frames and ribs of Mai Star II

Having sourced a supplier for my green oak and larch it was a matter of having to pick it up from the timber yard the only problem was it was in another part of the UK, 200 miles away from my yard.

although there are knots in the first piece the patterns for the frames use the grain pattern to let the grain go in the direction of the curve of the frame

The other plank as a lot straighter grain and it is good for making ribs,which so far are about ten ribs down the port side. There are sure to be more as we go along.However this plank will make a good start in making new ribs

An use for a speed boat trailer, a good timber carrying trailer as well.

 

The first part of the removal of and replacement of Mai Star II Ribs and Frames

 This is the first section of hull that needs rebuilding, the port side forward of the mast which in the past as had the most damage and repairs done to it over the years with all but two frames and a single rib not needing to be replaced 

The starboard side ahead of the mast as faired better with just a couple of ribs and a single frame that need replacing 

 

40 years and counting

 40 years today J-Star boat Services opened bring its unique family boating values to the marine industry. All the staff are yachtsman with a personal insight to how boats work and what don't work. This way they can give you the best advice on any updates to your vessels be they small or large. We have the experience that counts.

The latest generation working along side his father, learning the skills his father over 40 years ago as an apprentice boat builder himself