Getting the handrails and mainsheet horse spacer block fitted

all the handrails with the bolts fitted and holes plugged with teak plugs 

The main sheet horse teak block ready to fit 

The handrails new all fitted 

finally the Mainsheet horse and teak spacer block

Hand rails getting bolts threaded into the teak and then them will be plugged

Having marked off the position of the bolt hole position drilled a plug hole and then drilled out the bolt hole 0.5 mm under size so that the bolt could be threaded into the hole and would lock in position 

Although there are only four hand rails it is a good way of setting the bolts this way round, some screw the hand rails up from underneath, however, this method make the best of holding power.

When I can not do full size boat building, turn to model boat building

Getting the main sheet horse teak spacer block shaped to the deck curve 

Getting the hand rails ready to bore the holes in the area where the upstands are 

Hand rails all marked off and now ready to put on the bench drill to bor the holes and thread the bolts into the holes and then plug the top and bolt on to the deck where the old hand rails came off atthe beginning of the refit

Making the decision to go back to work next week

My business is reopening on Monday Morning as being a small business, I only have to work by myself  I can get the work done. If at a slower rate and have to be creative in how I do a two man job with just one pair of hands,  Boat builders are often creative people in the first place so it should be fun learning new skills.

Having looked at all the government press releases and my own business federation British Marine, It is clear to me that as I work alone in my own boatyard and have no contact with other people during my working day. There is no reason not to go to work and work on my clients boats and other jobs. I have a locked yard which during the day is always locked and is going to stay that way until this Covid 19 situation is resolved. Therefore I am putting nobody at risk or myself and I am working on my clients jobs so that when this situation is resolved which it will be in the future the jobs will be finished and my business will be able to weather this storm and survive and be there and be able to work back at full speed. 

 When the situation is finally resolved I will then employ a couple of workers  get the major work back on track and get the work done and the client's can have their boats back and be in a position to take more work in. May be the odd Hardy or Shetland or even build a boat or two.

working from home and making the best of the situation

I have now had to close my boatyard and workshop, this is unfortunate, but given the present conditions it is only a good call.As soon as the restrictions on movement are over, I will be getting back to work and making up for lost time or at least get some of the work done. In the meantime it is going to be getting outstanding paperwork done and other jobs I can do from home. Also, get my small workshop at home sorted as well, so that even that I can not get to my main workshop I can some work done of a few jobs that have been on the back burner for sometime and now I have the chance to get them done. 

The first job to do in my small home workshop is to take a good look at the space and how best to use the space the best way. 

Fitting the Genoa tracks back on the deck, this time with proper backing plates

First having to cut slots in the top of the bulkheads where the track backing plates  goes through 

Dry fitting the track to line up the backing plates before fitting the tracks and their teak spacers on to the deck with sealant

One down now to sort out the position of the second backing plate.

J-Star Marine Services mobile Rope Fender fitting services

This job was done before J-Star Marine Services when in to self isolation and now is working at the yard. The clients can contact me via email or mobile phone or the works phones during this time for updates on their boats progress.

Out on the road again to a Hardy owner who need a hand to put on his new rope fender

The way the rope fenders were fitted in Hardy Marine back in the day when I worked for them

Cut off the small line holding the rope fender in a coil 

finding the centre of the rope fender 

Then hang it over the bow 

The tie it up along the sides 

Pass the short lines through the rope 

Getting the ends in the correct palace on the corners 

tie the ends lossely

Tension up the rope to the correct tension and then lace off the ends the same way it was done when the rope fender was fitted at Hardy Marine 

The rope fender finally fitted as it was originally done and ready for a lot of seasons ahead 

J-Star Marine Services will stay open and keep our working for our client's through this difficult time I am self isolating this is not a problem as I work by myself.

One  part of this Covid19 situation, it gives me time to clean up the workshop and put tools and equipment away and do jobs I have been putting off, now that I have no reason to put off anymore. Another job to sort out the workstation management better to make tool stations more user friendly and less inefficient by placing the tools within arms reach and have dedicated areas for each piece of static equipment. So tomorrow when I go to work and because I work by myself I can self isolate and keep working on  my client's vessels and keeping my business turning over  at the same time. So although it is a difficult time for many people, those of us who work by themselves can keep working and fulfilling our work for our client's through this difficult time.

New fore hatch plinth construction

Having cut and planed the outside edges of the forehatch plinth it was the turn of the inside, first cut away the excess wood with a long bladed jigsaw blade

The spoke shave the inside edges back to the scribed pencil line  

The finally fix to the hatch to the plinth to ensure the correct shape before routering a curve on the top of the outside edge 

The next job is to profile the bottom surface to the curve on the cabin roof.

Fore hatch now going into the cutting to size and shape stage

Now that the glue as cured it was time to plane the joints level and the mark off the areas to cut 

All marked off and ready to cut the outside edge to the correct line and the n do the inside once the outside edge is planed down to the scribed line 

The outside edge now cut and ready to start the planning back to the lines 

Starting on rebuilding the centreboard case of Cornish Crabber

Mark out the distance from the cut on the centreboard case and then grown off the flowcoat and dirt from the case. So then will be able to mark off the gradient to make the  cleaned off area so that the lay up of the new CSM on the joint to rebuild to the original specification

A lot of grinding ahead  to make it ready to fibreglass it back in position 

Camper van repairs

Like boats you haveto start by taking the inside to pieces to get to the inside ofany repair

The damage on the outside is half above and half below so it means having to cut small inspection doorways in both areas 

The length of the repair is 

The panelling under the seat which have a hole cut in it to gain access to the inside of the damage 

The fore hatch now glued together and now its time for cured off

Final fitting and a screw in each of the corners and the gluing together 

Glued up and now it as to be left to cure and the cut the corners and the inside edge to the correct size and shape 

Then comes the fun bit fitting it to the curves on the deck

Camper van repairs as well

We do not only do boat repairs, e do repairs to camper vans as well

Small accident with a post