Photos of J-Star Boat Services latest Project.

Photo of the boat form Starboard Bow looking aft after the seats have been removed.

 Photo of the boat looking forward towards the bow with the stringers removed

 One of the 14 ribs that need renewing with green oak from a local forest

 Photo of the port side that the fourth plank from the deck needs replacing as it is spilt along the nail line

 Photo of the port side further along the same plank.

 Photo of the starboard side which is in need of the same treatment as the port side along the same plank as the port side.

Working on my own boat project this weekend. Down to the boatyard to start on Mai-Star II refit. First thing to do is remove the cabin roof and get the deck beams removed and patterns made of them after removing and replacing the cabin sides. J-Star Boat Services always has a personal project on the go. If you need advice on your projects or you have a boat in your garage that needs some care and attention? Jstar boats would love to hear from you just email your problem to www.j-starboatservices.co.uk

The new build as taken its first steps.

On Tuesday the 15th of January the first steps towards get the new boat built were taken. I contacted a boat designer that as designed a number of boats that I had worked on before and like his designs.

I will be building will be a one based on one of his designs, but a little different in length to fit into what I need for the boat. The new boat will be build using traditonal methods, namely it will be build using the clinker method of construction. A method that dates back to Viking times when their vessels were build using this method of construction.

The only difference will be that I will be using modern tools to construct it, while the methods of construction will not be much different to the method used in those days. The only main difference will be that it will be held together with copper nails and bronze screws.

One thing that is going to happen this year is that I hope to showcase it at local conuty shows to show that this type of boat is still build in the area and that if people wish to buy one they know that there is a boat builder in the region who is still building this type of boat.

Jobs to do in the workshop.

Now that the weather as taken a turn for the worse, it is now time to start work in the workshop and get the jobs done that can be done with out going to the boat.

This year it is time to modify bits of the boat that either have wore out or have not worked out as well as hoped they would. In my case it has been the hatch way runners that have at last taken up after 74 years of service and the other bit is the bunk tops that need changing so as to make more storage space under the bunk, which on a smaller boat is always a need that in many case is a not ending job.

Another job to do in the workshop is to make a chart table, so that I do not have to use the chart on my lap while sailing. This is one job that will be very helpful when I go sailing in the spring.

As with all older boats there are a number of maintenance jobs that need doing every year. The one I am looking forward to is working with leather. I have to re-leather the gaff and also re-leather the bowsprit where it goes through the gammon iron on the top of the stem as this has given up the ghost at long last and needs replacing.

This year I have to also take a length of planking out as it is looking a bit worse for wear and is one of the things that my boat checks highlighted when it came out of the water in December. Apart from that the hull is fairly ok apart from needing a good sanding down and a bit of filling and fairing before going back in the water the week after Easter.

 

So the winter re-fit has started

Yesterday the re-fit started, The first job was to construct a ridge pole to go the length of the boat to which to support the winter cover. This was to ensure the the weather was kept out of the wood work and would give it a chance to dry out and also give me a chance to do some of the work inside while the weather is foul outside and made it difficult to work on the cabin sides.

Once the cover which put over the framework, then I started to lift the floorboards, and locker lids to let the inside the boat dry out. However, before I could do that, I had to empty the remaining bilge water out of the bilges. There was a about 6 litres of water, so that job did not take to long to complete.

With that done, the next job to do today is to wash the sides of the hull and underdeck areas that have got dirty over the season and need a good clean, before putting in place the heaters in the boat to keep it dry throughout the winter. If the weather is not to bad then make a start on the rebuild of the cabin sides and coachroof as this has seen better days and is a source of the leaks into the cabin that been a pest all last season.

There will be photos posted as I go along with this project in due course.

Today I started on removing the cabin sides panels that fixed the cabin side to the deck, Then removed the hand rails and the hatch runners and the portholes so that there will be little left in the way to remove when the roof is removed along with the old deck beams. This will be interesting as it as been in place for the best part of 70+ years. Ia lot of blood sweat and tears before this comes apart I think. But only time will tell.