At last the sun as come back and we can get outside and get on with the work on boats outside.

Finally the weather as turned into a spring day, not before time, there is only so much that can be done in the workshop on small items. They need to be done, but they start to fill the workshop space with items that need to be on the boats but not yet. However, with the weather getting better the items that are presently filling up the workshop will soon be going on the client's boat and so giving me space in the workshop for other projects and other client's boats that are waiting to be worked on, which have been on hold while we wait for a change in the weather which at last as come and not a moment to soon.

There are so many jobs that the weather as put on hold, but now we can get on with them.

Work for next week, to get through the work list.

Because of the weather has been poor and the boat is outside under its winter cover, it as not been possible to get on with much work on the boat. Hopefully now the weather is a bit better it will be possible to get on with the work on the work list on the boat itself and not just the smaller parts in the workshop.

The first job is to clean the hull of all its paint and get back to bare wood and start again once the new ribs are refitted and the seams are sorted out and re-puttied and then primed.

Then get the ribs steamed into place and clichéd up and the nail holes filled, then the two planks in the bottom at the aft end on the port side.

While all this is being done get on with the deck edge and get it profiled and sealed ready to fit the new cabin sides.

So hopefully by the end of the week should have the ribs in and the cabin sides started to be fitted. 

Now we have January behind us people are looking forward to the new season and with spring round the corner all systems go.

Now that we have January behind us, our clients are looking forward to the new season and are getting us to start work on their boats and getting ready their boat ready for Easter. So this period of the year is always busy and this year we have a number of different projects underway from building a new dinghy and a major refit to our own classic yacht and a number of clients with boats from small motorboats to larger classic yachts.

Busy week at the workshop

This week saw the hull of the Mai-Star Class dinghy reach the halfway stage of the hull being build.

But trying to get some mahogany that was going to be close to what I needed which was a piece of Mahogany 16 inch wide was difficult if not impossible to find at the right price. However, I was able to get pieces that were close and the wood is coming back from the timber merchants after having been planned down to the correct finished thickness to make the cabin sides.

So next week it will time to get out the router and cut joint for the spline to sit in and so the two halfs of the cabin sides can be made up to the full width.

 Then I have the wood it is only a matter of getting the pieces glued together and once the cabin sides are glued and cleaned up it will be time to take them to the boat and start to fit them in place.

At the same time I will be time to going to my forest man  for the green oak to make the new ribs for the boat and get them steamed in place.  Also getting some more larch for the hull planking and then get that thicknessed and then steamed in place to finish off the hull planking that needed replacing during this refit.

Then comes the  work that needs sorting out on the inside of the boat.  

Boat maintenance Tips for stress free refit period and beyond

Boat Maintenance Tip # 7

Do not forget your tender & outboard they need TLC as well if they are to give you good service during the season. So take your outboard to the service agent to get it checked over and give yourself peace of mind

Boat Maintenance Tip # 8

If you have a wooden boat start rubbing down the paint work where it is damaged & put primer on the bare wood

Boat maintenance Tip #9

 Get your ropes & ground Tackle check over to make sure their ready for the new Season & get rid of any damage rope. You do not want to end up on the local RNLI list.

Boat maintenance Tip #10

Above all enjoy your refit period and the friends you find along the way.