The latest 8ft dinghy is out of the mould, the new owner wishes to have a different colour other than the standard white.

Because the dinghy was moulded in white we have to sand down the gelcoat to give the hull a key for the new colour. Therefore, we have to spray a ghost coat of black over the hull to be able to sand the whole hull so we do not miss any areas.

The first job is to apply a coat of Hi Build epoxy primer to give the next coats a good key to the surface.

Any imperfections are now highlighted and these will be worked on  before the next coats of paint are applied to the hull.

 

J-Star Marine Services multi talented boatbuilder using more of her skills, this time varnishing the restoration dinghy

Tricia, J-Star Marine Services multi talented boat builder using her varnishing skills o the business's latest restoration dinghy.

As with all her many skills, Tricia is a dab hand at the varnish brush, She patiences the 3 "P"'s to get the best results. This photo shows her applying the first of four coats of 75% - 25% thinned varnish to the bare wood.

Tricia coming to the end of the first varnish coat on day one.

The end of the first day with four coats of varnish applied now to cure over night  and then knock back when it will be varnished again. This time with 50%-50% varnish.

Then this process will continue until the gunwales and inwales have full strength original varnish. 

The restoration Dinghy now in its final stages before it is put up for sale.

After a long restoration this dinghy is now in its final stages before it is put up for sale. The final job are to varnish the gunwales and inwales and to give the inside of the hull a final coat of grey bilge paint.

The other jobs is to make and fit the rowlock blocks to the inwales and fit a bow ring to the stem and a bow ring to the breasthook so there are two ways of securing the tender when it is being moored up to a quay or behind its parent boat.

The as been restored so it can be used as a tender with an outboard or just a rowing tender the choice it up to the new owner, it is rated to have a 4hp outboard which can be either electric or 4 stoke. 

The only item needed by its new owner will be a launching trolley to move it round the dinghy park or marina. 

 

Updates on Mai Star II's restoration and Pearly Miss

The foredeck beams and the mast pad nw in position and so that part of the restoration of the foredeck is now completed.

The next part of the deck rebuild is to fit the carlins after the aft end of the cabin beams are made and fitted  Once the aft cabin beams are made and fitted the carlins can be fitted and the short side deck beams can be fitted and the tie rods made and fitted between the carlins and the beam shelf so the side decks will be connected together. 

The new side deck beams made over sized and ready to be fitted once the other jobs are done so that these short beams can be fitted.

The Pearly Miss refit is coming along with the PVC rubbing strake being removed and the old rivets all removed. Now can get to the other deck fittings which need removing so that they can be cleaned and stripped then recoated.

now the other deck fittings need removing so that the surface can get prepared to get recovered with a new deck covering similar to the original covering.

Now looking to source new deck fitting to replace the old fittings

 

J-Star Marine Services next restoration project coming to the yard shortly.

This neglected 1960's speed boat is in need of a full restoration from bow to stern. 

Firstly a good clean up to inspect the hull for any signs of corrosion, then make a list of materials to get the ball rolling.  

The speed boat was built by a well known Norfolk boatyard which also built the range of Oyster Yachts.

The main job is to clean down the hull and remove all the old fitting and where necessary get them replated or just renewed whichever is possible.

The first job on the foredeck is to get rid of the self adhesive deck covering and get a new windscreen made and fitted and a new deck covering made and fitted. 

New marine plywood panels for the transom to refit the new outboard to and rewire the steering cables and fuel pipes and get a new fuel tank.

Then make up a new set of seats and cushions in period materials 

We will try to keep as many of the original fitting to keep it in period condition.