Thursday, 17 August 2017

Shaping the gunwales and rubbing strakes for the two dinghies in the workshop

Having cut out the wood for the gunwales and rubbing strakes it was time to plane the edges and sand them down ready to steam them into position the following day.


The oak pieces for the mai-star class dinghy in the photo and the mahogany pieces for the dinghy beside the wooden dinghy in the photo


A lot of planing and sanding later and they are ready for the next stage



Wednesday, 16 August 2017

Making a start on the restoration of the Works dinghy

At long last got the time to make a start on rebuilding the works dinghy and getting her back in commission and ready to do her job over the autumn and winter months and into the years to come


Grinding back the areas for the centre thwart clocks before they are fixed into position and glassed over.


Saturday, 12 August 2017

As of the 1st of August I was able to get myself a workshop and base to work from for doing a number of projects at the same time

As you can see from the following photos I have been busy getting on with a number of projects from wooden dinghy repairs to GRP cruiser refits 

The first few of the Mai-Star Class dinghy needing a couple of planks replacing as they had got damaged while the dinghy was in storage











Starting the clean out of the old tenants equipment and stetting up  band saw and table saw and thicknesser in position where can be used without being moved



Setting up boat positions so they can all be worked on at the same time without having to move them around the workshop




Starting to fit cabin side linings to an old Shetland Family Four cruiser to update its interior for modern cruising 






Working on the works dinghy giving it a bit of TLC before putting it back to work



An enterprise dinghy in for a few small repairs before going back to sailing on a local lake 


The little Mai dinghy in the workshop to get released from its mould so its fitting out can start as soon as the Mai-Star Class dinghy is finished.




Friday, 11 August 2017

A busy end to the week after a slow start

The top sheer strake back in position ready to start putting the new planking back on the dinghy


After taking off the broken and split planks, it is now time to start the rebuilding of the side of the dinghy. First put back on the sheer strake plank so there is guide to work to when putting the planks back in position


First dry fitting of the first of the planks that need renewing


Got my every faithful bandsaw back up and running and in position to use it to cut long lengths of planking 


The thicknesser using the tablesaw as a base until I get round to m,aking its own stand to sit on and set up in the workshop


 The GRP works dinghy getting a new transom pad dry fitted to strengthen up the transom to put a larger outboard on for towing boats around


Inside view of the size of the plywood transom pad and just got to fix in position with free-fix and then glass over with several layers of CSM and resin to give it a good strong tyransom 


The Shetland Family 4 getting new cabin side linings glued in position 











Thursday, 10 August 2017

Cleaning out workshop and getting boats in for repairs

The main problem is where to start with cleaning the old things you do not need any more

Got to start somewhere it might as well be the shelves and then that will make room on the floor for boats and the other equipment like bandsaws, table saws  and pillar drills and other heavy equipment. 


Two new larch boards to repair the clinker dinghy will have just got in for repair


An old GRP dinghy will have got in to restore 


The clinker dinghy which needs two new planks