WAS IT SOMETHING I SAID ?

Today began with a brief progress meeting between Ron Lovelady and shipwright Dave. 
After discussions, Dave went off to finish some outstanding work on Conwy One boats due to be launched on Friday for the new season. 
This left Wednesday Phil home alone to continue caulking the port (left) side of the hull.
It was very lonely !!
Luckily, volunteer Duncan came in with a mock up design of  the table he is making as part of his course work at Llandrillo College.
This he assembled to see how it will fit in the cabin space but it kept falling over. So he employed the shipwrights answer to most things .
If it moves clamp it.






And then SURPRISE SURPRISE apprentice Dave came back from walkabout in Australia.

His return was a little later than had been expected due, I think, to a navigational error, but as Dave said "anyone can mistake north for south on a compass ".
So Duncan decided to hold a little tea party on the table to celebrate his return.

 Notice! We gave him a clean cup instead of his billycan,as we want him to reintegrate as soon as possible. It's nice to have him back.

We had a brief interlude in caulking, as a nice lady called Alex from I.T.V. asked me to stop banging  (caulking) as it was spoiling her" piece to camera"about the welsh elections in Conwy.
Later she asked if I might like to give my views for the telly .
I declined ,
but Duncan volunteered and gave his opinions with gusto.
Not seen it on the telly yet.
We had several offers of help from possible volunteers today but there is a difference in talking and doing-  we shall see what occurs.
Wednesday Phil managed two full caulking runs today which is twice as fast as last week and he went home content in the knowledge that he had done a good job and his massage lady managed to fit him in this evening!!!!!

SPRING'S HERE AND POTTING BEGINS AGAIN 13th April

 
The potting boats are back in action as the weather improves.
A healthy smell of rotting bait perfumes the quay !
The wind does have its value.

.
Shipwright Dave first fitted the cabin skylight  made by apprentice Dave who remains "lost" in Australia.
Having marked the correct position against the cabin beams it was removed and the excess hand sawn off.

 This left the correct sized skylight  and a rather nice coffee table base ready for E bay !





Meanwhile, Wednesday Phil ,with guidance from Dave, began caulking for the first time..This involves filling the gap between the planks  with caulking cotton.

The cotton string is first looped to increase the volume for filling the gap and then rammed into the space with a sort of chisle and a caulking hammer.


I managed to do about one and a half planks worth in about four hours.Now I know why a lot of giggling went on whenever the subject was mentioned.

The good news is that I got better with practice and the muscle spasms decreased after three days.

Shipwright Dave Working 2 Days A Week At Present.

Due to financial constraints and Shipwright Dave's commitments, he is at present working two days a week. 
Apprentice Dave has gone walkabout in Australia but is due back shortly  if his navigation is up to scratch.
Wednesday Phil is still enthusiastic each Wednesday and the days are getting longer ! 

 This was the view as we started this morning. Dave had continued fairing in the cabin beams 
.The aim is to leave no air space between the beams and the cabin roof when fitted.
Any gap would allow water from condensation / leaks to collect, thus beginning rot !

 The next cabin beam is awkward as each beam is shorter and angled slightly differently so Dave uses a wooden batten to work out the angles and beam height.



Meanwhile Phil finished putting  the first coat of paint on the hull .He is now wearing a colour coordinated bib and brace set in dappled battleship grey.

 

The view from inside the hull looking towards the stern (back) today.