I'VE BEEN AWAY FOR TWO WEEKS SO WHAT'S NEW?

Both Daves were busy while I was away. The inside roof and cabin sides have been painted and varnished and look superb ! Although they tried hard to stop me, I had to stroke it as it is so tactile.

Today apprentice Dave created the second layer of  marine ply for  the roof prior to final fix and gluing of the two skins together.

 When complete, the roof will be fiber glassed to create a watertight seal.

Today a new volunteer came to work on Helen II. called Sandy .

 Others volunteers are absent..

She was clearly more agile than Wednesday Phil.... so Sandy was sent to the bow with a paint brush to do contortions while undercoating the wood.

Wednesday Phil took a less demanding task of undercoating the starboard (right) side of the main cabin area.
 Work was punctuated by groans  and mutterings as it is an uncomfortable task to reach all areas .
But the result is rewarding......

Shipwright Dave worked on drilling the shaft for the rudder .It proved difficult as he has had to improvise as always!!


At the weekend Apprentice Dave and Duncan opened the boat to the public for Pirates Weekend .Apparently the weather was horrible  but our thanks to both for the commitment !

But some one, with a sense of fun, decided to involve FANG the guard dog in the festivities.

He's still sulking but he's turned a blind eye to it.
 

 

THEN THERE WERE TWO.
Today only Apprentice Dave and Wednesday Phil were on site.
Shipwright Dave was away sailing and no other volunteers arrived .

The vertical unpainted chunk of wood is the samson post which is used for tethering the boat.It needs to be very strong.

Dave spent yesterday fairing in the cabin beams and is now first fitting (trial fitting) the cabin roof.

 The view from inside the cabin.
It really is beautiful.
Notice the gap in the roof above Dave's head .No-one is perfect.
When he screwed it down, it fitted like a glove! We all knew it would really !!!!!

 Dave has now drawn around the ply sheet and will cut out along the drawn lines for the final shape.

 Meanwhile Wednesday Phil caulked on alone, but gave a lot of explanations as to the process involved and the reasons for it. With the sunny weather the quay was full of holiday makers and most people stopped to watch and question..

 The final view this evening.












Wednesday Phil