NEXT WEEK HELEN II  SHOULD BE ON THE " TELLY"
 Next week on 15th August at 6-30 pm  on BBC 2 ,the boat should feature on "Terry and Mason's Great Food Trip " after their visit in July 2015.

Obviously we are now gearing up for fan mail and hopefully pre -pension groupies !

In the meantime work continues within the hull since all the planking is now complete.

Shipwright Dave is a lonely sight without poorly sidekick Apprentice Dave but he is ably supported  (well he is supported ) by Wednesday Phil ,Duncan and Pat the regular volunteers.

Dave started laying the floor planks (sole ) while waiting for  more   4" x 3" larch beams from Adrian at his saw mill .

 As usual, the wood arrived swiftly and Wednesday Phil planed it down today ready for use. Luckily we have a machine to help this senior assistant !

These floor planks are quite awkward due to the hull shape and the differing  angles of each frame (rib ).
So while Dave beavered away on the plank opposite, we left him to concentrate.


Duncan , having signed on for his year 2 shipbuilding course at Llandrillo College today ,continued skill practice, under Dave's supervision, on an old rebuild in our yard. I must admit he's making a great job of it and he's " well pleased " with the result as he keeps telling everyone who will listen !

Hopefully we'll all be T.V. stars before next week's blog !

Dave said I'm a complete thespian . 

Well I think that's what he said !

Dave starts work on the sole ( cabin floor ) .. 2nd September 2015

Today the schoolchildren started back at most establishments..and what a difference to the quay !
At 10 am it was still almost empty but it built up later .

Shipwright Dave came back from holiday cruising round the Isle of Man and apprentice Dave has done something nasty to his arm so we  hope for a speedy recovery.
Work on the half beams is on hold as we are short of suitable wood .Adrian at the saw mill is working on this as I write.


So Dave started work on the
" sole "(internal floor ) 







He started by taking a level for the floor using tight string
and then put in a support on every frame ( rib ). 

Having continued epoxy filling screw holes on the hull  ,Wednesday Phil then began bolting the half beams  into place on the beam shelf.(beam to hold the deck beams up )

This structure is certainly built for strength.                                                                         

Last week Duncan from Llandrillo College continued improving his skills ,with advice from shipwright Dave ,on repairing a boat in the compound. He's learning a lot.                                      

                                                                          

THE HALF BEAMS CONTINUE (they hold up the deck )    12th of August 2015


FIRST AN APOLOGY......to anyone who went to the Quay Day expecting to view Helen II from above.Unfortunately not enough volunteers were available to make this possible.We hope to do something during the Conwy Feast later this year.
So anyway, both Daves are now making the half beams along the deck sides.

So I said to shipwright Dave" if the first set of beams in grey are called half beams ,the shorter ones (only half the size) must be quarter beams.Dave looked at Dave and Dave returned the look and both replied  "no they are half beams"
. I explained my logic for some time so shipwright Dave gave a job to keep me quiet ( I think ! )
I got the exciting task of repositioning  bolts which had blocked the plank nails being fully driven in to the frames (ribs ).

Now all the outstanding nails or screws in the planks are flush with the hull.
I then attempted to further discuss quarter beams
 and was richly rewarded by being charged with cleaning out the shavings building up in the hull ,but I was ready for that one !

Who's a clever boy then ?
Shipwright Dave smiled..........
Apprentice Dave smiled........... Now I'm worried !!!!!!!!!!!
 

THE DECK TAKES SHAPE             12 th August 2015

Another  busy day from the office window.What a view !



Discussions began with Tony Mead and shipwright Dave with a view to sorting out the internal bulkheads (walls ) and fittings.

The half beams support the deck up to the sides of the cockpit which crew stand in.

Apprentice Dave works on fitting half beams to the opposite side of the cockpit.(this is probably not the right word )

The half beams are painted and in place.They are made from 3"x 3" oak beams.
She is built to last !

Then we all did a bit of team bonding, racing Tony's boat in the first race of the river festival.
Wednesday Phil was sent to the pointy bit to photograph the hard working scene while holding up the jenny boom.
We came second after a lot of shouting from Capt. Tony and beer !

Meanwhile volunteer Duncan practices the skills he has learnt on Helen II to fit gunwales (upper edge of boat's side ) to an 18 foot hull in need of repair.


THERE WILL BE AN OPEN DAY ON SATURDAY THE 22 nd AUGUST  ON QUAY DAY.
This will be a chance to see the work in progress.Come and view........for free !

DAVE TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO THE DECK PLANNING     5 th August 2015

Dave spent the day working out the area and shape of the cabin.
The long beam on the starboard (right ) side is called a carling and will support the cabin side.This has been fitted today.

Then shipwright Dave begins to plan the height  and camber      (slope) of the cabin roof.

Then he walked away ( a long long way away ) to observe the lines he had created.
Wednesday Phil ran behind with the binoculars !
I think apprentice Dave took his sandwiches  with him.

PHASE ONE- JOB DONE !
With the expertise of Shipwright Dave ,we have a boat to be proud of !
The hull is complete and ready for the water. The journey has had its ups and downs (waves ) but a lot of people have enjoyed the ride and have helped to keep shipwright skills alive and active in Conwy.  (We've all learned a lot - especially the "young uns ".)
THANKS to all our funders, contributors, volunteers and students for remaining committed to the original project values throughout the trials and tribulations. 
A special thanks to the HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND  who have supported the project from the beginning and have showed remarkable patience in letting the project flourish at a sustainable rate (i.e. a lot slower than we first thought!  )
So now it's all eyes forward to phase two ....... planning the final build and fit-out ready for a new life on the water  serving the community of Conwy and ,hopefully ,flying the flag further afield if our navigation is up to scratch.

 

While discussions continued , Wednesday Phil just carried on sanding as usual creating a streamline hull.









Several people stopped today and wanted to know why one of the planks is fatter than the others. Phil explained that often these boats would  lie on their side on a shore and when the boat did this the weight of the hull would rest on this plank and the keel...... so a thicker plank gave more support.

I've learnt a lot over time !






And congratulations to apprentice Dave who returned this week after the birth of a daughter. He's come back for a rest..........
Well that's what he told me !

Shipwright Dave finishes the counter around  the stern. 29th July 2015

The end joints on the outer planks were particularly difficult to twist into place without lots of G clamps.

Although Dave is still not happy with the fit ,he can  tweek things at his leisure now to achieve a finish to his satisfaction.

While Dave worked on the stern ,  Wednesday Phil continued epoxying over the nail and screw heads so that the hull will be as streamlined as possible.( I've given up counting how many fill ins  Pat and I have done.)
With the circular sander now repaired,we fine these down to make the hull as smooth  as a baby's rear end !


 

PIRATES' WEEKEND 20 -21 JUNE
The Pirates' Weekend saw nearly all the trustees and volunteers taking a turn in showing off Helen II.

The quay was excellent with a lot of people entering into the spirit of the week end.In the last three years the weekend has grown immensely. Many came into the compound to see the work done.










Murray Taylor held the public spellbound with his demonstration and knowledge of knots.

 


 






 After demonstrations of various knots he passed visitors to volunteer Pat , Duncan or Wednesday Phil for a tour of the boat.

 
Pat and Wednesday Phil took turns to go on  board to explain the building and the internal structures of the boat to all who came .






THEN IT HAPPENED......................
Duncan went up a boy and came down a man ! 
Volunteer Duncan was not initially too keen to take a turn up top explaining to the public what we have all been doing, but with encouragement (bullying ) from Pat and I, he sheepishly climbed the ladder, a little unsure of his confidence level and that was that...

 We both offered to take over while he had a break but the response was always " no I'm fine "
At the end of the day we dragged him off with a rope to go home .His confidence was sky high and his grin unshakable.  "I really loved talking about what we do .When are we doing it again ?" was his final comment. This boat has a powerful effect on us all.

Many thanks to all who visited and also gave donations..
The work has now stopped to allow Dave a two week holiday.
Work resumes Monday 27th July.