GETTING READY FOR OPEN WEEKEND 24th 25th October 2015

If you are down for the Conwy Feast come and see Helen II for free !

This was the view at 9-00am today.Most of the internal walls (bulk heads ) are in place and work on the bunks has begun.
 
 In the right  photo, the space between the two bulk heads will house the chart table and beneath it the sink.

This is the view towards the bow showing bunks 1,2 and 3.









Volunteer Pat prepares the stern section for the open weekend cleaning and painting exposed wood, but disaster struck when it was discovered Pat had not baked and thus no cake today !

Meanwhile Wednesday Phil and apprentice Dave decided to trial the forward bunks for fitness of purpose.
 Dave was at first a little shy and reticent...so Wednesday Phil explained he was perfectly safe as he wasn't  a young blonde goddess !

Dave said I could relax as I didn't
look a bit like "SKIPPY the bush kangaroo" .

( Dave being an Australian from a very lonely place.)
 Thak goodness he didn't notice my bib pocket !

Shipwright Dave  muttered something and continued work on bunks
 4 and 5 in the main cabin.

At the end of the day, we all relaxed and observed the week's progress with satisfaction.
We are looking forward to showing Helen II to visitors this week end.
All are welcome !

WORK CONTINUES AND THE TRUSTEES CHECK PROGRESS         14th October 2015

This morning's view from the office window. 8-30 am.

The rudder tube has now been drilled and fitted and is ready for the next connections.

 The internal organization  is set out for the trustees to view this afternoon prior to the monthly meeting.

 Apprentice Dave practices skate boarding on a more stable surface since fracturing his arm on his previous outing !

 The view from the bow looking towards the stern as Dave tidies up.

Roy Dennis, in orange ,one of our sponsors and Jim Roddick ,trustee, views the progress of Helen II
 and Jane Roddick makes the final decisions !
They already have their own "Nobby"and gifted Helen II to the trust.

Roy Dennis (left ) Murray Taylor (centre) and Jim Roddick  (in red) discuss ' next steps' prior to the trustees' monthly meeting.
During today's visit they were surprised how many visitors stopped to ask questions about the boat and all joined in imparting knowledge of the build and history of these boats.




It has been agreed that we will have two open days during the Conwy Feast on the 24th -25th of October 9-30am 'till 4-0pm
SO... if you would like an opportunity to view the internal doings and gain a real appreciation of the size of the boat please come along and meet the team.

THE BULK HEADS (WALLS ) ARE GOING IN. 7th September 2015

This week has seen swift progress as the bulk heads are now being fitted from one inch thick plywood.

" Starwars  Dave",who fractured his arm whilst skate boarding some time ago, returned to work this week with limited dexterity.He is therefore hands solo !
But ,this didn't stop him designing and cutting out a starboard (right ) bulk head.



Once cut out, they are tried in place and trimmed as needed.







Dave then created a tongue and groove effect using a router on a port bulk head to see how this would look within the hull.

Then we all sat discussing the aesthetic effect .
As it proved successful ,it was again removed and Wednesday Phil sealed the cut edges using epoxy resin ready for final fitting on Thursday.


Meanwhile......Volunteer Pat quietly worked in the bow  undercoating/ priming the hull in grey.

 

THE INTERNAL FITTINGS ARE MAPPED OUT.      23rd September

The crew space is now  sorted and mapped out.

All the half beams (deck supports) are now in place and most of the floors are fitted.

The seat and first bunks are now detailed and in position.

Meanwhile Wednesday Phil painted the entire planking with wood preserver. This will be allowed to dry thoroughly ready for undercoating next time.

WHICH PLANK DID TERRY PUT ON ?        16 th September 2015

This was the question on most peoples lips today after the T.V. prog. last night on BBC 2.
Not one person asked for Dave's autograph after the show .
Wednesday Phil did one autograph  after the visitor  agreed to accept an I.O.U. 
We even had some holiday visitors come from Anglesey to see Conwy after watching the programme. 
 "It looked like a lovely town on telly!"

The work on the floors continues, but much discussion took place about bulk heads  (walls) and  the  internal arrangements.
Wednesday Phil was let loose on the planer table ,after suitable instruction , to prepare floor boards to the correct thickness for the sole (floor ).
A great deal of time was spent answering questions from visitors from around the world about the construction of Helen II.
And some people didn,t know who Sir Terry Wogan was !
Well that's what they said.


 

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.