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.

WORK COMMENCES AGAIN AFTER 6 WEEKS OFF.

Funds are now in place to continue the build from where we left off. We began with a productive meeting to plan the next few weeks.
Shipwright Dave began fairing in (shaping) the supports of the cabin roof .

 This takes a good eye and a lot of weighing up !














 Wednesday Phil went into artistic mode but he only had grey paint to be creative with.

It's good to be back.

                                  Tony Mead      Lt Cdr R.N.(Ret)

Tony Mead, one of the main drivers of the Helen II project, has sadly resigned from the board of trustees as he has moved to Brittany !
Tony was responsible for the day to day management of the build and his knowledge of wooden boat design was excellent.
The team wish him a happy and enjoyable " retirement francaise" and thank him for his total commitment to the project.
We will see him again at the Helen II launch . Keep smiling !!!

CABIN SIDES CONTINUE   

 This is how the day began on perhaps the coldest day this winter.
We were all warmly wrapped up.

 
   Apprentice Dave prepared the starboard (right) rear, cabin corner post.He cut the rebate (groove) which the cabin side will sit in 

 

and tried it for fit.........perfect......eventually !

 







This was then clamped in position. Note the support prop in place to keep the corner upright.

 The adjoining cabin plank is "first fitted" (temporarily ) in the rebate and clamped.

 The aft cabin sides are now in place  and the posts to frame the entry into the cabin can be made.

 Shipwright Dave begins their creation  from a 3 meter length of iroko,
which is cut to size, planed and a rebate added.

Today's final picture shows the port (left) post in place and Apprentice Dave  trying to keep up on the starboard post !!!!!!


On Thursday the upright boards will be cut off and shaped to create the gentle curve of the cabin roof. 
WELL THAT'S WHAT THEY TOLD ME !
 

WORK BEGINS ON THE CABIN BEAMS  13th January

In order to fit the beams for the cabin roof ,first a support to seat the beams on needs to be fixed to the cabin sides.
Here the port  (left) support is screwed and glued in place and the first notch cut to receive the cabin beam.

 The opposite support (right) is treated in the same manner.
Apprentice Dave is finishing off plugging the screw holes ready for Phil to sand down.The iroko dust is very fine and gets everywhere even when using face masks !

 The beam shelves are complete and although not visible,the cabin beams are being prepared out of shot.

Today was the first really cold day with start temperatures of 3 degrees.
Adrian from the saw mill came today to note our wood needs in the near future.He is always positive and helpful !

BACK TO WORK IN THE NEW YEAR  6th January 2016

 Another day at the office as work recommenced on the cabin sides.
In order to bend the top plank to fit snugly on the lower plank, props are used to help make a gentle bend.

 The sides are then secured with screws that are counter sunk to allow wooden plugs to cover them as below.

 
The plugs are drilled from off cuts of iroko by Wednesday Phil.

These are then removed from the off cut and knocked into the hole on top of the screw .The excess is cut off and then sanded down to leave an aesthetically pleasing  finish.

The internal sides of the cabin are then sanded smooth by Phil while apprentice Dave whispers words of encouragement and some others !

 Both Daves turned their attention to the port (left) cabin post .
This was glued and screwed into position.

 Shipwright Dave then began working out the camber (bend ) for the cabin roof beams as each beam becomes shorter as you move towards the bow.