Hi Everyone

A big day today, all the steel work is complete, barring three small jobs and the boat is starting to look like a boat again !!

In addition we have set a re-launch date with Ian Kemp which will be a, hopefully dramatic, sideways launch.

Yesterday, Richard Prince, Tony Tibbins, Nick Haynes and I attended at Dadford's and we had a good day of preparation. Nick started filling the recessed bolt heads on the gunwale, unfortunately as pitch was not obtainable, we have had to use epoxy filler, which should actually last longer. The new box mast had a trial fitting (still needs painting) and the new steel beams which will mostly replace the chains were fitted. Richard and I started the interminable preparation for painting the hull inside and out, by starting the cleaning off of the fore and back ends with a rotary wire brush. Later in the day Nick and I visited the local paint stockists to collect the epoxy paint and other coatings we need.

Today we were joined by David Powell and we soon got stuck into cleaning out the inside of the new floor ready to paint. Nick meanwhile was sanding down the gunwales and filling it up again with filler dust!!!! Tony and Richard set about cleaning off the footings with the rotary brushes, with Tony picking up a lot of wire ends from a new brush which shed them at speed and they penetrated, mostly his face, to about 6 mm in !! Job of pulling them out was not for the squeamish.

Richard finished off all of the underwater area just before lunch, while yours truly was welding up broken rivet holes and David was Kurusting inside the forepeak area. Painting then ensued and by close of play we had two coats of epoxy coal tar on both inner and outer footings and had made a small start on the new inside bottom itself. In addition Nick had put a final coat of linseed oil on the gunwales and we spent a happy half hour putting the rings on the gunwale for the strings.

Meanwhile Ian Kemp, Marion and his family were trying to get away on holiday for a week, while we kept asking him questions !!! They finally left at 17.00 hrs !!

So good progress but still a whole heap to do.

The launch date is now set for Tuesday 18th and as I said, will be a sideways launch. The move round to the Museum will likely be the following Wednesday or Thursday.

Before that we have to black the sides, grind off for fitting of the anodes and paint the inner bottom as a minimum.

So there will be Working Parties, Thursday 13th, Friday 14th and Saturday 15th this coming week, all at Dadford's - Be There or Be Clean!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously if you can make one or more days it will take some of the pressure off the "regulars"

BobCrompton

Please give Bob Crompton a call ( 07779 157165) if you can help or just turn up!!!!!