July and August 2013

"Things are going well on Fedoa.  We all took a week off last week during Cowes Week, but July was very productive."

The front end is now all tied in.  All the planking that needed replacing has been, and the frames, knightheads, and breast hook also replaced.  This will get faired in when all the hull has been re planked and fastened, before splining the topsides and caulking below the waterline.

The replacing of the ribs and frames is continuing through the boat, with the areas around the chain plates being concentrated on this week.  We are getting through a lot of oak with the method we are using following the curve of the grain to give us strength, but luckily we have a good source of oak grown on the Island.

We re-levelled the boat in mid-July and found that she has in fact held her shape better than we first thought.  

The stern post was eased out today, with the boat being well supported so nothing moved as the strength was taken out.  We can now realign everything at the stern as per the original drawings before starting to fasten everything back in later this month.

We have inspected the deck and established how this will go back together with a 3 layer system providing extra strength and stiffness to the boat.

August was another successful month on Fedoa:

"Having meticulously prepared the boat for removal of the stern post we were able to get it out without any movement.  We have now realigned the back end using the cradle which we fabricated last month, and the timber is now being replaced where necessary and the boat reassembled.  New horn timbers and supporting frames went in this week and we are now ready to make and fit the new stern post with the beautiful bits of green oak we have ready.

 

The grown oak futtocks are going in well and we can feel the strength returning to the hull.  The laminated ribs are also fitting well, and we have started making the templates for the bronze floors which will go in to tie the hull, frames and the keel together.  These are being cast in batches, with the first batch having been done already, and the next 15 or so being cast at the end of the month.

The Southampton Boat Show is in September at which all the trade suppliers will be exhibiting, so I am going over with the marine engineer to start sourcing the engine and ancillaries.  We will soon be thinking about getting all this positioned in the boat, and fabricating the necessary fittings ready for installation.

We are all enjoying the project greatly, and getting great job satisfaction seeing the boat go back together to a really high standard."