September 2013

The last structural piece of the hull jigsaw went in this month, with the new sternpost being made and fitted. 

Two pieces of very clean grained oak 12 ft x 12" x 6" were used.  These were shaped before being rebated into the wood keel.  This has made a very strong joint at the bottom, with the top of the sternpost being tied into the new horn timbers which run off up to the transom. A new knee has also gone in between the sternpost and the keel to ensure there is absolutely no movement. 

Areas of concern in the wood keel have been addressed, and we have laminated new timber onto the sides of the keel to ensure a strong and watertight seal along the bottom of the garboards.

The knee aft has been notched out ready to take the remaining frames.  Due to amount of frames and planks being replaced at the aft end by the sternpost we are having to run battens through to give us the right shape of the new frames as they go in.  We are over 90% done on the oak frames and laminated iroko ribs, and will have this all completed very soon.  Aft of the stern post a couple of the frames into horn timber needed replacing, which were also done this month.

Templates were completed for 15 bronze floors and delivered to the foundry in Lymington in the last week of September.   These will be made and delivered back before the end of October ready to tie everything back together.

We have been burning off the old paint inside the hull (a very tedious and noxious job) to reveal every detail of the hull.  No gremlins have been uncovered, but we have noticed that there are some areas where the fastenings are no longer in A1 condition, so there will be areas of the original planking that need to be refastened once we have completed replacing everything.  Removal of the old paint is really brightening up the inside of the boat

A bit of the planking has been replaced in the midships area, leaving just the planks going into the sternpost to be done next month.

 I visited the Southampton Boat Show earlier in the month, and we had some very interesting conversations with the various engine manufacturers and suppliers.  The concenus is that a simple torquey diesel engine such as a Perkins would be the best for powering Fedoa.  Looking at our options, the best place for the engine looks like in the saloon.  This would put it under the main removable hatch and make it very practical for access, servicing and repair.  It is possible to get the engine down under the floor, but this would make access hard, and involve complicated and expensive gearbox options.  The best idea seems to be a well insulated compartment under the floor with a box that becomes the base for the saloon table above.  This could be coupled with a small generator further forward so that the main engine does need to be run when in port / at anchor.