Just as we thought we were moving in the right direction….Escapade throws a new problem at us!
We actually did know that we had a crack. It had been picked up on the survey when we bought the boat. What we hadn’t realised (until we took out the hot water cylinder) was that it was a very long crack.
We had Fox’s Boatyard look at it, then the original surveyor and a marine architect. All agreed that it was the original fiberglass work coming away for the wood, due to the opposing forces from the mast and the rigging. Not a structural issue…thank goodness.
However it would need mending as, if allowed to spread further, it could eventually reach the chain plate which holds the rigging for the mast.
Fixing it would require grinding back the fiberglass in three different places and then re-glassing.
As with all jobs on a boat, this meant moving lots of things: one to gain access to the areas and two to stop them getting covered in fiberglass powder.
We emptied the saloon (living area), galley (kitchen) and bunk room (being used as tools and equipment store). We then covered as much as possible with plastic so Fox’s could get to work.
It was well worth the upheaval. After a week of work, we know have a beautifully repaired bulkhead.
PS we are, however, still finding fiberglass powder whenever we move anything!!
obviously important to get ship shape before you set off. When is your first long run planned for Kaz? x
Hi
How are things with you?
We are planning to leave Ipswich in April and go down to the south coast. Then a quick trip across to the Channel Islands to pick up an anchor and outboard engine. Back to UK and down to Falmouth for June to watch the weather ready to cross Bay of Biscay to Portugal!!! Not long now xx
definitely good to get that one fixed before heading off around the world!!
That’s what we thought! Better to fix it in the yard at Fox’s than in the middle of the Pacific … or worse still have it break in the middle of the ocean 😂😂
Wow! At least you noticed the crack before you set sail. As you say it would have been really interesting to discover it in the middle of the ocean.
Can’t believe you are nearly ready to set sail. It must seem strange that after all of your planning , that it nearly is here.
Good luck with the final preparations!
Hi!
Great to hear from you….loved your costume for World Book Day!
In some ways it seems that we have been waiting forever, but now the time is rushing by…we still have sooooo much to do!! X
Hi you lovely peeps!
Such a wonderful blog for us to follow… Seeing that crack I would be abandoned ship!
The guys did a fantastic job by the look of the pics.. Well done on all your hard work.
Stay safe x
Hi,
It wasn’t actually as bad as it seemed…only superficial apparently! But could have eventually caused problems with the rigging and mast if left!!!
Pleased you are enjoying the blog…I am hoping it will get more interesting when we are allowed to travel!
Stay safe xx
PS loving your posts about learning sign language x