JanetAnne

Sweeping. Not sure anyone would trust him with a boat...

What Doug is referring to is a small task I set my niece back in about May 2022. I had just purchased a 1955 original Herbert Woods wooden dayboat from a chap in Horning and asked her to motor it back to Oulton Broad for me. A decent day at the helm, spring sunshine, kind tide times and home in about 8 hours plus comfort breaks. Easy.... Of course all this was planned on a warm sunny Monday but by the Thursday, collection day) it was wet, windy dull and proper autumnal. The day didn't start well when her transport to Horning arrived late and then realised the fuel cans were not in the boot! Cans duly collected and they were on their way arriving at Horning just after 11.00 rather than the planned 9.30. Knowing they were running late and had a tide to catch I'd rung them and suggested they didn't stop for a cuppa or anything and just got aboard and away as fast as they could. Nope, not a chance! The handover was certainly thorough. Just over an hour to explain two switches, a gear lever, the ignition key and a full tour of every nook and cranny you can find on 17ft of floating wood.... they finally escaped just after 12.00 with 4 1/2 hours to Yarmouth and slack water at 14.30. Fortunately the journey down the Bure was pretty uneventful but they started to punch the tide by Stokesby, a problem enhanced by being told not to go above half throttle "she's an old girl you know". (This I discovered afterwards or I'd have advised them differently at the time) Of course Ali being Ali stuck to his instructions for fear of doing damage and, by the time they reached Marina Quays progress was down to just 2mph. I phoned them and suggested that, due to the lateness and the fact that Breydon had been blowing up a bit rough earlier in the day, they should tie up at the yacht station and I'd go and get them. We'd get the boat the next day. "Tell you what" she says, "the wind has dropped a bit. How about I go to the yellow post, have a look see and make a decision whether it looks ok or I turn back"? Seemed fair enough so that's what we decided. The next phone call was brief "we are just under Breydon Bridge, all looks ok so we will press on. Maybe as far as Somerleyton" About a third of the way across the wind was starting to howl, the waves were shipping well over the bow and, as Ali told me afterwards, "I knew we were in for a rough one when the wind suddenly increased but, if I had tried to turn back I'd have been broadside to the swell and, with such little power, out of control" And so they continued. I didn't collect them at Somerleyton. By that time sheer bloody mindedness had taken over and they were determined to make it home even if they had needed to get out and push! About 22.30 two phone torches being used as nav lights, appeared in the darkness and two absolutely frozen body's were spied huddled together hunched over the steering wheel. About a gallon of hot chocolate later and they had enough feeling in their feet to be able to drive the car home! The dayboat never missed a beat (fortunately) and the girls did see the funny side, eventually

She says she'd be happy to but only if you'll crew her Doug?

Once our aft apron is cleaned up, trimmed and prepared we need to make up the bits that form the corner the transom will sit against. You remember that slab of oak we used part of at the front, well more of it is used to make good at the rear. First we cut and prepare the pieces and then start to glue them together. Here the ends are completed and the centre section is being marked out Now the ends are glued and the centre prepared And here is the finished item. I have shown it in place on the keel so you can see how it goes together. Thats it for tonight. In our next instalment our world is turned upside down!

We were hoping for this week but the weather was a bit too chilly so we'll wait a while With the front end (sorry, forward end) now assembled it was time to turn our attention to the aft. Our designer had drawn a similar apron to the front which meant we were able to utilise and modify our existing tool to do the job. More lengths of oak were prepared ready for glueing and clamping And, after the usual application of our west system epoxy, the shaping and clamping begins. Keeping 10 lengths of very slippery oak in place whilst you bend them almost 90 degrees is always fun. You can see the little blocks on the former that help hold it all All done. Just needs overnight for the glue to do its job.

You paid the van insurance, paid HMRC and still had money left for boots?

Good luck with the restoration. Is this Doug's old boat?

Rumour has it that one of the BA's dredging rigs is up for sale. 'One careful owner, little used'?

Not with Grendel 's past record.....

Another restless night VID_20240124_003024167.mp4

If you mount the pump lower so it syphon feeds it will be much quieter

Can I just point out that there is only one g in taking (in the title) just in case there is Haribo available for such pedanticness - I can pm my address.....

Before we fit the apron there is a very important ritual to be completed. For luck and so the ship is never destitute (or something like that) it is customary to place a coin within the keel. Our chosen coin duly arrived and its new home is prepared After which the coin is inserted ready for its life aboard our new boat.

Doesnt time fly... and am I somewhat embarassed that its almost three months since I was here? Before I bring you the next instalment can I just say thankyou for your comments and support so far. Our anonymous customer has joined the forum and checks in here to see and enjoy your posts and words of encouragement regarding his project so please keep them coming. On launch day we will have to do a big reveal... With our keel now completed its time to assemble all the relevant parts. We start with a final finishing of the keel and the drilling of holes ready to accept the bolts that hold it all together. You need really long drill bits / auger bits for this job. Get it wrong and the drill stops and you keep going!! With all the holes drilled its time for a nice coat of waterproof primer along the top surface where the hog/keel baton/keel cap joins. Once dry the actual joint is sealed with Robins favourite butyl rubber sealer. Beads are applied... and then smoothed out to ensure a proper watertight joint after which the hog/keel cap etc is lowered into place and bolted together Here you can see the front end of the hog in place awaiting the apron.

Back again?

Oulton broad road bridge 4.00 this morning

It's here!

Back in the 80's Oulton Week results used to be published in the Lowestoft Journal as were the results of the normal weeks racing as well. I know this because I have some clippings but only for BOD's

How about the Webasto sunroof (one of which I have just taken out of a 1966 Ford being got ready for respray. The steering wheel covers were either Alexander or Paddy Hopkirk by the way. One made them in leather and the other in leatherette (vinyl to you and me)

Is that all in one piece of wood? Wow!

That'll improve my planking... when can we start?

Put an Alexa on the list. Medication reminders, turning lights and the telly on and off etc etc. Plus the ability to 'drop in' and have a conversation without someone needing to find a phone or get up

Enjoy the rest of your trip. Sorry about the snoring

The best thing we did was get the modern equivalent of meals on wheels in. They used to bring meals in daily and, just as important, collect the previous day's crockery etc. No build up of waste food. There are many local companies offering that sort of service so, if it's of use, chances are you'll find one or two local to Dad.

You know how it is, you get back to your boat planning a nice quiet evening only to discover you're moored next to 'the party boat'. Loud music, louder voices, the constant rattle of glasses being refreshed, the dancing.....