Water Rail Tlc

[grendel]

I thought I would start a new thread for Water Rails maintenance, as I have brought some homework back with me, Water Rails original mast needed some TLC, the worst bit was the masthead light on the top that was cock-eyed, it bugged me every time I looked at it. Anyway I bought the mast home and have stripped it to it's components, and started removing the old varnish, it turns out that under all that varnish it's quite a lovely piece of close grained Douglas fir ( I believe).

Sanding has been started, and it's a job I can do while working when I get a moment or two.

Brass parts will get cleaned up and polished then maybe a coat of lacquer to preserve the finish.

[BroadAmbition]

Nice one 

Griff

[grendel]

So sanding is proceeding, meanwhile the brass strips are atrocious, I have had to scrape the varnish off, however with a little sanding and a Dremel mop loaded in honing paste and they are coming up nicely.

[grendel]

Sanding is nearing completion, just a few marks to get out still, meanwhile design is in process for the new mount for the mast topper, I have removed the existing cracked timber and am designing a new interface part, that needs to transition from square to round.

[grendel]

Brass cable clips, these and the screws will need cleaning and polishing too. Pretty much all of the brass work is like this ( or worse).

[grendel]

Screws get chucked up in a Dremel for polishing on a scotchbrite pad, before and after

[grendel]

Since the connection between the mast and top Bob were all cracked and misshapen I removed them and am working on a design for the new top connection, I am doing this first in cad and 3d printing prior to making it in timber, I need a smooth flowing shape, pleasing to the eye.

For me the slightly more inwardly curved shape looks better, so next to reproduce it in timber.

[grendel]

this is what it did look like, a hotch potch of smaller pieces screwed glued and nailed to the top of the mast

[grendel]

As removing the varnish and sanding has reduced the thickness of the mast leaving gaps on the cross trees the screw holes have been plugged with dowels and will be redrilled at reassembly in the correct locations.

 

[grendel]

Also considering whether to slim the top down to just this

[ZimbiIV]

Can you not make that out of clear print medium and put the light in that?

IE like the last photo but with clear plastic.

paul

[grendel]

in theory yes I could, except the mast sticks through the middle, and I will be remaking that part in timber anyway.

[grendel]

Before and after cleaning

[BroadAmbition]

Erm, you realise of course after you have completed the mast, it’s back on Water Rail looking splendid, you will then have to bring the whole lot of her up the mast standard 

Griff

[grendel]

yes, it all has to start somewhere though

[grendel]

Unfortunately the lump of greenheart I had to hand wasn't quite as wide as I hoped, so the top is a bit narrower, but it gets the idea across, next to put a square hole right through for the mast to sit in, then some sanding and shaping

[grendel]

This was of course worked on the big metalworking lathe as greenheart is pretty tough as wood goes.

[grendel]

Hole noticed through using the morticer, shaped as it tapers, with chisels, then fixed to the mast, preliminary shaping started with a belt sander

[grendel]

Final sanding and shaping done, preliminary coat of 20% varnish, 80% turps applied, first of many

[NeilB]

One of Water Rail's sisters is up for sale - https://norfolk.boatshed.com/herbert_woods_delight_class-boat-304314.html

Looks stunning!

[Vaughan]

I have never seen a broker write about a boat for sale with such un-reserved enthusiasm as that!

[grendel]

I agree, Stunning, hopefully if we can get Water rail looking even close to that, we will be happy.

[CambridgeCabby]

Wow!!

[SteveO]

Delight XI is a beautiful boat, sadly being sold due to the owner's untimely passing earlier this year. She is immaculate and I doubt if she will hang about long at the price being asked. 

[marshman]

I think it has been maintained by Colin Buttifant - 'nuff said!