Sabre 28 - Cruiser - Project

[JawsOrca]

Quick update.. 

 

(Floated Jessica, although I chickened out of the 12 hour delivery trip as the weather was nasty and a good day on the estuary here is like breydon on a bad day.. (We have had 5 feet sweals before) - Shes now neaped (stuck) on the sailing clubs dry dock until next weekend!.. She had no problems herself though.. very impressed considering shes been ashore for 2 years - But plan is now to make the trip next weekend.. another lost weekend .. I really can't wait to be in norfolk where we really don't have such tidal problems!).

 

Forgot to mention.. Jessica is flying the NBN burgee (I'll get a good picture although its a long way up to the spreader).

 

Orca is though all booked up and being delivered on easter sunday, we have more timber to support her on and brought a load of "acros" to help support her (and make life easy when the lorry lowers her).  In the week a brand new waste tank arrived from ebay too (I love ebay) £100 for 240 litre! 

[Gracie]

Hi Alan

 

Have only been out to see on a Ferry to France and that was rough and quite enough for me lol, so don't blame you for chickening out as you put it, hope it goes well next weekend for you.

 

Grace

[JawsOrca]

Although not about orca, Jessica was our previous boat and selling Jessica is core to getting a new boat.. So I want to quickly tell Jessica's last day with us! (Hope everyone is ok with me posting this) The buyer wanted us to deliver her from our hardstanding spot to a mud berth in Queenborough (12 miles down stream). Unfortunately the rise and fall here means that we need two high waters to do this passage and therefore 12 hours at least! (We actually needed 3 tides).

 

The first plan was to launch her from her hardstanding spot ashore to the clubs scrubbing docks (Last saturday), keep her there overnight and then make the passage over 12 hours on the sunday (we would have floated off at 6am and then entered her berth at 6pm), however as per my last post we gave up as the winds where a bit strong and it looked a bit wet plus we would have to sit at anchor for 10 hours as its only a 2 trip. Second plan was to put her on a club mooring and leave her a couple of weeks for the weather to improve, however right on high tide sunday evening the yacht clubs tender broke down (its a 10 min trip to the deep water moorings so the trot boat is a must) so the club kindly agreed that she can stay there all week! (Thankfully we can see the scrubbing docks from the houseboat!).

 

The third plan was to float off yesterday night and go onto to deep water berth for the night and then beat the incomming tide this morning to queenborough, arriving into her berth at high water. And thats what happened!

 

I was a tad worried if she would beat the tide (as they do run fast through the esturary) and we forgot to rig the gib but with her brand new prop and a clean bottom she achieved 6 knots through the tide and we arrived into her berth with no problems...  

 

It's been hard to let her go but having the new boat certainly helps and knowing she will be used more than we did. We had 8 years and only spent 3 weekends on her, but we both agree that the effort and planning to just go 12 miles downriver shows that a river cruiser on the broads would be a better plan as the tides are a nightmare here.. boating needs to be relaxing at the end of the day! (Back to orca tomorrow and we have a long easter too, not to mention orca is being moved over to here too!!)

 

Some pictures attached.

 

1. Waiting for the tide on the yacht clubs scrubbing dock, 

2 - 5 Pictures of the trip down. 

5. Safely at her new home ready for her new owners.

[JawsOrca]

Back to work today for 9am! as we had a ebayer to come and collect two old tanks.

 

We were both still tired from the last couple of days so we didn't get a whole lot done. Dave started installing the last timber frame in the cabin roof which will take the ceiling mounted curtain rail. This had to be be glassed in so he did this before it warmed up. He then moved onto cutting down some building acros (Another ebay purchase - £40 for 7!) which needed cutting as they are too big, these will be used as the supports when we move the boat. 

 

After lunch we finished off by replacing the wheelhouse flooring as it's a bit saggy and repairing a hole in the floor where it appears someone had cut to move the engine before.  We also had to chop out one floor beam as I brought a new waste holding tank (ebay again but using the money we made selling the other tanks means it only cost £60!) but it didn't fit through the hatch as it had a floorbeam through the middle!

 

This week we are down the yard from thursday to easter monday.. and the transport is booked for Easter monday to move the boat! . I want to certainly get the inside ready for sidelining and we need to work out how to move the old peugeot engine, plus we need fix the damaged port side (see earlier posts) as it may not be strong enough to lift.  So my next post will hopefully show the boat in her new home!

[Gracie]

Hi Alan

 

Glad you got Jessica to her new home safely, brilliant photos by the way 

 

Grace

[JawsOrca]

Thanks Grace.. it was mixed feelings though.. we have had her for so long..so it has hard to walk away! but the plastic boat (I keep telling myself!) is much better for us and being on the broads will be so much more relaxing (etc etc etc lol).... It was strange too she actually sped up when she got closer to the end (despite the tide actually getting stronger and the channel narrowing).. she reached 6kts in the end and for a sailing boat thats fast!..  Anyways onwards to looking forward to the new boat being moved and getting it finished.. this time next year we want to be on the upper medway for "River trials"!

[JawsOrca]

This weekend again not much happened, we had a lot of tidying up to do and we couldn't really do any big jobs because of the move, we also had a nice day off!

 

Although the move went really well and Orca is now visible from the kitchen window (although she looks ugly from the back end!).  The hiab crane was some piece of machinery and the guy did most of the move himself from a joystick!

 

The yacht club her are already threatening to put a mast on and a square sail though! But they will soon get used to her here!

 

Picture attached arriving in Hoo. (I've got hundreads of pictures though so I may attach more tomorrow - When I find my phone charger!).

 

[Brian]

Alan and Dave,  what a fantastic thread,

I have just read it from the start. SO much work in such a short time ! I wish i had you passion for renovating boats.

 

Brian

[JawsOrca]

Thanks Brian, 

 

Reminds me I need to go to the doctors and see if there's a cure... I keep saying no more projects! We are sure though the investment to move the boat closer to home will ensure its built quicker (plus the ground rent is cheaper!), plus the boat is butted right up against the sea bank so its even more motivation to get in there!

[JawsOrca]

Couple of pictures attached ... I found my phone charger!

 

 

[Gracie]

Alan, I don't think going to the doctors will help, once we are lured into the world of boating whether it's project boats, hire boats or private boats you are lost forever lol.

 

Great pics once again, keep it coming, can't wait to see her finished 

 

Grace

[JawsOrca]

Lol Grace that's so right.. it started when I was 17.. Didn't quite have the extra hundred quid for a holiday to spain.. so decided on the norfolk broads... I dread to think how much money has been spent now! 

[JawsOrca]

So first week already here at Hoo and this weekend has already proved to be a good move!

 

Dave has been working for a few hours midweek and It's already a lot less stressful as we can work as and when. Today for example we was able to service my car and go shopping yet still do 8 hours on the boat!!

 

So couple of bits have been completed this week;

 

Something told me to remove the timber work around the chain locker up the pointy bit. Dave did this one night and found it was constructed of chipboard... (Note to readers, Please do not use chipboard on a boat.. it turns into compost!) so he bagged that out. It also had a bout 5kg of car body filler which I painfully removed yesterday (my chest is bruised from doing so). I also preped up ready for a rebuilding with nice marine ply. 

 

We also removed loose and flacking paint/old glue from most of the interior of the boat! (Big nasty job). So its ready for the sidelinning.. Although one window is still leaking and needs to come out and have more Abromast behind it.. I blame Dave for not using enough..

I also found another supplier for the foam backed lining. (The customer service from Toomer&Hay is a bit slow so prefer not to use them - This other company replied to me straight away and are posting lots of samples without any problems plus they do canopy material so hopefully I can order lots of material in one go).

 

Dave also cut out and installed the transom plate for the sonic drive (using the template and assistance which Sillette provided... good chaps!), annoyingly the new engine mounts are 1/4 inch offset from central, he fitted these using the volvo 280 transom plate which was offset by this amount.. the engine still fits but looks a tad off (I noticed!). We had to raise the engine angle irons a bit too as the sonic is a bit higher than the old volvo sterndrive. He bolted the engine down after aligning up (Big milestone actually!). The engine has a plate on the flywheel now with a big chunky rubber thing (I'll take some pictures) and a "Hardy splicer" which will attach to the sonic drive.

 

The exhaust system (45mm hose, waterlock -> Muffler -> Swanneck) was also planned and started to be installed although we had enough after planning it twice. So work done for today.. Next weekend unfortunatly we wont be working on the boat although we should be doing some bits in the evening. Next weekend we have to go to.... NORFOLK!! Can't wait! 3 days on the broads! We are coming up early saturday, Drive to brundall, Train to Norwich, Taxi to Horning to meet up with my parents who will be at Horning for the Horning boat show, then Sunday, Monday we will motor back down to Brundall. Can't wait we need a weekend in Norfolk! 

[Gracie]

Alan don't go buying a new boat at the show you can't do em up lol, you would be lost without a project.

 

Have a lovely weekend

 

Grace

[JawsOrca]

LOL!

 

You know us too well! I'll have to rip it all out and make it better.

 

We went to the London Boat show and I went into one and the sales man with a big grin on his face asked "What do you think".. I stopped smiling quickly.. Some of them are really badly fitted out.. Although (and I'm not saying this because Clive on is on here) but the RIchardson r45 was bloody lovely and put some of the big boys to shame!

 

I'm hoping to have a good look round though, we are going with my mum and shes good at just barging onto boats.

 

Hopefully its not too cold though...

 

Have a good one too.. Are you going out on the boat?

[Gracie]

Sounds just like my mum. To hell with the cold you'll be on the Broads just stick an extra jumper on lol.

 

No not going to the boat unfortunately got one of those family get togethers, you know the ones with the Aunts and Uncles you haven't seen for years, oh dear can I come with you.

 

Grace

[JawsOrca]

ohh sounds erm fun.. maybe you should phone in sick and get down the boat instead lol!

 

I think I'll take my wet weather gear, their boat has a fly bridge so I'm hoping maybe its too cold for them to sit up there so I'll have to "struggle" on and helm all the way from Horning to Brundall   (funny how I didnt like getting cold and wet on the sailing boat but its different on a motor boat in norfolk lol?!!)

 

try and have a good weekend.. I'll put some pics up just erm gloat..!

[Gracie]

"I'll put some pics up just erm gloat..!" Very funny, I liked you once  :

 

Grace

[JawsOrca]

Lol! Only playing.. 

[JawsOrca]

Just a quick update.

 

As we was away for the weekend not much has happened Although the engine has been permanently secured to the engine beds and the exhaust system has been fitted. Dave also painted the engine bay before doing so.  He fitted two engine hoses which had deteriorated and we wasn't confident in using.  I've been ordering a few parts including the all important engine key! (£50 vetus part was actually the cheapest option in the end). I've also found a nice helpful supplier (hawke house) of headlining/sidelining/carpet/shower compartment material/foam etc so I don't have to deal with poor customer service from toomer and Hayter, they also suggest that the car product autoglym tar remover is the best product to remove old sidelining adhesive ready for reapplying. So I went to halfords and got a tub so will try this at the weekend (And report back!)

 

We have just been over and measured parts to get the fuel system and water system installed so we can fire up the engine (for the first time!) and make sure its all ok.  

 

We are thankfully at home this weekend although I wanted to get the window out and back in which is still leaking although it's meant to be raining so that will have to wait yet again. There's plenty of other bits to carry on with though. 

[JawsOrca]

Long week of working and a nice long weekend!

 

During we week we ordered quite a few parts, some arrived some didn't! The main aim at the moment is to get the bits in for the engine bay so the engine can be test started. We have also started getting the electrical bits as this is a big chunk of stuff! We also noticed a brand new Vetus engine panel on ebay (I have a serious "problem" at the moment buying everything vetus), the buyer took my buy it now offer (and marked it as "lost" on ebay) and its in the post.

 

Bits completed this week.

 

- Installed exhaust system

- Removed un-required skin fittings and glassed over.

- Fitted water hoses on the engine.

- Removed rotting wood on engine bay and reinstalled with nice new marine ply which was then glassed in. 

- Installed a floor beam on the bow which for some strange reason was missing. (and that may explained with the front window wouldn't seal as it was allowing excessive flex).

- Fill old rubbing strip holes because some numpty installed the new rubbing strip without filling the old holes and when it rained they leak.

- Removed and reinstalled the front window which failed to seal the first time round, This time we used a ton of sealant!

- Used a tub of filer on holes on interior moulding and did some hull repairs on the outside.

- Installed the last beams to take the ply lining on the wheelhouse.

- Measures and took the guts to cut the hole in the transom plate to take the sterndrive. (I think it was in the week).

- Using two hold fibreglass storage lockers, we measured and made a gas bottle locker (Its nice to reuse things like this instead of paying a hundred quid or so on pre-made stuff. This was fitted and glassed into the aft cockpit seat which should work well.

 

(we also managed to fit in a shopping trip for the canopy binghy as the rubber straps on there where tearing off in the wind!).

 

Next weekend we are back to norfolk to diagnose my parents sick boat although dave will probably do the odd evening on the boat.

 

Pictures attached.

[MBA Marine]

Could you not have squeezed another silencer or two in? 

[JawsOrca]

lol yeah we got the three from ebay for £70 so we will just used them all.. be nice and quiet though . We will sound proof the engine bay too so it be just like a sailing boat!!

[Gracie]

Hi Alan

 

My husband wants to make some improvements on our little boat and is finding this thread very informative, so thanks for keeping us updated.

 

Sorry to hear about your parent's poorly boat, hope it's nothing too major. Did you manage to take any pics at the show I know how much you want to gloat lol

 

Grace

[JawsOrca]

Hiya Grace,

 

Thanks, its good to hear people are still reading and I've not made everyone nod off! 

 

I didn't take any pictures of the show it was a bit busy, but it was good and well worth a visit (if you are up there).  I took a couple of the trip down with the early morning sun rising over the reed beds.. I'll dig out and post up