| Offshore Foolishness |
CategoryProgression - Restoring a Merlin RocketEnd of the LineAfter several days of hard work removing varnish from the inside of Progression during the summer the time came to turn her over and start removing the paint on the outside of the hull. First shock was that the paint and a bit of filler cunningly disguised an awful lot of epoxy. A lttle more detailed inspection revealed that whoever added the expoxy did so over wet damp wood. The leaks we'd experienced were not going to be simple task to fix, whole replacement planks were neededThe skipper & I considered our options - was a repair possible: yes but needed more skills than we or probably any club member had, it was a job for a professional wooden dinghy builder. Could we afford it? No - it would cost far more than we could ever hope to recoup (even in terms of enjoyment sailing her) and more than the funds available.... so what was to be done? Burn her? Our class captain took matters into his own hands and the result was a full refund on monies paid as long as we returned the hull and all the fittings, mast sails etc which we've duly done. The end of the summer marked the end of our project but on the positive side we've found out that we enjoy sailing vintage Merlins but don't really have the time to maintain one... so will probably return to the Enterprise class next season... anyone got a FRP Enterprise they wish to sell? 5:45 PM - Oct. 8, 2007 - comments {0} - post commentCategoryProgression - Restoring a Merlin RocketThe project becomes a Project!Finally managed to start stripping the varnish earlier this week - 4-5 planks either side of the hull from the centre board case. It took about a daays work but the port side is now completly stripped bare and reveals the true state of things; most of the seams have been stuffed full of silicon sealant and then taped on the outside in mis-judged attempt to stem the leaks by a previous owner. The Skipper is devising a tool based on an old screw driver to clean out the sealant which although not keeping the water out is impervious to the varnish stripping chemicals!We also removed some of the paint on the outside last night around one of the offending seams. Under it we found a layer of filler, the surrounding plywood is rotten & delaminating. Suddenly Progression has become a Big Project with a plank in need of replacing. Paint & varnish is my cup of tea and the Skipper believed he could tackle re-gluing the seams with advice & assistance from fellow Minima YC members. It was all a bit depressing so we resorted to taking a club Enterprise (GRP and virtually maintenance free) out for the Handicap racing. There is plenty of advice though and this gives us hope that this old boat might once more take to the water before the season is out! 2:48 PM - Jun. 14, 2007 - comments {0} - post commentCategoryProgression - Restoring a Merlin RocketeBay: Not Exactly Where You'd Look for a Classic Boat...With a new house backing on to the Thames (well its across the open land less than 200m from the back door) it was time to purchase another dinghy. Minima club members had been actively competing to persuade us to purchase either an Enterprise or a Merlin Rocket. eBay made the decision for us! The Skipper was away and I was browsing one weekeday evening and there was a Merlin Rocket for £35, I joined the bidding and later that week it was mine for a song.That Saturday afternoon friends provided their road trailer and car (as we're currently without a tow bar) and Progression was safely transported from Ranelagh to Minima dinghy park - for a cosy home in the boatshed to a life outdoors in the Old Deer Park. Progression - presumably so called because her designer & first owner believed she was - dates from 1970 and was built as far as we can find by three Ranelagh members for another. According to the current Merlin Rocket Year book she is "lost" and was put up for auction as an owner could not be traced, having occupied space in the boatshed for at least 8 years if not 10. A week later it was time to see how she'd do back in water after such a long rest. The elderly Banks sails are a little baggy but Merlin Rocket 2345 gamely kicked up her heels and headed upstream towards Ravens Eit looking a fine sight in her two tone red & white paint and varnished decks. She tacked like lightening leaving the skipper (at the helm) a little bemused initally at her pace. Crew & helm argued a little on where to sit and when to let off the jibsheets as the pair of us slowly got used to not-an-Enterprise. For the crew is was a pleasant change not to sit under the cheesewire that purports to be the kicker on an Enterprise, scalping unsuspecting crews. Progression even provides a well-placed thwart for the crew to slide across the boat on. Its not all easier...the helm though has to perch on the side deck whose angle is steep so that you constantly seem to be sliding into the boat. After less than an hour it was apparent that Progression leaked from somewhere, wallowing around each tack slower and slower. We returned to the slipway and emptied fairly large quantity of river. Back on the water I volunteered (or was that I was volunteered) to investigate where the leak was... it was not the transom flaps, the bouyancy tank in the bow, the centre board case or the self-bailers... water just seemed to seep in through the floor. Once again we bailed her out and went for a sail, comforted that at least we knew she wouldn't suddenly sink. Later as we prepared to disembark there was a loud slap rather like a wave hitting Temptress's hull except this wasn't our ocean-going pride and joy and there were no waves on the Thames. Kevin's face said it all - something somewhere in the floor of our lastest toy had given way providing us with another project for the summer! Once out of the water and careened on the grass of the dinghy park it became obvious - the tape on the outside of the hull wasn't just there for protection from rubbing but probably held the planks together. Advice was taken - and there is plenty of it on offer from the rest of the Minima's Merlin fleet - clean out all the overlaps between the planks and reglue, pinning (screws) if necessary and sufficient overlap. So over the next few weeks or months expect this blog to become a tale of boat restoration as we strip the paint & varnish, make her watertight and then restore Progression to her former glory in time hopefully for the Merlin Open at Minima in the autumn. 2:49 PM - May. 31, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment
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Description When you reach a certain age and have done more than a few offshore races the time comes to look for a little more comfort.  Home User Profile Archives Recent Entries - Happy New Year - End of the Line - The project becomes a Project! - eBay: Not Exactly Where You'd Look for a Classic Boat... - Its been a while |