In my last post I raised some keel bolt thoughts: Whimbrel is currently out of the water at Alan Staley’s yard in Faversham, Kent, undergoing some planned maintenance.

http://nickardley.com/keel-bolts-sobering-thoughts/

The boat’s centre plate box casing and plate are now in…

Starboard side of new casing…

Port side of new casing…

We spent last weekend cleaning, sanding and cleaning again before priming and painting the bilge under saloon floor boards, as well as doing a few other jobs.

The bilge prepared ready for bilge paint…

Above, bilge painting nears completion…

I’m told by Alan that the yard will have completed all their work by end of this week, apart from moving boat out of shed, raising mast with its new stays and launch her… So, as my mate said, whilst patting the rump of the boat before departing, “…you’ll soon be in the water … and we’ll take you home…” Very touching indeed, brought a tear to my eye!

Centre plate in place … below, close up of riveted lifting wire pin.

I’m looking forward to sailing again too…

Keel bolts whether there to hold a boat’s structure together, as with a traditionally constructed vessel, or in the fashion that most now think about as for many modern yachts are an area of our craft that must always sit in the foregraound of our thoughts: at some point they need to be inspected.

Keel bolts are a subject of investigation in the marine world at present, especially after a much publicised event out in the N. Atlantic last year. That event, the loss of the Kiki Rifiki and her crew, set wheels in motion at ISAF. They instituted a study into why this is happening. So far a database of 72 cases of keel failure has been built up. Unfortuately this sadly includes the loss of 24 lives at sea.

So many modern yachts have deep ballast keels slung from the underside of what is essentially a skimming dish – far removed from the traditional world. How often is thought given to these bits of metal holding the ballast keel to the GRP hull?

In traditional craft, owners tend to operate on the principle of ‘best practice’ based on time worn principles…

I was told by Whimbrel’s builder that I’d not need to worry about these bolts for around thirty years! I actually started a programme some fifteen years ago when boat was around fifteen years old. The engine was out, so I took the opportunity of doing the two aft most bolts holding the ballast into the keel structure – bolts are bolts, and ill supported ballast could cause a problem!

At a later date, I did a further bolt towards the forward end. The two aft bolts were pretty good, however, the nuts had been wasted and corrosion had seeped downwards with bilge water! The forward bolt was in a good condition… It was renewed all the same. I ‘set’ the bolts in roofing paint – liquid bitumen. There is probably liquid in the crevices still!

This last summer I noticed weeping from two of the wooden capping plugs on bolts around my centre plate casing – it was time to investigate.

Note: weeping from capping in ‘top’ of picture by aft end of floor board.

Unfortunately, on one side of the casing the side structure sat over the cappings … thus the side needed to be removed. Do one side – do both.

During a summer stop-over in lovely Faversham, I spoke to Alan Staley who has his yard in the creek just above the Iron Wharf. Yes he could do the work. The boat went into his shed at the end of November 2014…

Up on the stocks in Alan’s shed … Alan dresses all ‘his’ boats for Christmas!

Along the centre plate slot of a Finesse 24 there are four sets of 5/8″ galv bolts, in between these there are three sets of what are termed ‘centre line’ bolts which are there purely to sandwich the wooden parts of the keel structure, as do those forward and aft of the ballast, through the deadwoods etc…

The four sets of 5/8″ bolts. Fwd set are to lhs.

There now follows a series of photographs with explanatory notes, of interest not only to Finesse owners, but many others too, I’m sure…

The removed casing from port side of box – after 32 years the paint coating remains intact under a thin coating of mud.

The diagonal scoring across the inside face is a mark left by the top of the centre plate – actually the lifting wire lugs, see picture of centre plate below. These were no more than a milimetre or two deep … my plate is up and down when sailing … like a…

Note the box was not conventionally glued but had a ‘painted’ seal – it is going back the same way, Alan has firmly stated … I agree. It never leaked before and won’t after…! Note too the rabbit at bottom of casing, this can be seen below too.

Looking down at the two posts. Middle of three holes on (port) side is one of the ‘centre line’ bolts – not disturbed…

Close up of aft post – there was no indication of any rotting to any of the structural parts, which is entirely constructed of iroko.

Many owners of earlier Finesse 24s have found bad news in this area, however, earlier boats were of mahogany construction. By the mid 1970s Alan Platt (the builder) had changed to iroko for all his boats.

Looking down on the box structure which has been cleaned and preserved.

Bolts are back in and plugs fitted. The bolts were coated with tar varnish and inserted wet, heads set on grommets. In the above picture the shipwright can be seen securing the seal plate over forward end of slot. The seal plate over this area is technically an outside plank and is sealed down. Note transverse fastening bolts – these sandwich the three parts of structure including posts. See also first picture where a bolt can be seen to edge of floor board. Bilges yet to be painted…

New centre plate awaiting to go in…

Whimbrel also now has a ‘new’ winch which the owner of her sister Josie (No.63) gave her. The old one had a loose spigot shaft – originally shrunk into base housing, this may not be repairable, cost effectively.

The winch, cleaned, greased and ready for assembly … a little job at home over Christmas…

The casing is currently being put back together. We have made a start on bilge painting, having completed the forward end and under the galley… The boat is due to go back into the water into the water by end of January…

My good mate hard at it whilst I take pictures (actually having just fitted winch) finishing the area in loo compartment and under locker … boards down for ease of movement!

See also: http://nickardley.com/wimbrels-keel-bolts-near-complete/

The year has ticked round to its last day and foremost in many peoples minds is the upcoming London Boat Show.

The ‘great and the good’ will be talking sales speak, spouting off the virtues of ordering a shining new craft with smiling sales personnel lurking ready to clutch at any interest a punter might show…

As you can tell I do not have a lot of time for boat shows … in general! I think I last attended a proper show around a decade ago, maybe more tides have ebbed and flowed: I cannot really remember… I know, many find them interesting, a day out in a boaty world during the depths of winter when sailing seems a long way off…

This year has seen a large number of craft come onto the market, much of it of from the more expensive ranges, well beyond the ‘starter’ boat, yet many of those craft may well have been someones first foray into cruiser sailing. Headlines have been made in the yachting press with stories of 100K boats going for a song: it is a buyers market… And here is the nub … there are a huge range of smaller craft ripe for picking too.

One only has to peruse the pages of the online sellers, such as Apollo Duck, or wander around yards, either those attached to marinas or a proper boat yard itself… I did this on a gloriously sunny day, one of the many enjoyed this summer on the east coast, while appreciating the delights of Woodbridge.

As I wandered through the compound of Andy Seedhouse, I was amazed at the number of simple affordable cruisers of up to around 26′ or 8m there were for sale. See: http://www.andyseedhouseboats.co.uk/

For anyone wanting to find a craft to get started; to do all the silly things in; to find out if the sailing life is something you want; and most of all, if it is the life that ‘the mate’ can fall in love with: oft as not it is man and wife or partner (being politically correct). So often the man jumps in forgetting the fact that the ‘other half’ isn’t so keen or has reservations… Here some nurturing may be needed… Yes I know, sometimes it is the other way round, but it’s less often!

Outside the usual glossy looking sales outlets you will find that many of these craft require a little tender loving care and attention, but with a little work a splendid little ship can be had… I started out this way, many moons ago. I taught my mate to sail and from there she gained a love of salt, marsh & mud … the rest is history.

So here are a selection of craft seen during my visit … in the yard a number had ‘sold’ signs attached and some of these pictured may well have found new homes, with an excited crew getting down to some of that tlca and looking forward to the spring…

Dinghies Galore… Andy Seedhouse always has a collection of handy craft on his ‘shop’ front. Most seemed ready to go, if a little ‘rough’ round the edges, but nothing a bit of elbow work couldn’t fix in the winter…

Tarka, a carvel built mahogany long keeled sloop, awaiting a new lover… She looked sound enough.

Alongside Tarka was a Vivacity 24 – this again should find a fun loving young family aboard…

A double ended Cromer Crab boat for the more traditional day sailor…

A Leisure 22 – quite old now, but a capable river cruiser…

Here is a little sports type boat, with accommodation fior 2 + 2 children, say… Ideal for pottering in the river learning the ropes and large enough to take down to the Backwaters in good weather…

This lovely clinker motor boat looked quite fetching, provided there aren’t major leakage problems she would likely take up…

Your boating need not start up at the top of the range – marinas are full of those. The RYA and marina organisations are having to give time and effort to get some of those static craft moving, laudable, but a sad reflection too… Don’t join them!

Look at: http://www.apolloduck.co.uk/ There are others too… And yards to wander around where that little gem is waiting for you…

Happy sailing.

A Happy New Year to all my readers too…

The Essex based charity that works with disadvantaged, less able and socially excluded young people, as well as the wider maritime industry, is about to achieve its first aim in the furtherance of its excellent community work – that is the build of a new spritsail barge hull. This, once fitted out, will allow whole year round work.

Watch this space: http://www.seachangesailingtrust.org.uk/

Talking to Don Ramsay, Trust Administrator, recently, he said,”We’re very excited about this … a press release will follow the formal signing of the hull build contract…” he added, “I can say that the new hull will be built in England … upon completion she will be towed to Maldon for outfitting and rigging…”

Don also made the point that building the barge was the first phase of the pathway and that and the second phase of rigging her would not get in the way of the Trust’s core work with their clients. The barge funding and core work funding are kept separate. Core work is largely supported by many individuals and large organisations keenly interested in the Trust’s concepts.

This is an exciting time for past clients, Trust members, patrons and supporters.

Some while ago I wrote an article which was published by Anglia Afloat last autumn. Within, I wrote of meeting a returning barge with its young crew. Aboard were two lads, both had had huge problems, yet working through the programme, with returning periods afloat, achieving joint aims with the barge, they had turned themselves around – this is what it is all about.

The crew after a week running a barge without use of her engine (apart from last leg up to Maldon’s Hythe, mooring up… The crew were real chuffed!

Talking to Don about this, he said, “Yes, one of those two still comes along for a trip, as a hand, but he’s moved on now. He has a steady job and is happy…” He added, “It sums up our aim … to help people go off, stand on their own feet and succeed in whatever they choose to do … the other lad did too…” As have many more people.

All gathered for the post trip wash-up. This is an important aspect and both the barge’s crew and clients take part… I was particularly taken by watching and listening to this activity.

Don went on to tell me about a young lady who’s aim is now to qualify as a barge skipper. I wish her well, both in her journey for well being and her personal goal.

You can help this young lady by visiting the Trust’s web site and donating someone a Christmas gift, perhaps to yourself even…

God Bless.

After my piece about the spritsail barge Dawn and her tiller steering, I received a communication from Gerard Swift, a key member of the trust caring for the barge. He kindly offered to talk me through what the trust were doing and to look at the tiller itself.

Previous blog: http://nickardley.com/ditch-crawler-visits-maldon-to-see-dawn/

Today I went back to Maldon…

Currently the barge is berthed at the Hythe, however, she has been assigned what is known as the Grid Iron berth astern of the barge blocks adjacent to ‘Cooks’ yard. This will be her new home base when not away sailing.

Dawn with the Kitty outside of her at Maldon.

The Dawn was the last full sized spritsail barge to be built with tiller steering, and considering that when she was built in 1897, wheel steering had become the common form used for some twenty years or so. It had always been Gordon Swift’s dream to return the barge to as built. He wanted to remove her engine too… (Gordon was Gerard’s father and was the man that rescued Dawn from Heybridge Basin in mid 1960s.).

So, finding it difficult in todays charter market, the trust revisited its aims (other than keeping her sailing) to find a role in which good use could be made of her. The key now is heritage. As a heritage vessel she needs in all outward looks, to look the part.

Looking down Dawn’s deck. Note there are no skylights to ‘despoil’ the working look…

The next stage is to remove her steel spars and replace with wood. Some Oregon pine may well be called upon here… The engines for she has a pair with shafts under each quarter, as Gerard says are likely to stay: once fitted the MCA may not wish them to be removed under the rules governing these vessels. Gerard would dearly like the engines removed though… The rig, when altered, will not have such a huge area as at present – her typical ‘stackie’ high aspect sprit will be reinstated too.

Top of a ‘standard’ brail winch – this one is aboard the George Smeed.

Around the decks the coasting barge brail winch will be removed and a normal type fitted.

Down in the main hold – she is ‘swept’ from forward to aft bulkhead.

With the above decks changes, the fo’c’sle is to be returned to standard barge fit: it currently serves as the galley… In the aft cabin, one bunk (The mate’s) was not refitted upon rebuild: half the area is given over to a chart table and instruments … this will have to stay! Gerard said that lights and other items such as knobs and locks will be returned to ‘Victorian’ items that were standard in the 1890s…

The tiller…

The rudder was made and fitted to the barge around 30 years ago. The alterations were carried out by the boat/barge yard at St Osyths, where the engineless flyer EDME is based and owned.

The mizzen mast will be stepped on the top of the blade aft of the rudder shaft. The steelwork is currently being manufactured.

The tiller design came from old photographs and, fortunately, the tiller that came out of the Eva Annie, of 1878. The remains of this vessel sit off the Billet PH at Leigh-on-Sea. The tiller is in a museum in Gravesend, Kent… One of the things that has proved difficult to picture is where a restraining bar to keep tiller and rudder together was fitted. Currently it is atop, but is being refitted on underside.

Carving in memory of Gordon Swift…

A lovely touch has been carried out by the tiller’s craftsmen too: the initials of Gerard’s father have been carved on the upper face at the rudder end… I thought this was wonderful. Gerard, I’m sure, had a hand in this.

Currently the barge is coated in a muted scheme to reflect a period of mourning for Gordon’s sad loss this year. This is quite traditional. My mother told me that she found that the May Flower’s quarter boards (white – usually – upper section of aft rail) had once been painted a dark blue – this denoted the death of an owner, when, she was never able to ascertain. It may have been Clement Parker of Bradwell, a long time owner.

The Dawn Trust can be found here: http://www.dawn1897.com/

I wish them well…

On a visit to my good ship, currently being worked on over in Faversham, I spotted one of Alan’s staff, Alison, working away during her lunch break… She was adding a plank or two to what looked like a large model of a sailing fishing craft of the late 1800s.

Alison by her model…

In very short time Alison soon explained all … the ‘model’ is a cradle for her sister’s expected new arrival…

Looking down on the boat’s upturned hull it clearly becomes obvious that this is not a ‘boat’… The beam is half her length – not a boat standard, unless you stray into modern cat hulls, etc.

Construction is in the modern screw and glue method (Same as the Barrow Boats – remember them?) with the fastenings being removed and filled. Alison has used ply planking. The keel is laminated… The care and attention to detail given is an ethos for what goes on in Alan’s yard – it is to be commended.

Bow view…

Close up of the little boat’s hull… The rockers were placed for my benefit. They will be glued, prior to completion.

Alison told me that the hull is partly derived from the beach type craft that once predominated, especially along the channel coast. It is an own design … maybe here lies a diversion for her future career?

If interested: contact Alison at Alan Staley’s Yard, Chambers Wharf, Faversham… Not sure if she’ll thank me for this!

I’d have loved one for our boy… So would my mate!

Oh yes, I went to see Dawn, the sweet little stackie barge that is, currently berthed in Maldon…

Actually I went to see the ladies in the Salty Dogs Christmas Shop to sign a clutch of books: customers have been asking for it. At the same time I needed to visit the chandlers near the Hythe, being a Friday I treated the mate to a lunch at a very nice cafe in Wenlock Way – lovely.

The Dawn has been fitted with a tiller to her rudder head. The mizzen will be stepped onto the rudder once a step and iron work are fitted. The spar was usually stepped to one side, but it may be set on top of the blade … all will become apparent when done.

Two views of Dawn’s new tiller. It looks as if the old rudder (only a few years old…) has been reshaped with new cheeks added. Her name is carved in the squared sides towards the rudder head… Very sweet.

I’m not sure why the Dawn Trust want to return the barge to as built, well it isn’t: she’s far more sheer than then, as if she is permanently loaded – that is my view… I find this project a little like the preservation of old buildings fixed in a moment in time from whatever age by the likes of the National Trust. And too the way buildings are forbidden changes … they evolved and should continue to evolve. However, I like the look!

For an up-date to this see: http://nickardley.com/ditch-crawler-goes-on-board-the-spritsail-barge-dawn/

Den Phillips and her merry crew – a handful of hard working ladies – have managed to ‘build’ a fine shop again for the festive period.

It is situated in Maldon, down the high street fairly close to the town car park by Wenlock Way.

Address: 103, High Street, CM9 5EP.

It is full of fascinating local art and craft goods. There is a good selection of books from around the east coast, mine included. They have the last of the available copies of Mudlarking… Available too from Amberley as an e-book.

Yesterday’s invitation…

I went along yesterday at Den’s request: a customer wanted a book signed…

Interestingly, I met a past Finesse 24 owner too – he’d had Mackerel Sky many moons ago – he doesn’t sail now, it seems, and has turned his talents to art, painting ‘after’ Vic Ellis. He has a number of pictures on dispalay for sale.

Inside Salty Dogs…

Den’s fantastic east coast calendar is as beuatiful as ever – ours is now waiting to be hung on New Year’s Eve, can’t wait!

The shop is open until the 31st January – beetle along if in the area: it’s worth a browse…

The rotting hull of the Cornish Fruit Schooner, Rhoda Mary, has sat on the edge of a Hoo beach for well over 70 years. She was built in Restronguet Creek, Falmouth in 1868, and came up to the Medway for conversion into a ‘yacht’ and like many of those projects it failed to materialise. When a boy, with my siblings, she provided a bit of a play ground!

My parents visited the vessel’s remains in 1951 during their honeymoon cruise aboard their spritsail barge May Flower. Several pictures appear to have been taken…

One of the ship’s anchors was ‘rescued’ by my father and it became one of the May Flower’s mooring points at Whitewall Creek, Twinney and then at Callows Wharf, Upchurch. I don’t doubt it is still sitting in the mud beyond the wharf where a house barge now rests.

Much to my surprise a communication winged its way to me from the Medway & Swale Boating Association asking me for comment about the good ship’s restoration proposals. Apparently a Cornish organisation is intending to dig her out, float her onto a barge and take her home for a rebuild… Never say die, they always say in the barging and smack world … but this is a much larger undertaking.

I found a web site discussing this vessel and others, see:

http://www.frickers.co.uk/art/blog/2007/05/08/the-story-behind-rhoda-mary-and-katie-cluett-a-dispute-settled/

The hull of the Rhoda Mary as seen in October 1951.

Her digging out and floating is planned for the spring of 2015, so, if successful, she’ll no longer be the ‘wonder’ she has been to all those that have passed her by!

This is something I have been dreading (my family say) since it was first mooted. It has been on the cards for a little while: this summer we found that two of Whimbrel’s keel bolts either side of the centre plate box had very minor weeps … bubbles of ferous oxide. It first came to light when some intimate items belonging to the mate were found with ‘iron’ stains on them … now knowing she is but flesh and blood, I looked where I feared!

How the ‘intimates’ ended up on the floor, we’ll not discuss … but clearly what we had to do was discuss the problem…

Making a summer return to one of our favourite ports of call, Faversham, leaving out the little matter of the mate’s spoilt smalls, we asked Alan Staley, an esteemed shipwright, mast maker and boat builder to come and take a look…

The main problem was this: on one side of the centre plate casing, two bolts had their capping wooden plugs partly under the casing side – clearly not a job for me, even though I have replaced several bolts during the past decade.

Alan, after rubbing his chin, looked at the pair of us (me and the mate that is) and said, “… be no problem for us … but when would you like me to do it?” Before either of us could answer, he added with a grin, “knowing you keep the boat in use…”

The mate, surely being flippant, said, firmly, “Yesterday…!”

Well, all of that was several months away now and the time came for Whimbrel’s delivery to Alan’s yard.

I’d booked a crew to take the mate’s place: she was to drive over to Faversham in the car for loading gear and bodies into for the return to Essex. This last Sunday had been planned as departure day … we didn’t go, opting for Monday and Tuesday – Good Decision: we enjoyed glorious weather on Monday with yesterday being grey, dry with a little thin sunshine.

The mate saw us off, her face puckering as I pulled away from the boat’s berth…

The wind was light, supposedly from the north-west, but it seemed more southerly as we carved a diagonal course across to the Medway via the Grain Flats  – my crew commented on never seeing that shore from such a close point! Entering the Medway with the flood still with us we hit 7 knots. Medway

VTS warbled about a ship heading up past ‘the wreck’ bound for Ridham Dock, which is just past the bridge, with an ETA of around 1325. Could we make it? We hit the jackpot because we kept the onward rush and hit the change of tide, keeping the eastward flow that occurs from Long Point during the early ebb. We reached the bridge with the ship … and followed through hard on her heels. Another ship was waiting for her to pass through and clear the channel, so we actually had plenty of time.

In close company … we saved an hour here!

Reaching Elmley Ferry, a soft northerly breeze was felt as it ruffled the water around us. All about us the water seemed to be coated in Brents and shellduck. Along the edge of Elmley Hill there were a throng of oystercatchers awaiting the uncovering of their favoured feeding ground of shell, stone and seaweed that covers the shallows along the shore.

Oystercatchers galore…

Up went the sails. Our speed dropped to a more sedate 4 knots, falling again to a little more than the tide’s ebb speed by the time the scrubbing Dock at Uplees was approaching. The engine was kicked back into life … we wanted to clear the wreck of a trawler that has sunk (and not yet been lifted) immediately to the east of the little trot of moorings here.

Gently through the Swale…

A Medway Ports notice to mariners covers this wreck, but, it appears to sit inside the two yellow wreck buoys marking it. Another yellow bouy is attached to one of the ship’s masts and a withie on the other. BEWARE!!

A vacant buoy was found amongst the myriad of moorings along the Harty Ferry (Oare) shore.

We were blessed with a glorious sunset. The glassy surface took on the profusion of colours in the sky. It was majestic. Along tide line a heron strutted, fishing for supper… Below, the Blakes stove was warming the cabin, in time, sufficiently enough for comfort. We retreated below and tea was taken…

Sunset … then tea was served.

The mate had sent us off with a trial batch of ‘festive’ scones. These contained, cinnamon, nutmeg and chopped ginger with some of the syrup… “Yummy” my crew said, grinning – this was really a mid week treat, for both.

Later the crew was treated to one of Whimbrel’s classic dishes. Chicken cooked in cider, onions, a little garlic and a few carrots. I’d remembered the bay leaf too… As the succulent scents assailed our nostrils we enjoyed a sherry and some mashed sardines in a tangy tomato sauce on biscuits – ah yes, we certainly lived well. The sauce, of our main dish, thickened a little, was heavenly…

An easterly was forecasted, bt we enjoyed a very quiet night, a night in a thousand, perhaps… It was a little chilly out, freezing ashore we heard later, but so dark and the sky was star filled.

A late breakfast, at around 0930 was enjoyed, and after clearing away a sail was decided upon whilst awaiting the tide to toddle up to Faversham… We tacked positively against a growing easterly and the flood tide, out past the Receptive Buoy and further towards Sand End, turning a mile or so past the creek’s spit – to which we soon raced back to. I was handed the tiller, though almost hard on the wind the girl was really sailing herself!

Reaching up the creek – just before the troublesome section…

My crew had only once before entered the creek, motoring some way up and anchoring for tea before making an escape… Sailing in was something new! The engine was needed, however, to help lift us round the confounded undulating east/west leg though. Then the mainsail was stowed and we continued onwards under jib alone, the wind lessening but still ruffling the autumn tinted grasses along the edges… It was along this leg, before the seawage works, a hail came across the saltings from walkers on the wall – a fellow Finesse 24 owner, Grebe, Faversham based. Earlier I’d had a text from Josie’s crew – out walking the dog. Josie (F24, sail number 63) is ‘our’ immediate sister!

The crew watching from a good vantage point…

We reached along past Iron Wharf, where all sail was dispensed with … turning the boat by nosing the bank we were soon in the gloop at the entrance to Alan’s hole.

The mate was there to greet us. Bless her!

An hour after arrival, Whimbrel was high and dry upon the Staley trolley!

Whimbrel on her way out…

The mast was due to come off today and she would be run into the shed. Yesterday I said to one of Alan’s staff, a lady, “This is the first time the boat has been back to a yard since she was launched by Alan Platt nearly 32 years ago…” There were several ‘gob-smacked’ faces around! The lady’s family once owned La Finesse, a Finesse 24, for a number of years – so she and Alan know the boats. Incidentally, La Finesse went to Pembrokeshire and was renamed Enfys…

High and Dry and stripped of her sails!

Oh yes, I added, “You’re not keeping her for long…” I plan to sail her home in February…

My thanks must be added to Richard, the crew, who loved the trip and is so looking forward to the return in February…