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…