The paint job - last bits

The wooden structure of the cratch (at the bow of the boat) has had it's second coat of wood dye and is looking like new!


It will have a light sand and third coat tomorrow and should be ready for monday's assemblage in time to move out of the tunnel.


The nose of the boat has had it's beauty treatment (much to Leigh's dislike) with a spot of orange. Well at least we will be seen coming in tunnels!


And I've painted the life ring, just one last red coat to do...


The mushroom vents are back on, cream as the roof...


And today Leigh and I gave the stern and gunwhales a good coat of black gloss...


It has been a hard week of work, up early and finishing late at night. The boat looks even better in the real and we have given it a new life. Our painter has done a superb job and we hope to employ him again in the future.

As with boats there is always more to do and we are reminded of this by a marina worker quoting 'BOAT' Bring Out Another Thousand! But we've done the major painting and will finish off the final bits sooner than soon (bulkheads, final gloss coating on cabin sides, bow area) and this paintwork should last a good few years with occasional treatment when areas are scratched.

We will be sadly leaving Springwood Haven on Monday, it has been a delight here in this lovely place, and will decide where we shall go just as we leave the marina. And so the adventure continues...

The paint job - poly tunnel love

All has been going well. Whilst Nigel has been working hard at tidying up the body of the boat we have been working on odd jobs too.

The batteries have been on charge as whilst we are in the polytunnel we cannot run the engine and so cannot charge the batteries to use the internal lights and water pump. Fortunately we are plugged into shoreline electricity and have 24hour access - one definite perk in terms of marinas.

We begun our work at the stern, sanding away old flaking paintwork and rust around the railing...


and chiseling off paint on the deck.


This was a team-work effort where lots of elbow grease came in handy.


After priming the stern railings,


I have been painting it up in a semi-gloss orange to compliment our already vibrant colour scheme.


This is how it looks full colour, notice the black uprights too!


The edges of the windows have been taped up to allow for a clean painted edge...


The cabin sides are looking fabulous after a coat of primer...


and are sanded down for the next layer.


It is this gradual process of careful brush layering and sanding off that builds up to the mirror finish.

The doors have had a good coat of gloss, showing lovely reflections shimmering on it.


and the hatch too...


The chimney holder is due to be painted up in black gloss and we are having to consider a new chimney as the old one has become damaged from the heavy levering off before entering the poly tunnel.


This photo shows the bulkhead at the bow, with the 'mouse ears' paintwork still currently in burgundy. The plan is to work on these ourselves (with some paid help!) at a slightly later date.


The roof has had a coat of non-slip paint in cream which is practical all round.


And Nigel has removed the mushroom vents to give them a coat of paint...


Leigh has been working on the wooden structure of the cratch cover, sanding down and varnishing.


And we've managed to complete some odd jobs such as securing the lid to the gas locker and sealing off the wood at the stern doors to make it water-tight.


In addition we have lined up the gunwhales with masking tape ready to apply the non-slip layering.


We have already done this at the stern, a nice layer of primer dusted with silver sand, swept away and primed again ready for a coat of gloss paint...

The paint job - first coat

We returned to Springwood Haven today full of butterflies of excitement and anticipation.

We have had some different experiences with marina's and boat builders. It has felt good finding a marina who seem to do a grand job, make a welcoming environment and have reasonable rates.


Nigel is the decorator and having seen other boats he has painted (with a mirror finish I might add) we were well pleased to leave the boat in his hands.


Already he had grind down the boat to bare steel (the roof and cabin sides) and applied the first layer of paint.


The blue is fresh and vibrant and the cream gives her an elegance. Farewell burgandy! Thank goodness! Already she is looking like new.


We will have a matching hatch in blue and the side hatches including hatch roof is well in keeping too.


How wonderful! We both had beaming smiles taking in the 65foot of crisp charm.



The bulkheads which are still in burgundy/cream at either end will be tackled by Leigh and I at a later date. They are easy access and not showing signs of rust so will be manageable to work on.

It's evening now and we are back on the boat in the poly tunnel minus little Delia who has rented herself a nice little place to stay until the end of the week. They serve her tuna and treats throughout the day however she has complained about the other residents, particularly opposite and next door. I think it's the fact that they are feline too. Still at least she isn't in amongst the dog's kennels over the way. I do wonder how she will be after leaving boarding school... I mean borstal! No, sorry, boarding cattery, flattery, flat. Her cat's flat, Delia's flat.

The paint job - slippin' away!

The day of leaving the slipway was amazing. With a newly blacked hull, smiling counter and straight prop' our boat was gradually hoisted backwards into the water.


It is in fact a system of using a lever that sets the hoist in motion as you can see a marina guy doing in the background. This cranking allows the chain to turn gradually round the motor, letting the hoist roll down the tracks towards the water.


We decided to not be onboard during the move and I am glad we stayed on dry land.


The angle of the boat was a bit distressing to see.


Our air cooled engine was powered to the full to keep the vents and exhaust only just above the water level.


She looked happier back in the water.


And as she came completely off the runners she sat nicely in the water ready to glide into the poly tunnel for painting.


Just before she went all the way in, the chimney had to come off. It needed a strong force to get it off - All that winter burning certainly made it a tough job. Thank goodness we have the professionals doing all this!


Here she is stretched across the marina in all her glum burgundy.


In she came...


ready for her treatment.


And so we said farewell to our home for a week away whilst Nigel begins the paint job.


He had already started sealing up the windows as we left with a suitcase.


Until next week...

The paint job - counter and rudder

The curves of the counter were completed yesterday and the bitumen painted up to the edge of the red to protect the area sat low in the water. They are like two big smiles.


We have had the rudder completed by cutting off and straightening up the tip,


it has been nicely welded back together and is straight as a die.


The new rudder cup and plate have been made up and welded on...


And it has all been given a nice covering over with bitumen.


The rear end looks lovely jubbly.


Whilst the worst of the grinding down to steel is taking place (the next job) we are relocating to a luxury cottage so anticipate more news about the work in a week or so.