Nereid in August.
The 16th of August and I'm back at RFBYC again.
The shed is empty and the space where Nereid lived is bare and almost hollow... sure there's the odd box lying around, but the Thornycroft river launch is no longer there.
She's been taken out and is sitting out in the open for the first time for a while. The shipwright Leon, is working away to prepare her for the eventual return to the water and he's of the opinion that she'll go back into the river tomorrow. He's working on the Samson post, replacing the old with a new piece of oak that he had at hand. Its not a hard job, but its actually giving the boat a secure point to hang a mooring line from. Then there were the fittings for the bowsprit and the stem post, just lying to the side, so a quick look at them was worth the time.
Outside, the reflections off the hull drew admiring glances from members walking through the yards and some came up to tell me of their stories of her. How she travelled to Rottnest every Easter and she was used by various members of the family post war to either follow the fleets on the river or act as a start boat for them. Apparently she served the Cadets, the Dragons and the Flying 15's during her time. She even took the Cadets for trips over to Garden Island and was a frequent visitor to Rockingham during the post Christmas regatta at the Cruising Yacht Club. All of them had fond memories of her and described her as part of the soul of the club.
She may go into the water tomorrow as I've not been advised as yet, but Leon did say that he wanted to check the hull and through hull penetrations before she went in. So maybe I'll be down at the club on Friday.
The shed is empty and the space where Nereid lived is bare and almost hollow... sure there's the odd box lying around, but the Thornycroft river launch is no longer there.
She's been taken out and is sitting out in the open for the first time for a while. The shipwright Leon, is working away to prepare her for the eventual return to the water and he's of the opinion that she'll go back into the river tomorrow. He's working on the Samson post, replacing the old with a new piece of oak that he had at hand. Its not a hard job, but its actually giving the boat a secure point to hang a mooring line from. Then there were the fittings for the bowsprit and the stem post, just lying to the side, so a quick look at them was worth the time.
Outside, the reflections off the hull drew admiring glances from members walking through the yards and some came up to tell me of their stories of her. How she travelled to Rottnest every Easter and she was used by various members of the family post war to either follow the fleets on the river or act as a start boat for them. Apparently she served the Cadets, the Dragons and the Flying 15's during her time. She even took the Cadets for trips over to Garden Island and was a frequent visitor to Rockingham during the post Christmas regatta at the Cruising Yacht Club. All of them had fond memories of her and described her as part of the soul of the club.
She may go into the water tomorrow as I've not been advised as yet, but Leon did say that he wanted to check the hull and through hull penetrations before she went in. So maybe I'll be down at the club on Friday.
The 14th of August brings us good news.
Nereid will be shifting out of the shed shortly.
As I walked into the shed this morning, you could see that the area was cleared back and that they were putting the last touches on the hull. Shifting the stands so that the hull can be completely antifouled. Putting the mountings on the through the hull penetrations and I guess they'll be putting the steering wheel to rights as well. However that's a job that can be done later on.
I noticed that on top of the cabin can be found most of the gear that belongs in the hull, so maybe the refit of the interior wont be as hard as I thought it might have been. To the other important items on the boat, I heard a whisper that the motor is to be done up and kept with the boat. I guess that its not the original, but its a decision that will cause ramifications into the future. I hope that they are to restore the little galley that sat between the main cabin and the forward section (opposite what I presume to be where the head was located).
I've asked the shipwrights to let me know when she is to a) move out of the shed and just as importantly b) when she slips into the water. Its just half an hour from the other side of the river and I'm happy to make the dash.
Nereid will be shifting out of the shed shortly.
As I walked into the shed this morning, you could see that the area was cleared back and that they were putting the last touches on the hull. Shifting the stands so that the hull can be completely antifouled. Putting the mountings on the through the hull penetrations and I guess they'll be putting the steering wheel to rights as well. However that's a job that can be done later on.
I noticed that on top of the cabin can be found most of the gear that belongs in the hull, so maybe the refit of the interior wont be as hard as I thought it might have been. To the other important items on the boat, I heard a whisper that the motor is to be done up and kept with the boat. I guess that its not the original, but its a decision that will cause ramifications into the future. I hope that they are to restore the little galley that sat between the main cabin and the forward section (opposite what I presume to be where the head was located).
I've asked the shipwrights to let me know when she is to a) move out of the shed and just as importantly b) when she slips into the water. Its just half an hour from the other side of the river and I'm happy to make the dash.
Its the 6th of August and there's a gleam to the hull that indicates that the shipwrights have reached that final stage of their work.
Wearing a modesty skirt to prevent drops running onto the antifoul, the hull has had eight coats already and the chance of one or two more, but you can see the difference. The new timber gloss formulae allows them to apply up to four coats in a day and the result is there. Its a devil to photograph as the gloss puts on a real shine, but you deal with what you see. Leon and the boys are busy on other boats as well and the work at the shipwrights is running hot with a couta boat and a gaffer under way as well.
It appears that David Hobbs has been industrious as well with over 40 litres of Everdure painted on the inside of the boat. It essentially is preserving the timber, old and new and will seal the hull thoroughly. But you now look at the superstructure and think, there's another six months work as well and the fit out of the interior will have to be as good as the hull. Still Nereid will deserve it. She's one hundred years plus and the generation of Hobbs that care for her now have given her a fresh lease on life that will allow the next generation of guardians to enjoy her existence.
Wearing a modesty skirt to prevent drops running onto the antifoul, the hull has had eight coats already and the chance of one or two more, but you can see the difference. The new timber gloss formulae allows them to apply up to four coats in a day and the result is there. Its a devil to photograph as the gloss puts on a real shine, but you deal with what you see. Leon and the boys are busy on other boats as well and the work at the shipwrights is running hot with a couta boat and a gaffer under way as well.
It appears that David Hobbs has been industrious as well with over 40 litres of Everdure painted on the inside of the boat. It essentially is preserving the timber, old and new and will seal the hull thoroughly. But you now look at the superstructure and think, there's another six months work as well and the fit out of the interior will have to be as good as the hull. Still Nereid will deserve it. She's one hundred years plus and the generation of Hobbs that care for her now have given her a fresh lease on life that will allow the next generation of guardians to enjoy her existence.