Classic wooden speedboat build , sink, search for, recovery and rebuild.

It's alive

😀

I have to give a big shout out to West Systems epoxy I am supper surprised how well it protected the timber its like it was when I coated it first. 👏👏

👏

Getting there, top all done with a rough sanding 80 grit.

I thought I might get away with removing the fiberglass but there was too many dull spots that were hard to get out without hitting the cloth turning it white, coming off easily enough with a heat gun and scraper.

Like pealing an orange there is a certain satisfaction getting the skin off in one go 😊

I built a frame to lift the boat and flip it over.

😄 cheers sorted now 👍 and just a picture showing the moisture coming out of the planking once the epoxy is removed.

The big flip 😁 I made a wheel to fit the bow and using a pulley wheel at both ends I was able to rotate her.

Sanding done top and sides.

So here is how I think it all went down 😉 I'm sure most of you have been in a butt clenching moment when hitting a big wave in your V bottom boats that cut into the wave as it comes back down well imagine doing that in a flat bottom boat 😬 adding to that most of you will have your engine on the transom where I have nearly a ton of engine coming down to a compete stop putting so much force on the motor stringer that it broke some frames this in turn forced down a joint in the plywood and this like putting your hand out a car window and turning it sideways was ripped off by the moving water, at the time I thought it was just the wave that swamped the boat but now I feel that I was just sitting so low that the wave just came over me.

A little story done on her by epoxycraft 😊

https://epoxycraft.com/news/8-years-beneath-the-waves/?fbclid=IwAR3VhlkP73_ea079SHVZouFcB9FB3ZJlA-SSQztmwHDOmXT9BODeXGtXddI

I will be reinforcing the frames and maybe adding a few more might even put a tractor tube in the bow 😉 there is not much you can do with the weight of a V8 slapping down on a wave its a huge amount of force, I have also gained alot more respect for lough Ree over the past 8 years and have a much better idea of how quickly things can change. Live and learn "every day is an Old's Cool day"

Thanks and sorry for the slow updates, it turns out that after suffering years of abuse my wrists and fingers have given up on me and awarded me with rheumatoid arthritis, I was getting injections into the joints and that eased things for a bit but it flared back up again, I have just started injecting myself each week so hopefully this will help.

Im still doing a few bits and finding reminders.

The steering cable was a real pig to get out.

My workshop is getting a little cramped.

I had a very hard time getting the roll & pleated fabric for the seats I could find it alright but getting it posted to Ireland was a nightmare , just got it this week, removing the old staples was a very painful job for me but got there in the end. I will keep on going as long as I can but it will be at a very slow pace but then again I have no time limit.

Still potting away slowly but surely, the back of the seat was the only part of the boat that didn't come back its still floating around the Ree. The fabric was hard enough to find I had to get it from the USA in the end paying more for the postage than the fabric 🙄 also made a new panel for the starter switch.

A little presents for my girl to help steer her in the right direction 😁 have a great Christmas scallywags.

Welcome back 😀 hopefully it won't be too much longer before I can put an end to this story 🙄 maybe when she is done I will have her blown up in the next James Bond movie and that will be that, depending on how many pieces she is in 😉😁

Stained the sides and center board with Grain Guard black ebony then sealed it with WEST SYSTEM Epoxy leveled it off and gave it 3 coats of Epifanes pp vernis extra, I'm not going to varnish it till I'm finished climbing in and out of her but she should be sealed and protected now.

I left a few of the black marks "war wounds"