The final push
January - April 2024
By the turn of the year we are on to the final work needed before Raybel can be floated out of the dry dock - and back into the water after three years of intensive conservation work.
On the 12th of February, our surveyor Toby Lester came for a preliminary look around and to advise us what actions were still needed. In short order, this meant filling up all the holes where the drying up planks had shrunk, either with a wooden insert or a plywood patch and lots of expanding foam. As the hull absorbs water – plimms up – the planks will expand to make a nice tight hull. Similarly old fixing holes in the bottom were filled with epoxy resin and sawdust mix. These all had to be sanded off to make the hull as smooth as possible.
The horse
Our last big wood delivery was a piece of solid oak 20” x 9” x 22’ long. John Hall worked on it to make a beautiful curved octagonal main horse using just chainsaw planer, circular saw, planer and sander. Mounted onto the chocks and with new metal straps holding down it is a thing of beauty.
Hot pitch to the bow
At the front of the boat, Shipwright Tim Goldsack had constructed a heavy metal framework which connected the bow timbers to the steel keelson and massively increased the strength of the bow. This created a number of compartments which would have gathered water and caused a rust and rot hazard. They are not connected to the limber holes that run throughout the boat and therefore water would be trapped. The answer was to completely fill the area with hot pitch which would make a water resistant area. Traditional pitch is hard to find as it is no longer used on building sites, but a supplier of traditional roof products in Canterbury was able to provide 200 kg of the stuff which was melted in a tin bucket on a Calor Gas burner.
Kent Sea Scouts help
In early March we had a visit from the Kent Scouts, who started the process of applying the black tar varnish and having a darned good tidy up of the yard. It was a pleasure to have them on board and we appreciate their support.
On the 2nd of April, a storm blew through and took off half of our cover. It’s the second time it’s happened and as these big covers are £600 each, we decided not to replace it.
From then on Raybel was half in view revealing the lovely paint job of the bows. The dried dock was cleared out in a volunteer weekend and a second coat of black tar varnish applied.
… and final refloat prep
Finally, before we attempt the re-float, the existing sea cocks must be inspected, and three new skin fittings made through the new timber side planking.
Three bilge pumps will remain on constant alert to keep Raybel dry. Each has a battery back up in case mains power is lost. Then the shipwrights can start the process of watering the boat - pumping in creekwater to make the timbers swell, squeezing up any cracks and making a water tight hull. We will soon see how effective Raybel’s restored hull is at keeping in the water, and therefore, keeping out of the water when it floats.
Just have to remove the cover and supporting framework, and the scaffolding around Raybel, and remove the gates of the Drydock, ready for our float dates on the high tide of the 8th and 9th of May.
Fingers crossed for us please!
Images: Raybel with cover blown off by April ‘24 storm; filling the last of the gaps between hull planking; hull with new coat of black tar varnich; Kent sea scouts on the wharf; and painting; , volunteer call-ut crew April /24; directors Chris and Vanessa make finishing touches to the transom; view from the stern ahead of the refloat
