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Blog 6 - The first refit work

Summary of my first weeks work on the yacht of my two week break from work.

I have removed all the lining and furnishings in the aft (back) end bellow the water line. As I expected there is some corrosion, but it’s superficial and not bad. It was most defiantly the right decision to remove everything bellow the water line for inspection, blasting and repainting.

Owen from International Paint came by to look over the yacht on Monday gave me invaluable advice.  He also gave me confidence in the pre-existing paint coat. Following Owens visit I have less grit blasting and painting to do than I originally thought. Owen told me to build up the edges of the paint finish which can be left with only thin paint film from rolling or spraying. This is where rust can start from a chip to a thin paint coating from a knock or something being dropped. Owen organised my paint supply for the interior which I collected today. I look forward to working with Owen and International Paint in the future for the exterior refinishes.

Tuesday I met with the Naval Architect. Peter spent the good part of the afternoon with me going over the yacht. The main focus was on the rudder design and that is what I primarily called Peter to come and look at. I got a lot more than what I bargained for with Peter and his 50 years experience. He sees things that we don’t such as a feature the original designer intended to be there but the builder left out. Although sometimes technically a little over my head, I greatly enjoyed the time I spent with Peter and look forward to his contribution to the project. Within 24 hours he has ran calculations for various speeds to establish that the stainless steel ruder post is strong enough to with stand modification. This will mean if Peter can modify the current ruder that we will potentially have better sailing and steerage than the yacht has had.

If like me, you have ever been employed to work on a project, you were there all day getting your hands dirty, hot, sweaty, getting the odd cut and scratch, maybe whacking your hand with the hammer. And you see the project leader or the boss come by to drop off supplies or have a meeting with someone while being nice and clean. You feel envious or maybe resentment towards that person.

Today I was that person that you never see doing the dirty work. But it totally sucked as I was driving around all day or stuck in traffic in Freo. To pick up supplies and to ask people why the exhaust system goes from 2” to 3”, which way the water trap should go, then where to run the exhaust now the transom has been extended. At the end of the day I had to way through the information and come out with the safest, time and cost effective solution. And no work was actually fiscally completed on the yacht. I now prefer the cuts and scratches and feeling good looking back on a job well done than bloody driving around all day stressed out in traffic!

Tomorrow will be collecting the last pieces needed for the grit blasting equipment and oxyacetylene bottles. Then engineering work will be completed in the form of putting small holes in each of the stringers (see photos they look like steel ribs inside) for any water sloshed around to drain back to the bilge, reducing the chanced of corrosion. Next will be cutting out the holes for the exhaust and removing the stern tube for replacement. All the engineering (metal cutting and welding) work is best done before grit blasting and painting. This stops metal shaving being left behind on the new paint work and those shaving corroding through the paint. And all painted surface will be tied into the new paint system.

See the photos  Aft End Linings Removed

See video Aft End Interior Linings Removed

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