MiToS re-built/fit- versilcraft Mystery43

[MapisM]

Geez V., I had missed your last updates.
Your efforts and commitment are amazing...

I fully agree that anodizing is the way to go for any alu bits.
But I also had the opportunity to talk about that with a specialist a few years ago, and fwiw his suggestions were as follows:
1) to sandblast the items (rather than use any chemicals or brushing), with fine grain to keep the surface as smooth as possible;
2) to anodize with no colours at all - hence keeping the natural alu colour. According to him, not only this grants the more longlasting finishing for alu items known to mankind, but avoids any potential colour differences if you should treat various items at different times.

All the best for the deck job, that's definitely something I wouldn't want to need done on my boat!

 

[vas]

OK,

finished the flybridge patch yesterday. Straight forward no problems:

George did an interesting job in creating plugs for the 4 round holes in the sidewall (where the chunk of wood supporting the arch was bolted onto the structure). Will fill in with thick epoxy and cut/smooth next week:

Also removed the dodgy part of the sundeck forward ending strip (where all the rain water was draining and was held by some dodgy repairs, as per usual...)

Bolted a second beam on the front of the existing one (visible in the next pic) to better support the new piece. Should be finished tomorrow morning.

Next in the immediate line of jobs are the rest of the deck work, sanding once more the sundeck filled holes, two coats of epoxy on all new deck + old stripped from paint/primer ply, strip the f/b deck from glue/primer and epoxy it. Should keep me busy for the following couple of weeks while the weather is kind to me 28-30max full sunshine predicted for the forecoming week. Rafiki, mind it's a bit chilly in the monring 15-17 but picks up ok during the day, typically we turn on CH in mid to end of October.

MM, fully agree, however the guy I was talking with was talking about colour discrepancies on NON-coloured anodizing mainly due to condition of chemicals and most important TEMP of the bath. We shall see, I'll try to make sure all similar bits goes together for anodizing to be safe.

Re chemical bath & brushing VS sandblasting, you are again right, but the condition of the bits I want anodized is so bad that needs brushing to remove small/medium dinks, hits, scores. I understand quality wont be perfect but I can live with that specially as the bits we are talking about are going to be at toe level and I'm getting older hence wont be able to see clearly the nasties at that distance .
No crawling on the deck for me

cheers

V.

 

[rafiki_]

Vas, I guess you are really looking fwd to completing the deck, as it will show real progress.

Off to Rafiki in a few mins. A number of minor jobs after a few Safari's, and general clean up. Humbling to think what you are doing on your boat though!

Temp down to single figures today, lots of wind and rain to look fwd to

 

[vas]

yet another update...

slightly slower than expected progress at the sundeck bow ending, with lots of reconstructing surgery on existing timber, various new bits glued/bolted etc. All set for glueing the 15mm ply cover tomorrow.
Unfortunately too bleeding hot today reaching 33C ffs! Was rather tired by 12:30.

Port side deck lots of progress as the next 2m are almost ready for fitting the new deck.
As part of my experimentations, I noticed that doing cuts across the deck every 2 beams meant an awful lot of trouble and effort needed in order to remove the 3layers of old deck. And that was from 4nails and 4 screws (2+2 on each beam!) Also wouldn't come off in one package creating lots of rubbish that I had to dispose. It's amazing the strength you get along the securing on two beams. So instead of sweating like a pig and doing my arms, I tried cutting across every single beam and realised that it takes 10secs to lever and remove the strip (compared to maybe 15-20mins on the two beam assembly!). Further, it comes off in one go, minimum offbits around to pickup, so progress is much faster and I'm happier

Weather forecast: dry, sunny, some clouds in a week or so and 30C for the foreseeable future (OK nine days) so hope I'll finish with all this deck and have a go at removing saloon sidewindows checking for rot/replace some small bits that need taking care of and priming/sealing the LOT. We shall see.

cheers

V.

 

[rafiki_]

Nice pics as ever Vas, and good progress. I guess you are learning lots about the job which you can now put into practice.

Can you mail across some of your weather please?

 

[vas]

Nice pics as ever Vas, and good progress. I guess you are learning lots about the job which you can now put into practice.

yep and another job opportunity once higher education crashes and we end up jobless (ok, hope we don't get into that but there's a small possibility of that happening...)

Can you mail across some of your weather please?

I think it's too expensive to mail, definitely more expensive than an easyjet flight to down here

Mind Volos is one of them most wet areas of Greece. I expect lots of rain between Nov and March-April that's why I'm planning the work this way so that once the rains start MiToS will be fully sealed from rainwater and I can work under cover for the hull cleaning/repairing/sealing.
Interior work can also be done when temp outside is in the low single digits above 0. Tried the below zero, but not worth it unless I get a timer to turn on heaters in there before I arrive.

cheers

V.

 

[rbcoomer]

I think it's too expensive to mail, definitely more expensive than an easyjet flight to down here

Hmmm! Got me thinking now - I think a forum fund is in order... How confident are you of delivery if we can raise the necessary funds? I think most of us are desperate enough to chip in after the 2012 'Summer'...

Great work however and good to see someone is making good headway... (even if they getting all the decent weather too!)

 

[vas]

Hmmm! Got me thinking now - I think a forum fund is in order... How confident are you of delivery if we can raise the necessary funds? I think most of us are desperate enough to chip in after the 2012 'Summer'...

nope, not getting into that, you more or less know where the boat is, so no way I can risk it
Further I've not got a Nigerian connection/bank accnt.

Great work however and good to see someone is making good headway... (even if they getting all the decent weather too!)

don't complain, your 21ft project is small enough to manage and work during the 11.8month brit monsoon season with not much hassle Problem is that you only have 0.2months to enjoy
I'm glad that during the 10yrs I spent in Bath I didn't get any summer like the one you just had. Hope it's a one off and you're back in track next year

cheers

V.

 

[Swordfish]

nope, not getting into that, you more or less know where the boat is, so no way I can risk it
Further I've not got a Nigerian connection/bank accnt.



don't complain, your 21ft project is small enough to manage and work during the 11.8month brit monsoon season with not much hassle Problem is that you only have 0.2months to enjoy
I'm glad that during the 10yrs I spent in Bath I didn't get any summer like the one you just had. Hope it's a one off and you're back in track next year

cheers

V.

Hello V,

I would not like to be working on your deck in this sun today, it's now down to 25.

I just wish I had my boat here, the hospitality of your countrymen is wonderful.

Regards Paul

 

[vas]

Hello V,

I would not like to be working on your deck in this sun today, it's now down to 25.

I just wish I had my boat here, the hospitality of your countrymen is wonderful.

Regards Paul

true about the hospitality and the heat...
Whereabouts in Crete are you Paul?
I think you mentioned Ag.Nicolaos? If so go for a swim for me at Kakkos Bay in the south please and I'll give the name of an excellent restaurant nearby whose owner produces some really amazing wine
I usually visit them every year and stock but didn't manage this time as I was only down for a week

V.

 

[Swordfish]

true about the hospitality and the heat...
Whereabouts in Crete are you Paul?
I think you mentioned Ag.Nicolaos? If so go for a swim for me at Kakkos Bay in the south please and I'll give the name of an excellent restaurant nearby whose owner produces some really amazing wine
I usually visit them every year and stock but didn't manage this time as I was only down for a week

V.

Hello V,

I'm in Kamari Bay Kos, we have been here for two weeks. Almost never a cloud in the sky.

I have lots photos etc. will post when back home at weekend.

Paul

 

[vas]

@swordfish: sorry thought you have some links with Crete. Yep some lovely ppl around, and a very relaxed atmosphere, although not so much these days with the troika and ever increasing austerity measures

Another 4h today with the help of the carpenter managed to finish the sundeck ending. Slightly dodgy bit, as it seems that the whole sundeck has sagged a wee bit (ok, less than 6mm over 2m) but enough to make for some interesting discussion and testing with slanted supports to make sure that we get it level and doesn't look naff. Finally although we prepared the supports and made the appropriate grooves for them, we decided not to add them and glued/bolted it as is. Once I get the interior partitions shifted, I'll make sure I push up a bit the sundeck and then decide if there is a need for any extra supports.

The following two pics show how the deck joins to the superstructure. Drilled 11 8mm holes for 120mm long bolts. Together with copious amount of epoxy, I recon it should be fine for another 30 yrs or so

I thought I took a pic of the finished article but not on my mobile, will get some tomorrow and post over the w/e.

Almost completed the preparation for adding the new ply deck on the next 2m of the port side. Should be done tomorrow morning.

Over the w/e I should setup the scaffolding on the stbrd side and start working on the final 3m of the deck
(yeah, then I need the final 3m of the port side and the WHOLE aft deck which is like a strainer must had collected 50+lt of rainwater over the two days in belted it down last week when I was in Prague..

Preparing a couple of Qs re partitioning walls, flooring extends, access etc but too tired now to complete and post.

cheers

V.

 

[Swordfish]

@swordfish: sorry thought you have some links with Crete. Yep some lovely ppl around, and a very relaxed atmosphere, although not so much these days with the troika and ever increasing austerity measures

Hello V,

Back home now, feeling rather cold. I did mention that we have had many holidays on Crete in the past, it was good to see a different Island this time.

Have just been looking, we may try Kefalonia in two weeks.

Paul

 

[vas]

@swordfish: Ionian will probably be cooler in mid October (but you never know, forecast is for 26+ for the following 10days...)

A photo of the sundeck ending towards the bow, so this bit of repair is complete:

On Friday the next port side bit was done. So now I only have 4 (and not 3 that I thought) metres of deck to replace to reach the aft deck. Things are getting tight (around 50cm width) so will be using a scaffolding from now on.

Note on the following pic the dark strip of wood (it's actually the main support beam for the superstructure) that acts as a "separator" between deck and superstructure. It's around 50mm high (will be 40odd once the teak is layed) and has a very lousy detailing so planning to "built" the top edging to the sundeck sloping sidewall with epoxy and woodchips when it's too much and add a thin strip of teak in it before the teak laying.
Plan is to add minute led assemblies every metre or less lighting the deck. I wonder if anyone has come across and decent and reasonably priced such leds (would probably need a dozen or so of them!)

Tomorrow will be tidying up and clearing the mess plus a bit of sanding on the sundeck and helm roof preparing them for sealing with epoxy.

cheers

V.

 

[rafiki_]

Great progress Vas. Worth an Ouzo this evening, as you contemplate the painting. I am getting back ache in sympathy with you.

I spent an hour or so contorted in Rafiki's engine room, doing some plumbing repairs

All ok now I think.

 

[burgundyben]

Vas

You seem to be making good progress, are you happy with the result so far for the hours and £££ spent?

Even my 28ft of rotting mahogany sometimes feels never ending.

 

[vas]

@rafiki: you still haven't realised that other than asking Qs (and getting v.helpful answers!) the reason for posting all these pics is to make you lot guilty for feeling tired after a couple of hours in the e/r or after doing some small bits a bobs around the craft

@bben: I'm happy in the sense that things progress nicely, haven't found YET any horrendous rot that will set me back seriously, all frames are sound bar one at the end of the sundeck (but for good measure I replaced all rotten bits and sandwitched it with a 15mm marine ply and soaked it in epoxy)
Yes I did more than I initially thought, but I'm happy that there's no concealed rot anywhere in the decks and the stanchion supports are going to be properly refurbished and sealed to the deck so no more rainwater will be sipping in.
Leaving personal manhours (ok mandays rather) out, was planning to do most stuff myself anyhow, costs are not that much as yet. I mean 300euro on ply 300 on epoxy and around 500 by the end of the ply repairs to George the semi retired cabinet maker that helps every now and again in patching and handling large bits of ply.

In a few weeks I should move down at the hull and then I'll see what needs to be done.
In the meantime I need to remove all window frames, repairt a few bits of rot around the frame of the saloon windows, finish paint stripping on the f/b deck and helm area and finish off the decks. Today I managed to clear up the mess around, sand the sundeck once more, apply one coat of epoxy to all new deck and run out of time... Plan was to epoxy the sundeck and surroundings as well, but will do that tomorrow as the threat for showers moved to Thu and I'm knackered after 8h under a just bearable sun and 28C.

Now, the fillet/scotia/separator between superstructure and the deck had some lousy detailing to the superstructure. George made a 45mm ply strip that temp bolted onto this "groove" and filled it up with epoxy. That's test fitting this section. Today was removed and slightly sanded. Pics of the finished epoxied article tomorrow

Clearing the mess around the windscreen frames and helm roof, we ended with a v.interesting detail devised by George in order to remove all flaky bits of ply and recreate the 12mm ply overhang. I find it excellent and worked pretty well:

Regarding the round finish/overhang to the helm windows, we cut 10mm of it (following the curvature) and the new edge is immaculate bar two small patches that need a bit of reinforcing.

Two new patches to be done before the helm roof is sealed for the winter.

Need to spend sometime investigating proper primer (2pack is what west recommends) to apply on top of the epoxy giving it extra UV protection as I don't think we'll be suffering from lack of sunshine and west specifically mention that epoxy is affected by UV (ok, doubt that even a Greek winter will damage it, but I may start priming and filling before the snow season

cheers

V.

 

[rafiki_]

@rafiki: you still haven't realised that other than asking Qs (and getting v.helpful answers!) the reason for posting all these pics is to make you lot guilty for feeling tired after a couple of hours in the e/r or after doing some small bits a bobs around the craft

Guilt? Why do you think guilt should come into this? Envy is really the overriding emotion....................that you have so much time on your hands..................................

Actually, this is a fantastic thread, and I am really enjoying your progress, and also learning a few things to stash in my locker for the future

 

[vas]

Guilt? Why do you think guilt should come into this? Envy is really the overriding emotion....................that you have so much time on your hands..................................

In the light of recent threads in the mobo forum, I'm pretty sure this is defamatory, don't you think

Being a nice person I wont report you, but I'd expect an nice long ride in the canals when I'm up there...


On a serious note, I've organised the autumn semester to have a lighter workload especially as I have just won a large research project and got half a dozen ppl working on it. I do work my 7+h a day, not 9to5 and not in the office... I don't go to bed before midnight and no, I'm not out and about drinking after 9pm, so let's say I have an unconventional hectic timetable seven days a week
Currently working on a couple of student projects correcting them (meeting them tomorrow - I should really be meeting them on Thu when it's raining though...) and just had my epsresso to keep me going for a few more hours

Actually, this is a fantastic thread, and I am really enjoying your progress, and also learning a few things to stash in my locker for the future

wot? you thinking to getting into wood? Unless you're retired or are single (or want to become one!) and on flexi hours you shouldn't really think about it

cheers

V.

 

[rbcoomer]

Great post Vas!

In the light of recent threads in the mobo forum, I'm pretty sure this is defamatory, don't you think

Being a nice person I wont report you, but I'd expect an nice long ride in the canals when I'm up there...


On a serious note, I've organised the autumn semester to have a lighter workload especially as I have just won a large research project and got half a dozen ppl working on it. I do work my 7+h a day, not 9to5 and not in the office... I don't go to bed before midnight and no, I'm not out and about drinking after 9pm, so let's say I have an unconventional hectic timetable seven days a week
Currently working on a couple of student projects correcting them (meeting them tomorrow - I should really be meeting them on Thu when it's raining though...) and just had my epsresso to keep me going for a few more hours



wot? you thinking to getting into wood? Unless you're retired or are single (or want to become one!) and on flexi hours you shouldn't really think about it

cheers

V.

Agree 100% on the work hard / play hard philosophy - sadly for me I hadn't discovered the joys of boats when I was doing that! Too over-committed myself now with young family, mortgage, school fees etc so now it's more work hard / work hard. Thus my project is more 'as and when there's a bit of time', but TBH the more great threads and projects like this I read, the more inspired I am and the better the eventual outcome I hope! You do seem to have the weather on your side however and I confess to going a bit green when I observe your wall-to-wall sunshine vs our drab and dripping outlook! Another reason that I for one am quite happy to stick with GRP as I think a wooden project boat would currently rot here faster than I could ever keep pace...

Keep up the great work!