Opened up forefoot

ianc1200

ianc1200

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Forefoot 1.jpg

Sorry to ask another question.

The forefoot on the restoration we're doing has opened up horrendously - see above. Totally our fault, as got paint off 2.5 years ago and let it dry out. What is the best way to tackle this? Was thinking just lots of very weak putty/linseed oil/red lead paste and let it squeeze out when wet, but has it gone too far for that?
 
Is the shake even i.e. pretty much the same shape/position on the other side? It seem to me removing/discarding the wedge needs to happen; then the shake trimmed up for a larger wedge. Now about the horizontal 'shake'. It isn't really a shake there, it has just dried out and separated the joint. I am thinking a graving piece to fill the dried out area might do. Then how is it all tightened up: I assume there is a fastening holding the old wedge and I am guessing there is a fastening that gives a vertical pull. Obviously the keel band is going to have to come off.

I can't make up my mind whether to get that area some moisture or just leave it alone. I think immersing the bow would bring it a litte together but not recover the full shape.
 
It will take up when its wet but may take some time. I would avoid using putty as it goes rock hard even with the addition of red lead powder, Last thing you need in a shake like that is something hard. My favorite goop was Evomastick used to be sold by Jewsons & was off the market for a while, Bloody good as never really dries & will squeeze out when it swells.
 
Keith 66 said:
It will take up when its wet but may take some time. I would avoid using putty as it goes rock hard even with the addition of red lead powder, Last thing you need in a shake like that is something hard. My favorite goop was Evomastick used to be sold by Jewsons & was off the market for a while, Bloody good as never really dries & will squeeze out when it swells.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the thoughts.

There is a "Shake" (if that's the right word) in the base of the forefoot. There may be a wedge too (we looked and couldn't make our minds up) but it's really a drying out split in the solid base of the forefoot.

Also, at the base of the inner forefoot (apron?) there is a really big gap

FF5.jpg

a good 1/4" gap. All this oak is like iron, really hard.

And to cap it all, between the feelson/false keel, and the keel below where it's oak, a gap has appeared which is 5/8" on the port side, and virtually nothing on the SB side.

FF3.jpg

(that is a keelbolt just about visable, a sisterboat has copper keel bolts so looking at the green tinge this might be as well). It's been sitting like this since Autumn 2022 and we have tried to provide a bit of pressure unevenly to push back without success.

I'm thinking soft goop as Keith 66 suggested is about the best answer.
 
It's going to be sometime away (at a guess at least 18 months). But should be easily possible to put on a mud berth so only in for short periods per day.
 
Mud berths are good. Our first boat was clinker and launch in the Spring was a real challenge. When I bought TG, I determined that I would winter her every 3 years out of 4 in a mud berth. She remained lovely and tight and the one year ashore was as short as possible. Fitting out, moving from the mud berth had some challenges, putting her on the beach at Heybridge on neaps did work.

But I think putting yours into a mud berth would work very well. The mud berth will dig a wallow and salt water will be retained around the wallow so she will get lovely and wet. Of course when it is all done you are going to have do a bit of cleaning but worth it.
 
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