The major restoration of Chance (Token) James Silver Western Isles Motor sailer

The Chance restoration team lending a hand as crew for the final leg from Scarborough to Whitby for the crew of the ex RNLB Amity​

One of the crew from the Chance Restoration team looking to see if the coast is clear before we set sail at 06.00 hrs this morning



While on passage to Whitby an old RNLB Sailing motoring lifeboat on passage south towards Scarborough direction



As we got close to Whitby harbour the new Shannon class RNLB came out to escort us in to the harbour along with the D Class RNLB and the restored rowing RNLB along with a flotilla of other small boats



In the distance you ca see the rowing RNLB holding station before we come along side and they lead the flotilla into Whitby harbour.





Ex RNLB Amity alongside her ne berth in Whitby Harbour.
From here Amity will be used by the Helen Wycherley Charity to raise funds to restore the Helen Wycherley and then both Boats can be used to help people with disabilities.

 
.This video is about getting to grips with the transom area of Chance, removing the stern knee and the last floor bearer before tackling the aft section of deadwood which needs replacing as a section of it is rotten and missing. Also we are tackling removing the rudder tube out of the deadwood. Now that this job is underway it gives us a chance to sort out the twist the back of the hull as and which will help when putting the ne transom and frames back in the correct position.

In this video it shows how much the bolts have rusted away over almost 80 years, however some have not especially as some are next to each other. May be some may have been of a poorer quality then other. This means tat we will have to inspect the rest in the same area and replace them as necessary as we go along replacing the frames in the aft end of the hull and making up the new frames for the transom.

 

Interesting news about the original owners of Chance and how it relates to our family. Our son Michael who is very interested in Family history and Genealogy has been looking back along Simon's mother's family line and found out that Edith Rose Hignell was a relative of my Great Grand mother. So we now have a link to the original owner and his wife who had Chance Commissioned and launched in 1948 at Roseneath in Scotland. With this information it gives us more drive to get Chance restored and but in the water.
 
The restoration of our James Silver "Western Isles" Chance 4 years into the restoration


These updates are of the restoration of Chance our James Silver Western Isles Motorsailer,The first part of the restoration project was started in Woodplumpton in Lancashire. This is where the major part of the stripping down of the boat took place. Now that we are back at Titchmarsh Marina in Walton on the Naze Essex. The restoration can start to gain more pace as it is going to be easier to do the rebuilding of Chance is now very close to my own workshop and small yard. However, over the past year there has been major upheavals in our family lives which as caused problems having the time to work on Chance. However, that is life for you.
 
These updates are of the restoration of Chance our James Silver Western Isles Motorsailer, now that we have Chance at Titchmarsh Marina in Walton on the Naze Essex. The restoration can and will be easier to do has Chance is now very close to my own workshop and small yard.This update is continuing on with the framework pattern making and starting on work on the original Davey & Co Ltd Navigation lights off Chance. They have been loving restored to their original condition and have had all the missing or otherwise damaged parts replaced and in some cases have had new parts custom made to the original patterned parts from the original parts of the inner working parts. These lights will be rewired and new LED bulbs fitted to increase the strength of the lights. We are looking for a steaming light and stern light of the same design so that Chance will have a complete set of original design navigation lights once Chance is back in the water and the masts are re-rigged. We know that this is to come in the future however we still need to find the other lights to complete the set of navigation lights for Chance. So we are still continuing to look for other parts for Chance as time goes on and are collecting parts as we go along going to boat jumbles and where there are other James A Silver's being broken up or parts being replaced for new parts. So if you can help give us a call through Facebook or "X" or You Tube.Thanks in advance Simon
 
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