The English summer continues and over the past few weeks the most effort has gone into pumping out collected rainwater and debris hurled at the Broom blown from the trees by the high winds. Outdoor boatbuilding has its drawbacks - something had to be done.
Trawling ebay turned up the perfect solution - a party tent! Although the driveway now looks as if we are hosting a small wedding reception at least work can carry on whatever the weather as the Broom has its own 'boat-shed'. The tent is pretty substantial and since its erection has guaranteed that there has been no rain and unbroken sunshine. One bright spark did point out that it cost more than the boat though...
The first job in the new boat-shed was to finish tidying up the transom well. This required some cosmetic filling, sanding, filling etc. Finally, a 'reveal' coat of Blakes white primer, followed by more detail filling and a light sanding. There will be more work in this area as fittings for the engine and steering control cables will need to be made along with the stainless strengthening plate referred to in a previous post.
The (almost) completed transom well
and the slide in cover that will hide the fuel/battery etc.
The rest of the 'topsides' have also undergone a similar treatment.
It'll look worse before it looks better - Don't be disheartened!
Plenty of sanding, detail filling and the use of fingertips to detect any rough areas - and it's ready for a primer/reveal coat.
Finally, following a wash down and a wipe over with thinners and a tack cloth, (the boat, not me...) the paint is applied. I have to admit I'm no great shakes with a brush and have found I get the best results from a close cell foam roller - these are also cheap and 'chuckable' (hands up all those that enjoy cleaning brushes). When this first coat of primer is applied it makes all the tedious preparation worthwhile - it's beginning to look like a boat!
Topsides in primer
Apart from the odd small job, work is now going to stop on the topsides. The plan is to slide the boat out, flip it over, carry it back in to the 'shed' and carefully place it on milk-crates / car-tyres / whatever... in order that work can start on the hull (and I bet that won't be as simple as it sounds).
Rummaging around on the ground I've already discovered a small - but not very well done - patch in the hull - let's hope there's nothing too nasty under there.
The plan is to complete the hull entirely - right down to final finish, flip the boat back over, place it on a cradle and complete the topsides and fit out - simple. When this is finally done, the overcoating times for the topsides primer will have been exceeded, but this will be lightly rubbed down and a futher coat applied. I'll keep you posted!
Trawling ebay turned up the perfect solution - a party tent! Although the driveway now looks as if we are hosting a small wedding reception at least work can carry on whatever the weather as the Broom has its own 'boat-shed'. The tent is pretty substantial and since its erection has guaranteed that there has been no rain and unbroken sunshine. One bright spark did point out that it cost more than the boat though...
The first job in the new boat-shed was to finish tidying up the transom well. This required some cosmetic filling, sanding, filling etc. Finally, a 'reveal' coat of Blakes white primer, followed by more detail filling and a light sanding. There will be more work in this area as fittings for the engine and steering control cables will need to be made along with the stainless strengthening plate referred to in a previous post.
The (almost) completed transom welland the slide in cover that will hide the fuel/battery etc.
The rest of the 'topsides' have also undergone a similar treatment.
It'll look worse before it looks better - Don't be disheartened!Plenty of sanding, detail filling and the use of fingertips to detect any rough areas - and it's ready for a primer/reveal coat.
Finally, following a wash down and a wipe over with thinners and a tack cloth, (the boat, not me...) the paint is applied. I have to admit I'm no great shakes with a brush and have found I get the best results from a close cell foam roller - these are also cheap and 'chuckable' (hands up all those that enjoy cleaning brushes). When this first coat of primer is applied it makes all the tedious preparation worthwhile - it's beginning to look like a boat!
Topsides in primerApart from the odd small job, work is now going to stop on the topsides. The plan is to slide the boat out, flip it over, carry it back in to the 'shed' and carefully place it on milk-crates / car-tyres / whatever... in order that work can start on the hull (and I bet that won't be as simple as it sounds).
Rummaging around on the ground I've already discovered a small - but not very well done - patch in the hull - let's hope there's nothing too nasty under there.
The plan is to complete the hull entirely - right down to final finish, flip the boat back over, place it on a cradle and complete the topsides and fit out - simple. When this is finally done, the overcoating times for the topsides primer will have been exceeded, but this will be lightly rubbed down and a futher coat applied. I'll keep you posted!
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