Current Projects

In these couple of photographs you can see the damage that has been caused to the boats hull, This being done by lifting strops in the wrong location resulting in the complete severing of the chine and all the stringers and planking from the keel to the deck level.
over the last few weeks we have been traveling to Grimsby to put in temporary repairs to the hull side and remove the wheelhouse from the deck.
Reason for this is that the vessel is to high to travel by road to our yard without causing major disruption to the roads.
The wheelhouse is designed to be removed for repairs etc and will result in it being re united with the hull hopefully some time next year.
Spitfire will be the next boat inside our workshop as soon as the present project has had the hull repairs carried out [see MASB 32]

Spitfire being picked up ready for loading onto transport

Spitfire now ready to be hauled from Grimsby to Lowestoft

Stern view of Spitfire having arrived at the Lowestoft Haven Marina

Spitfire in the much larger travel hoist at Lowestoft having now been lifted from the transport and awaiting blocks for her to site on.

the damaged area and its temporary repair can be seen on the port side, this and the lift being carried out with four slings and in the correct position makes the lift go without a hitch.

At last with all other work in the workshop clear Spitfire was made water tight and launched at the Lowestoft Haven Marina and taken down Lake Lothing where she was slipped onto our cradle.
Now sitting in our workshop we can now start work on repairing the damage to her hull.

Sitting in the cradle waiting to enter the workshop looking quite small but looks are deceiving.

Clear of the water again after that short trip, the only water to get in was through the port rudder tube which is why she was lifted in the first place.

Starboard side plank damage

Damaged planking removed the new inner planking going in, this entails all the old fastenings to be removed. This means not just cutting them off but taking them out, plugging the hole, the reason for this is that the best place for the new fastenings is where the old ones were in the first place.

looking forward on the starboard side, we have now finished removing inner planking and replacing has now nearly been completed

same area just a different angle

now that the inner skin has been covered in calico and the whole lot soaked in a mix of varnish and linseed oil.

First outer plank is replaced

More planking going on

more of the outer layer of planking fitted.

Because the damage to the port side goes down very close to the Keel, to replace the damaged planks and stringers we need access to the hull inside and out.
This requires the engines and generator set on the port side to be removed along with the engine oil drip trays and engine room floor panels.
Here the main Rolls Royce engine is lifted clear ready to be placed on engine moving cradle.

engine now being set on cradle

after the main engine is removed we have access to remove the generator set, this has been set down on the cradle.

Starboard side hull planking now nearing first stage of fitting, this will then require copper nailing with roves to complete.

this shot of the port side shows the extent we have gone to so far to reveal the broken chine rail.

Close up of the area damaged and you can clearly see the strengthened area where the lift should have taken place. It is the large white triangular area just forward of the hot water tank.

starboard side planking repairs now nailed and sanded

new chine rail now fitted to the starboard side and through bolted as original

starboard side rubbing strakes being repaired

rubbing strakes now replaced

Port side inner planking being completed, below the chine the inner planking has already been replaced.

Inner planking on port side now completed initially only screwed to the stringers and frames, when the outer planking goes on this is also screwed on but the two layers are then copper nailed and roved together with the calico cloth between them.

last plank going in on the port side

New chine rail in place and hull in primer paint

in the next two photographs you can see where we have cleaned back the old paint to reveal the original identification numbers marked in the woodwork.

under coat now applied and getting ready for the top coat

Now we start with the top coat, these boats were painted black, not the best of colours but she will be original.

Spitfire has now been re united with here 2 generators and both main engines and is back in the water where she belongs.
Launched this morning at 8am we are having to tent over the wheelhouse and companionway as we await the wheelhouse.

Original wheelhouse now back where it should be

Located in position on blocks clear of the deck ready for sealant and bolts to fit in place.