Current Projects

Here, the 96 year old Danish 65' oak fishing boat, Zela is having the hull restored. She will then be fitted out for private and charter use.

New deck beams in place with bulkheads fitted before deck is laid.

Zela has been back on the slip for more work and a paint up, here you can see her counter stern and deep draft

A sad sight as Zela failed to stay afloat after her bilge pump could not keep up with a seam that just let in to much water.

internal shot showing the old saloon floor and the vast area of concrete ballast, this photo was taken soon after Zela was salvaged having sunk at her mooring.

Out of the water again, this time with a new owner and a determination to get her back sailing where she belongs.

Starboard side frames and planking being replaced

Keelson now exposed having had the concrete ballast removed

The new owner has slowly removed every trace of concrete ballast from between the frames, most of which are very sound.

Covering boards being replaced on the starboard side

finished covering boards with everything in place

Solid oak rudder replacement with steel bars ready to go in

all together and ready for the primer and antifoul

Starboard side planking nearing completion

A lot of oak in the stem area all now replaced

The port side of Zela required less planking replacement due to the fact that this side required more work the first time round. Here we have just one more to replace and then a section of the covering board.

Photograph of the stern of Zela before the replacement deck was installed, as you may notice this picture is a few years old.

removing more planking on port bow

A nice shot of the frames all of which are solid, the planks removed were of Beech and were most likely the original planks

Bow section showing the space that just 2 planks were occupying also there is the opportunity now to remove some of the concrete that had been possibly put in to stop leaks in the past as it is proud of the frames meaning the planks were at that time loose on the frames.

First fitting of the new rudder

Now for more of those below waterline hull planks, this one from the starboard side midships is pretty straight all be it 20ft long and 15" wide by 2 1/8th thick.

As some of the frames required replacing oak crooks were supplied by JB Timber 6" thick and the perfect shape for Zela's frames.

First draw out the shape you want, then follow the line, simple. [As long as you know what your doing with the chain saw]

Using the natural shape of the timber we can produce frames that are naturally the shape of the hull.

Now all that's required is a small amount of cleaning up and ready to go into the hull.

Steamed planks now sitting where they will soon nailed into place.

Port side Planks now being fastened into place, not many more to do before we can get round to the caulking of those seams.

Last plank now in and ready to caulk

Skin fittings and anodes to be fitted ready for the internal valves and heads

Clearing up ready for launch time

Zela afloat for the first time in months, just clear of the cradle.

Viewed from the stern she sits quite high in the water from her original waterline

Slightly different shot from the one taken back in September

Zela heading off back to where she came from, the new owners sailed her back to Germany and onto the border with Denmark where they will continue to restore and bring life back into Zela.