The Chainsaw of Damocles
Printed From: BMPT Forum
Category: Boats (In alphabetical order)
Forum Name: Seaplane Tenders
Forum Description: Discussion on Seaplane Tenders
URL: http://www.bmpt.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=407
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 5:15pm
Topic: The Chainsaw of Damocles
Posted By: FlyByWire
Subject: The Chainsaw of Damocles
Date Posted: 18 August 2007 at 10:38am
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Hello, a couple of weeks ago, I found yet another piece of rot on my poor old boat. I was removing the last section of the old carling on the port side and discovered that a 6' section of the port bow inwale is rotten. I've replaced about 30' of inwale so far, so this in itself isn't a huge job (awkward, though...) but it was just one bit of rot too many for me... So, I asked a classic boat surveyer to have a look over her for me (at wallet emptying expense) and while he didn't exactly condemn the boat, he did make it obvious to me that I really haven't got the time or ability to get any further than I am now. In his opinion, she needs sheathing with ply and then glass fibre if she's going to go back into the water and, what with having to build new decks, superstructure, cabin soles and then fit out, he thought it was a truely enormous project... Unfortunately, then, the chainsaw beckons and my boat is destined to become historical landfill...but I thought I'd see if anybody here was willing to take her on rather than see yet another of these boats destroyed. She's yours for free if you're willing to take on the yard fees, by direct debit (at the insistance of the yard owner), of £150.00 a month. I don't want to mislead anybody here; this boat's 40'6" long and 9'6" wide and requires a lot of work. I doubt you'd get her out of the yard by road, so if you wanted to move her, it'd have to be by river and I wouldn't guarantee she'll float in her current state. The yard she's in is between Penryn and Falmouth in Cornwall; have a look at my website ( http://www.seaplane-tender.co.uk - www.seaplane-tender.co.uk ) for more details and a map of the location. If you're truely interested, give me a ring on 07900 906553, but have a good old think about it first... Boats are going to start coming out of the water in the next few weeks and the yard will be too busy to get a truck into, so I'll give it till the end of the month, then it's the chainsaw Oh well.... Paul |
Replies:
Posted By: dgray
Date Posted: 18 August 2007 at 11:20am
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Sorry to hear this Paul. It must be gut wrenching. My bigger seaplane tender is in a bit of a state too. I'm going to have to rescrew every hull plank as the heads of the old screws are breaking off then you just show them a screwdriver. About 4000 silicon brownse screws at a guess. She needs about 300 feet of new hull planking, 100' of new bilge stringers to be made up, A complete new superstructure and cabin, The decks are fibreglass sheathed and who knows what lurks beneath. She's missing props and some deck fittings. It's pretty depressing when you list it out. Well I really hope somebody takes her on. If you have to break her ( and I really hope you don't), perhaps you'll sell me some of the fittings for mine. Thanks ------------- Don Only a number, not even a name. How shall posterity hear of thy fame? |
Posted By: FlyByWire
Date Posted: 18 August 2007 at 11:58am
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The only fittings left on here are the prop-shaft skin-fittings and the exhaust skin-fittings - everything else has gone... At the end of the day, when you think about the amount of planking etc needed, you've got to wonder whether it would be any different to just building a new boat, there'd be so little left of the original... I've just listed her on ebay, so I'm making a concerted effort towards her preservation, but I'm not really holding out much hope... Paul |