Here are some more pictures of A89 Colchide in Norfolk.
I have some questions:
1. Should I open the foreward hatch a few inches and leave the top washboards out to encourage airflow through A89 in her outside winter storage?
2. Can anyone please recommend a supplier for 6 new portholes?
3. Are these tarpaulins enough for the wind and snow?
4. Any other pre winter tips please?
Re boat storage/workshop solutions – finally after what seems like years in the planning A87’s purpose built garden shed is almost complete. It has a steel frame – it was significantly cheaper and quicker to erect (3 days so far) than a wood frame. The next trick will be getting A87 out of the old kiwi fruit packing shed she’s been stowed away in for the past 5 years. Since her arrival the owner of that shed has buried the poor old boat with tons of heavy equipment..
Thank you to Colin, Chris, Dom, Timothy and Trevor for all your advice so far.
Trevor – A89 does have windows, although the photo posted in this blog does not show them due to sunlight and reflections. I had assumed they would all be identical………………but thank you for the tip that they are all a slightly different shape (just like roof tiles from different Norfolk villages).
Chris – I like the idea of your basher and have possible access to scaff poles and ex military tarps. I’ll keep you informed.
Thanks again all,
Richard.
As an alternative boat storage/workshop solution, you may consider a scaffolding tent. This can be DIY built using second hand (or new) scaffold tubes and fittings and a couple of hefty tarpaulin sheets. An added benefit is that the frame can also be utilized as a sling lift. I have this arrangement for the ongoing A169 (Kerry Piper) project – photo attached. Able to work throughout the year -lift off trailer to drop keels etc. Total cost scaffold materials (S/H) was around £450. Other items – couple of ex army tarp’s from eBay + four chain lift winches and two slings added another couple of hundred. If you don’t mind the faffing around sourcing materials it is a cheaper and more versatile option than a portable tent.
Just a thought on storage Ive found it almost impossible to work on the boat when its outside during the winter months but am in the lucky position of having inside accomodation, if this was not available then I would seriously consider purchasing something like a boat tent from Danecover although not cheap I think the fact that it would protect the boat and allow you to work in some comfort for the future years would compensate
Glad you managed to get her back safely as far as port holes concerned I believe Colin has a mould block for the ones in the coach roof. I also need to replace my ports this winter so any tips would be appreciated
Dom
It isnt surprising that the plastic has crazed after 50 years or so. When replacing them it is worth getting UV resistant Acrilic. Perspex is a trade name for acrylic sheet available in the UK.
The original windows were moulded over the section of coachroof which had been cut out. As Tim says – they are slightly different so when you find some you will have to work out where to fit them so that they sit onto the coachroof correctly.
Attached is a photo of the frames and plexiglass off A77. The articles that Trevor suggests are a good place to start. Each porthole appears to have a slightly different shaped plexiglass. The original installation
on A77 worked well, but the plastic crazed a lot. This might have been because of out gassing of the adhesive. I believe acrylic is more resistant to this phenomena. Also, if you can park the boat in the shade it would help.
You really must open the ends of the tarpaulins to allow air to circulate as Colin suggested.
It is a good idea to leave the washboards out. Prop the forehatch open as well.
Now to the real reason for posting a reply, the “portholes”. If I remember correctly she has no windows at all at the moment. What you need to do is find the frames from a boat which is being dismantled, preferably a number before A89. There are pleanty of boats which are beyond repair – so just ask around other members. You might have to wait a while to find them though. The frames consist of a brass inner frame and chromium plated brass outer frame ready bent to the shape of the coachroof. Loads of screws hold the two together, passing through the coachroof. The inner frame is tapped to take the screws. You may need to re-plate the outer frames. You will need to make new perspex windows. There have been articles in the bulletin about how to bend the perspex into the correct 3 dimensional shape using the old perspex as a mould. Not difficult to do.
Trevor
You’ll be fine for the winter, plenty of slope to shed the rain & snow. Keep the bilge dry. t
Open both the ends of the cover to let a flow of air through and YES to question “1”.
Colin A95