Work has started on Bluster’s major refit, now that the weather is warmer and dryer. I am starting to strip off the bits that have not been off for a long time, if ever, to expose what lies beneath and repair it if necessary, starting with the deck as many of the known soft and weak spots are there.
No major shocks or surprises so far, but lots of grinding and drilling required to remove rusted-in bolts. Almost all of the brass screws holding the rubbing strake on were de-zinked and broke when trying to extract them.
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A183 Stripping off the rubbing strake and chain plates.
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A183 Chain plate bolts: mostly OK, the thin one was for the strut onto the deck and not load bearing while sailing.
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A183 Stem head fitting removed: some rot underneath.
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A183 Some bolts from the stem head fitting were badly waisted.
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P1010346
Chain plate bolts: mostly OK, the thin one was for the strut onto the deck and not load bearing while sailing.
P1010352
Stem head fitting removed: some rot underneath.
P1010354
Some bolts from the stem head fitting were badly waisted.
I am very happy to see this. Hope to catch up sometime this year.