Steel Boat restoration

Burdekin · Jan 26, 2022

Looks the business!

Cris B · Jan 26, 2022

bert said:
This will be my first and last boat, I'm only doing it as it was my parents and they would be looking down ****** off if I had sold it in the condition it was in.

I read the whole thread earlier. Proper project and kudos to you on doing it all properly - it's a great tribute to your dad.

In my youth I was always looking for ways of earning some cash and I spent part of one summer school holidays scrapping the paint off a steel hulled boat that had come out of the water for maintenance with one of my mates. That experience and an earlier one of the what seemed like a near constant requirement for maintenance of a boat we had previously owned and sailed on the Norfolk Broads was enough to put me off the thought of pursuing one as a project... for life!

Still looking back it was an education and I learned loads from hanging around chandlers, marine engineering firms and talking to folks far more knowledgeable than me.

bert · Jan 26, 2022

Barking Mat said:
That's looking really tidy, fair play.

Believe me I know and understand how much time and effort, these things take.

You've checked the cutlass bearing and stern gland I'd imagine, whilst it's out ?

It got the cutlass bearings replaces as they were shot and the props got reconditioned too. She has deep sea seals instead of stern glands so hopefully they will be fine and not leak. They are the only thing I'm worried about leaking.

brightspark · Jan 26, 2022

didu get a cert with it after having the hull tested

Barking Mat · Jan 26, 2022

bert said:
It got the cutlass bearings replaces as they were shot and the props got reconditioned too. She has deep sea seals instead of stern glands so hopefully they will be fine and not leak. They are the only thing I'm worried about leaking.

Deep sea seals, is that like a stuffing box ?

Never heard of them.

But I exclusively work on canal boats.

bert · Jan 26, 2022

brightspark said:
didu get a cert with it after having the hull tested

The surveyor said I didn't have to as long as I took lots and lots of pics of the repairs.

bert · Jan 26, 2022

Barking Mat said:
Deep sea seals, is that like a stuffing box ?

Never heard of them.

But I exclusively work on canal boats.

It's instead of a stuffing box. Just 2 ceramic plates that spin against each other held together under the pressure of what looks like a cv gaitor.

awemawson · Jan 26, 2022

Sounds like the ‘rotary seals’ in Grunfoss multi stage pumps.

Trevorleach · Jan 27, 2022

bert said:
It got the cutlass bearings replaces as they were shot and the props got reconditioned too. She has deep sea seals instead of stern glands so hopefully they will be fine and not leak. They are the only thing I'm worried about leaking.

Water lubricated seals? if so check they are getting water when engine running.

bert · Jan 28, 2022

Trevorleach said:
Water lubricated seals? if so check they are getting water when engine running.

Yes they have water injection, I ran the engines last weekend to make sure the props were fitted the right way and water came out of the shaft tubes which I think wad left over in the engines so hopefully they are working. I'll double check everything the minute she goes back in the water.

I'm making sure all 3 bilge pumps work properly and automatically too. :whistle:

Bullet2012 · Jan 28, 2022

^^ not trying to teach you to suck eggs, but do not run the motors and transmissions again without being hooked up to a water supply. It’s extremely easy to destroy the raw water pump impellers the shaft seals/bearings and the exhausts when no water supply is used.
Just do not want you making more work for yourself.

bert · Jan 28, 2022

Absolutely right, when I say ran I mean started in gear and turned straight off again. Maybe ran for 4 to 5 seconds

minimutly · Jan 28, 2022

bert said:
The surveyor said I didn't have to as long as I took lots and lots of pics of the repairs.

Make sure you check this with your insurer - or your buyer. I'm no expert but I'm told no survey report no insurance? And if you'r selling, maybe it will increase the value, even if the buyer does their own?

W.olly · Jan 28, 2022

Stunning boat you have there. I have been reading and you have cracked on well with the work done. Wish i still had that in me to get mine done. I had chance of a similar boat to yours but i let it go, gutted now, ended up with the one i have now instead. glad really as said i dont have the go in me as much now.

Good luck and enjoy. One hell of a looker is that boat

Trevorleach · Jan 28, 2022

minimutly said:
Make sure you check this with your insurer - or your buyer. I'm no expert but I'm told no survey report no insurance? And if you'r selling, maybe it will increase the value, even if the buyer does their own?

Not all insurers req a survey, some need one after boat is 25 yrs old.
But most no survey ins cos basically means yes you have cover, but if she sinks and its your fault ie rotten hull fitting/corroded clips/non dzr ball valves etc then you are stuffed, so you need to do the maintenance plus keep receipts/pics etc to prove what you have done just in case the worst happens

bert · Jan 30, 2022

The front bilge area got derusted, treated and painted this weekend

bert · Jan 30, 2022

I also painted the stripes down at the waterline. Few touch ups needed but 99% complete.

Next on the list of jobs is Anti foul and machine polish the hull then it's back in the water. :cool:

bert · Feb 7, 2022

This weekend she got anti fouled, polished and waxed. Just need to anti foul under the support blocks and she is going back in the water.

2 fully working bilge pumps are ready and I'm working on adding a 3rd. I need a 12v pump with a propper inlet not a bulge pump as I'm going to put tubes down into the keels