Irene Rebuild                                          

Page Eight

2nd May 2006

The last strake is in. 

     
                        Planking complete                                                Beam shelf aft - note the twist

That marks the beginning of a new chapter.
The beam shelf has followed, straightforwardly enough except for the stern 
where the shape of the shelf becomes quite interesting. That too 
however is in and secure.

The first beam

The beams are following in a veritable 
cascade. Knightheads are in, stantion patterns have been translated 
into oak stantions and installation is the next step.

          
                 A cascade of beams                                                                        Ted's headache

Two more in preparation

At the stern the large curve of oak has given Ted enough headaches but it is 
there now and the plank ends will have a firm crosspiece.The design for hanging 
the stern on the stern post is going ahead and we look forward to a 
future in which the old lady’s backside doesn’t droop. 

        
              Metal work to stop the droop    

               The tree squared - Not good enough for a boom, maybe we'll get a gaff out of it.                

Bowsprit is complete. The main gaff needs jaws – eleven spars to go. 
Ceiling planking fastening is being replaced with trunnels before fairing
in and out. A start has been made on various pieces of iron, galvanising, 
powder coating, straightening, welding and the knees that fasten the beam 
to the hull will soon be subjected to a second fire and bending.

Oak off cuts, Walnut, Lawson’s Cypress and Cedar wood is all being 
collected and sawn ready for the interior. Some of the Pitch Pine 
lower deck, which escaped the fire, will be reused. 

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Irene has her 99th birthday on 29th May. We are inviting all members of
the Irene Sailing Society (i.e. plank owners) to come to dinner that 
evening on board - primitive furnishings but excellent food and wine. 
The cost is a mere £20, any profit going straight into the rebuild coffers. 
We are hoping to provide some footage of past glory, fire disaster and 
the rebuild – up to date. It should be a good evening. Come if you can.