Ribs and Floors

Jacking starboard planks into line

After the summer break work began again in mid January. In preparation for patching some damaged ribs I bought a small 230mm Ryobi bandsaw, and was devastated when it wouldn't cut the white oak I had bought for the job, at least not with any accuracy. I suspected the blade, and as fate would have it broke the factory one very early on. A saw doctor recommended a coarser, wider (8mm) blade, and it was like having a different bandsaw! I also bought a fixed disc sander and drill press to help with this phase.

Jado was now in a cradle rather than on the trailer, keeping her plumb and straight so that some reconstructive surgery could take place. We had found a series of about five ribs, near the stern on the starboard side, all cracked at the turn of the bilge. This led to the planking developing a slight chine on this side. One by one the failed sections were removed, planks jacked into line, and new oak pieces scarfed in. The aft-most floor timber was also replaced with the original type and various small repairs done before the area could be primed.

Some decisions need to be made about the aft bulkhead, as what's there now appears to be much modified. However, I have no pictures of this part of the boat before her Fishing Machine days. It looks as though there was no aft seat, only side seats with the fuel tank under the starboard one. The empty space under the aft deck was then storage space, and the bulkhead fitted with cupboard doors. What was there originally?