An Eventide and Several Sanders

After all of the bad weather which we have been having when the sun finally came out on Saturday it was almost time for celebrations. Our joy was a little short lived however as the surf in the harbour entrance meant that sailing was off the menu. Given the normal run of things surf in the entrance is not an insurmountable problem, but as you can see from the picture below the entrance has become a little narrow of late so the chances of getting out were around zero. 

 

A little distant but you might just make out the guy surfing in the entrance

Axmouth Bar with the channel looking very narrow

Well boatyards are busy places so there is always something to do. Time to get on with Darren and Helen's Eventide. Merrywake has stood in the yard for a couple of years before being taken on by Darren and Helen; she's in remarkably good shape considering but given the flaking paint it was decided that the best course of action would be to take her back to bare wood and start again with a proper paint job. 

 

Putting paint on is easy, taking it off is the hard bit. Here is Darren in action with the belt sander. 

 

What a nice clean job this sanding is

 

I don't think anyone came away clean

At least good progress was made and by 1800 the whole hull had been sanded back to bare wood and a coat of Jotun 88 applied. Merrywake is the lucky one, by the end of August she will be sailing again unlike a few of the sad unloved boats around her.

 

"Rose" Merrywakes neighbour sadly not far off from the point of no return.

 

"Dab Chick" looking doubtful as to whether or not she will see the water again

Sad isn't; it all of these old boats left neglected in yards all over the country. I'm sure that there are a thousand and one reasons why this sort of thing happens and I'm sure that it has always been the same. Still on the bright side anyone looking for a project will be spoilt for choice.