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Past adventures

Vertues are famous for being very capable yachts. From the previous owner we heard that Grace may have sailed all the way to Australia and back. This detail has not been confirmed yet. However, we have Grace’s Suez Canal certificate issued in 1979 which suggests that a trip to Australia may have been a real possibility. We may never know if she did make it to Australia and back. But at least we know that the owners of Jamile (as Grace was known then) had long sea voyages in mind.

Steam Bending the Beam Shelf

With the hull ready to accept the new beam shelf and with the new beam shelf cut and prepared ready to go in, we set about creating a steam box to steam the new timber.

We used a large billy to boil the water, heated on a gas burner. The steam was piped into the wooden box, which has a door on the opposite end to add and remove the timber.

The timber was left in the steamer for about two hours, to ensure it was hot enough and would bend to shape easily. Once ready, it was offered up into the hull and clamped into position. Both scarfs lined up really nicely and the timber bent to shape perfectly. Smiles all round!

Preparation for Beam Shelf Replacement

Where the starboard hull side is rotted the beam shelf is actually broken in two (see first image). Therefore, we need to remove the old sections in order to fit a new one. We retained the old beam shelf while we replaced the hull frames, as it gave us a good point to bend and clamp the new frames to. Now, with the new frames in place and with the hull shape also supported by the external longitudinal beams, that we previously laminated in place, the beam shelf can come out.

The beam shelf supports the ends of the deck beams and creates a significant longitudinal strength member at the sheer. The second picture shows the same area on the port side. Here you can see the chainplate attachments and the hanging and lodging knees that further reinforce this area.

We decided not to replace the full length of the beam shelf, as this would become complicated at the bow and the stern. Instead we chose to replace about two thirds of it. Scarfing the new timber onto the old at each end.

          

 

New Frames Completed

The new frames are now in the boat. All has gone well and with the addition of some nice new bronze screws, all the associated planks have now also been refastened.

Timber Delivery!

 We now have the timber we need to replace the beam shelf, sheer plank, some of the hull planks, some of the deck beams and some of the transom. Plenty of work to get stuck into!! We have also acquired a thicknesser to help us machine the timbers to size. This was used initially to fine tune the laminations for the hull frames.

First New Frames!

Following a little delay in the timber delivery, Juanpa drove and picked up the Iroko strips, that had been prepared for laminating the new hull frames. Epoxy was bought and we got on with laminating the first new frames to go into the boat by us. We are removing a few frames at a time. Replacing them and then moving on to the next ones. Three are now in, with about another seven to be replaced. Whereas the previous owner had tried repairing the top sections of the frames and scarfing the new onto the old, we are replacing the whole frame from sheer to keel.

Stripping the deckhouse

 We have now assessed and ordered the wood that is required to repair and replace frames, planking, transom and deck beams. While waiting for it's delivery, the windows and portlights have been removed and the varish on the deckhouse stripped. A number of areas on the deckhouse have been inspected and earmarked for repair. Hopefully with a bit of sanding we can bring back the orginal colour, as seen where the window frames have been removed.

Deck removal images

 

Stabilising the starboard side of the hull

 To try and stabilise the damaged side of the hull and retain its shape, we have laminated some temporary beams spanning the hole. They are secured through planks that will eventually be renewed. With them in place, they will help to create a former for laminating the new hull frames.

Laminated frames

 We thought that most of the frames were original. It turns out that only six frames per side, at the bow, are original steam bent frames. The other 36 frames per side are all laminated frames.
 

 Original frame on the left and laminated frame on the right.

The old deck is off!

We have removed the old deck, covering boards and bulwarks. Now it is the time to properly inspect the beams.

 

All the beams forward of the cabin top are in very good condition. However, the steel breasthooks and the forward end of the deck structure will require some attention. 

 

A note from a previous shipwright

Sometimes it is hard to identify what is original in the boat and what has been replaced during the years. Thanks to a note found written on one of the panels of the stove recess, we have a clear idea of the extent of the work carried out from 1995 to 1999. 

 

The method is a bit unconventional but it works!

Aft deck and cockpit structure

When we inspected Grace before the purchase, we saw that many of the deck beams aft of the cockpit would have to be renewed. In order to do that, the deck, cockpit coaming and all deck gear had to be removed. With the structure revealed, it becomes clear that all beams and carlings must be renewed

 

 

Pine deck

Grace's original tongue and groove deck would have been covered in painted canvas. However, at some stage in the past, the canvas was substituted by a textured decking material. After we removed the decking material, the pine deck seemed to be sound. Unfortunately the deck beams aft of the coachroof have to be replaced for new ones. That meant that the cockpit coaming and deck had to be removed. We will reuse the cockpit coaming but the deck will be substituted for a plywood deck sheathed on glass epoxy.

 

Hull damage

 The damage on the starboard side is most apparent. There are other areas of the hull that will require some extensive work too.

Grace

 Grace arriving on a lorry at its new home in Milford on Sea, just a few metres away from the current Laurent Giles design office.