JAMES ROBINSON TAYLORNIGEL SHARPThe priority now was to remove everything that was
holding the hull out of shape including the 1990s
laminated oak deck beams, most of the hull planks –
larch above the waterline and pitch pine below –
although some were kept in place to act as ribbands; and
many of the frames, mostly laminated oak fitted in the
1990s refit and a few original rock elm ones. Thirteen
temporary moulds – made from Fife’s lines plan but also
with information gleaned during a visit to Whimbrel
- were then set up inside the remaining planking. More
ribbands were run around the moulds before new
steamed oak frames – 1½in (38mm), tapering out to
2¼in (57mm) in the bilge, by 1^3 / 8 in (35mm) – were fitted.
The topsides were re-planked with^7 / 8 in (22mm)
yellow pine. None of the wrought-iron strap floors were
reusable except as patterns from which to cast new
bronze ones, although first they had to be faired and
filled. The ballast keel was re-fitted with new forged iron
bolts made by Yorkshire firm Topp & Co. Areas of the
bilge where water might otherwise lie were levelled with
tar, and the hull was caulked with cotton, white lead and
linseed oil putty above and below the waterline. The
deck structure – comprising a pitch pine beamshelf, the
clamp and deck beams in larch, and elm carlins – was
renewed, prior to fitting a ½in (12mm) plywood