Spark!

[Art Haberland]

I know I posted up the 22 screws thing earlier.. but as work is going to start moving quickly, I decided just a single thread was in order. Today I got two coats on her bottom of Kirby's "See Red". Unfortunately, the pic makes it look a lot brighter than it really is. More of a burgundy than a red.

Rolling and tipping really filled me with dread, but in the end, it was pretty easy. One capful of "conditioner" for just under 8oz of paint seemed to work well.



Now I can roll her back over on the trailer and take her deck off so I can fit buoyancy/storage compartments for and aft before replacing the dryrotted plywood

[JacquesR]

Beautiful work Art. Once done, she'l look as good as new. What color for the upper?

[Michel]

So nice!

[Art Haberland]

Beautiful work Art. Once done, she'l look as good as new. What color for the upper?

I didn't paint "above" the chine yet because I have to fit the new plywood deck. I didn't want to take a chance on a long scratch or a gouge as I fitted the edge to the shape of the hull. The deck will be bright Okoume ply and the topsides will be more of the "See Red"



With the Dorian just off our coast today, I am only getting some brightwork and the brass keel strip done today

[Art Haberland]

Spark is beginning to look more like my SeaSprite 23 Flirt at the moment than something I hope to be sailing in two weeks. Yesterday I cleaned 30+ years of gunk out of her hull and today I removed her deck.

Yesterday's work only required the use of my pressure washer set to a low level, it quickly dispatched all the fine dust that settled in the bottom of the hull that turned into some sort of concrete from hell. What came out of the scupper holes in the stern was not pretty.

Today's work required two tools. A handy dead blow hammer and a small miniature prybar to get between the deck and the stringers so I could pop it off. innumerable square cut nails held the deck down along with some old tenacious glue. Aside from a small corner at the bow, everything came off more or less intact.

first the cleaning!

Dirty Spark:





Clean Spark:




And now, the naked Spark:

[Michel]

You are very good at this!

[Art Haberland]

Spark has new decks. They are only roughly cut to shape and not yet attached, but she has them. Originally she had mahogany veneer plywood, but it was badly dry rotted from storage with compromised varnish. Some areas were soft, other areas you could pull the veneer up with your fingertips. All in all, not very ship shape and Bristol fashion.

Now she has 6mm Okume decks. Instead being built in three pieces per side, for a total of six, she now has two per side or a four piece deck. Plans are to paint the inside of the hull, so did the underside to save myself laying upside later.








tomarrow promises to be a nice day, so hopefully I can get the decks secured and the edges cleaned up properly

[Michel]

That boat will be like brand new!

[JacquesR]

Art, you are a true master. I would never contemplate such a complete restoration. Your skills are beyond compare next to mine. Keep up the great work.It's a pleasure to see your progress. Can't wait to see the final product. She will be a thing of beauty.

[Art Haberland]

You are too kind, Jacques. I owe what carpentry skills I have to my uncle who tried to teach me a lot more in the time I worked for him. Most of it is reading and giving it a go. Worst that happens, I rip it all up and do it again. Wood is forgiving like that.

Anyway, updates to Spark.

I spent most of the day putting in a forward bulkhead/buoyancy compartment. Yes it has a hole in it, but it will get a sealing door. Once that was done, it was onto the decks. Starboard side is drying now, I hope to get port done later today.





And the forward compartment that I am setting aside for storage and buoyancy. Spark, being a series 1 GP, came with air filled bladders in the bow, stern, and under the side benches. She was missing the forwards and aft backs and the bags under the seats intruded into my sleeping area when I recline on the floorboards when I go cruising. Later boats have buoyancy chambers under the floor, but I can also use these for water tight storage.