First week without Liz. After dropping her off at Hat Yai airport Moo and I visit the machine shop to try and get the swimming platform bent. Instead we get told off for filming on their premises. I wonder why?
Esper Refit 32 – welding and polishing swim platform Read Post »
Bad news this week as we inspect our shaft, which has some corrosion. We turn to Vyv Cox of Coxengineering to find out how and why this has happened. Meanwhile we attempt to offer the swimming platform up to the transom, only to find it is a little too big.
Esper Refit 31 – shaft crevice corrosion Read Post »
Two big projects this week: the removal of a blockage in the mast conduit and the interior lights. The lights are on-going but the removal of the blockage took three days and was only achieved by Moo’s brainwave.
Esper Refit 30 – boat led lights Read Post »
We’ve been in the yard for six months now, and this week’s round-up, which covers all the work so far, coincides with Jamie’s return. The ceiling is going up and the mast is being dressed.
Esper Refit 6 Month Round-up Read Post »
As usual the busiest man on the Esper refit project is Pong, the head carpenter. He’s been assisted by his sons in finishing off the new teak toe rail and the teak rubbing strake down the side of the boat. Sombat, meanwhile, cracks on with the electrics.
Esper Refit 25 – teak toe rail; rubbing strake Read Post »
This week we take a close look at that saloon table that has a coffee table incorporated into it. Amazing to think that in the same week the same man is also doing the rubbing strake.
Esper Refit 24 – saloon table with incorporated coffee table Read Post »
With the non-skid down the entire deck is now covered in 70s-pattered vinyl for protection. The remaining areas of Awlcraft have been buffed and polished, which means the painters have almost finished. Meanwhile, down below, three carpenters and two varnishers are cracking on with the cupboards, trim, floorboards and finally, the saloon table, which has a rather cool design feature. The swimming platform has to be sent to Hat Yai in order for it to be bent.
Esper Refit 23 – carpenters finish trim; teak-lid deck boxes Read Post »
Sorry we’re late. We said we were going to do something a little different this week… see the video clip for an update from both the UK and Thailand. Meanwhile, back in Turkey, guess who’s back?
Esper Refit 22 – Waldringfield boatyard special; the painter returns Read Post »
The osmosis treatment continues with West System 410 Microlight applied to the hull. Pong, head carpenter, begins the task of shaping the toe rail whilst trying to maintain the bend in the wood!
Esper Refit 21 – Awlcraft ‘Snow White’ painted on the deck Read Post »
The osmosis treatment continues with West System 410 Microlight applied to the hull. Pong, head carpenter, begins the task of shaping the toe rail whilst trying to maintain the bend in the wood!
Esper Refit 20 – West System 410 Microlight for osmosis Read Post »
Week 19 was all about painting the topsides with the final coat of Awlcraft. The question is, what colour did we go for?
Esper Refit 19 – painting topside with Awlgrip’s Awlcraft Read Post »
The stainless work is starting to take shape now, with a new companionway ladder being fitted. The floorboards are all up and the lads start preparing the hull for her layer of fibreglass.
Esper Refit 18 – osmosis treatment with biaxial fibreglass Read Post »
The stainless work is starting to take shape now, with a new companionway ladder being fitted. The floorboards are all up and the lads start preparing the hull for her layer of fibreglass.
Esper Refit 17 – stainless companionway ladder Read Post »
In the week that Thailand falls under martial law we have a special news bulletin on how the locals are coping with the threat. Meanwhile, in the boatyard, the top coat is now being applied and the masts look like new. Goy’s paint team are working on various lids and covers too, leaving just the topsides and deck to paint. That won’t be until the toe-rail ‘cuts’ have been smoothed and the cockpit box finished though. Meanwhile the cockpit seats are complete and the varnishers are doing a fantastic job on the floor.
Esper Refit 16 – teak cockpit with grey caulking Read Post »
We’re still waiting for the top coat to arrive and the painters are almost done faring the deck and boxes. The cockpit box is taking shape too, whilst the varnishers are applying polyurethane in their make-shift, dust-free workshop made of clingfilm.
Esper Refit 15 – varnishing teak floorboards with polyurethane Read Post »
