Esper Refit 19 – painting topside with Awlgrip’s Awlcraft
Week 19 was all about painting the topsides with the final coat of Awlcraft. The question is, what colour did we go for?
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Log
The Ship’s Log covers journeys undertaken by sail or canal boat, and includes general posts not covered by the Travel category.
Esper Refit 18 – osmosis treatment with biaxial fibreglass
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 »
Esper Refit 17 – stainless companionway ladder
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 »
Esper Refit 16 – teak cockpit with grey caulking
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 »
Esper Refit 15 – varnishing teak floorboards with polyurethane
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 »
Esper Refit 14 – Awlgrip 545; faring complete; Wilson Art laminate
It was one of those weeks where progress seems to be accelerating. The decks have been fared and when we left Esper on Saturday lunchtime, she was being masked off for some priming. Meanwhile the carpenters have completed the heads doors, which means we now have one purple door and one green one. They look fantastic!
Esper Refit 14 – Awlgrip 545; faring complete; Wilson Art laminate Read Post »
Esper Refit 13 – epoxy mixed with microballoon; Thea launch
The paint has yet to be delivered but that’s not stopping the painters from getting the deck ready. The saloon now has a teak floor and the carpenters continue to veneer the interior. The big news this week, however, was the launch of Thea after two years in the boatyard.
Esper Refit 13 – epoxy mixed with microballoon; Thea launch Read Post »
A Magical Birthday Tour Of Ko Lipe
This is tropical Ko Lipe where Liz and I spent her birthday for the last couple of days. It’s a rather splendid place and here’s a short photo-diary to remind you why Thailand is still a popular tourist destination.
A Magical Birthday Tour Of Ko Lipe Read Post »
Esper Refit 12 – engine respray; bending teak toe rail; faring the deck
We’re into week 12 and things are starting to take shape. For the first time I walked into the saloon and got a glimpse of what it’s all going to look like. The deck fittings and the engine look like new, whilst the teak floor in the saloon looks fantastic. We ended the week with a little farewell party.
Esper Refit 12 – engine respray; bending teak toe rail; faring the deck Read Post »
Esper Refit 10-11 – polishing deck fittings; answering questions in Ko Lanta
Whilst the local people celebrated Songkran we took a short break in Ko Lanta where we answered some of your questions.
Esper Refit 10-11 – polishing deck fittings; answering questions in Ko Lanta Read Post »
When Family Portraits Go Wrong
Tariq and Emma were holidaying with their toddler, Spike. Unfortunately the batteries for their camera had run out so I insisted on an informal family portrait on the beach, making the most of a rather splendid sunset. The problem was it was so dark I couldn’t really see what I was doing and ended up with this effort…
When Family Portraits Go Wrong Read Post »
Esper Refit 9 – painting with Awlgrip primer; reforming the cabin
It was all about the painters this week as they raced against the ensuing storms to spray the first couple of layers of Awlgrip 545 primer. The painters weren’t the only ones getting messy, Mey managed to paint most of her face as she tackled the various deck lockers.
Esper Refit 9 – painting with Awlgrip primer; reforming the cabin Read Post »
Esper Refit 8 – holes in deck; galley is tomato orange
This week we get to play with a new toy whilst the painters cover the topsides with a high build paint. Frustratingly we discover a rather unpleasant hole in the deck but at least the galley’s now covered in tomato and aluminium.
Esper Refit 8 – holes in deck; galley is tomato orange Read Post »
Esper Refit 7 – the E Team; first coat of primer
Esper has changed colour and the first non-white Formica is up in the galley too. Check out our favourite video clip of the project so far, but do it soon before it gets taken down. I’ve just received notification of a copyright infringement! Meet The A Team, now called The E Team…
Esper Refit 7 – the E Team; first coat of primer Read Post »
Launching Maggie Drum – Thai Style!
In this little clip we get to see a boat launched Thai style: in the cradle and with rather loud bangers to ward off evil spirits. It was sad to see our friends leave, but we were happy for them to be hitting the seas once more. We were even more delighted to see our neighbours, Sharm and Rumi, join ‘Maggie Drum’ for their first ever venture on the waves. An obvious but classic choice of sound track…
Launching Maggie Drum – Thai Style! Read Post »