Cribblog 2018

New window, old paint.

    Still still on the hard.

Still no boating news from Cribbit as she is still well stuck on the hard at Aldermaston. Some progress has been made on getting her ready to resume her natural environment though. I have fitted a replacement bow window and I've started on the stern 'boudoire' as I euphemistically describe the stern end of the boat. Good news is that she is about to be moved into the painting tent and they have already started on rubbing down the old paintwork.

I've had to take up all the floor boards and a good bit of the wall cladding as well. The bottom has been cleared of mill scale and a coat of Hammerite paint applied, luckily our local Wickes had this on special offer at half price so not quite as expensive as it might otherwise have been.

Despite the hot summer the bilges are still a bit damp and I can see that the rest of the floor is going to have to be replaced at some time. For now the stern has been done. I'm also removing the layer of insulation that that the previous owner [Gordon] installed just before I bought her in 1993. This lowers the floor level by about 30mm and gives a feeling of more space. The floor always felt cold anyway so I don't think this will be missed.

Below a few pics of progress so far. Still a lot to do before she is habitable but it is surprising how an imminent launch time concentrates the mind of those fitting out boats.

Looking forward, the old closet area. Loose mill scale with a coating of white chalk from the very chalky canal water. Everywhere that got wet when she sank is covered in a thick deposit of white chalk.

Cleaned up and painted with Hammerite.

Cleaned, painted and some ballast replaced.

Found some good bits of old prop shaft lying outside so appropriated for ballast..

Looking towards the stern.

Floor boards replaced but at a lower level without the [soggy] insulation.

Water tank.

The new tank cover.

Undercoated and puttied up the holes. Putty on camera lens gives romantic aura.

Ready for top coat but not until the sanding outside is finished.

Roof cleared for impending move.

Moved under the painting tent.

A few layers of paint removed.

Tom in attendance with welding kit at the ready.

Tom in action welding up the water tank.

Its sparky on the other side of the cockpit drain hole..

Or try this link to a random file somewhere else at cribbitDOTnet: lom2016.php