S/V Laura EllenSome substantial progress on the deck repairs over the past two weeks. The cabin has been unfastened from the deck and lifted off the boat. The decking on the port side has been removed and one of the beams has been removed and the area prepared for replacing the beam.
I started to cut back the deck planing so that I could stagger the joints between the old and new planks. While doing this I found out that the center of the top side of the deck beams along the cabin trunk were rotted due to advanced iron sickness. In order to replace the deck beams I need access to the carling. The deck beams along the length of the cabin are dovetailed into the carling.
To get access to the carling the cabin trunk needs to be removed. Since the cabin truck also was suffering fron iron sickness I have decided to lift the cabin trunk off to gain access to the deck beams. After a solid weeks work the cabin trunk is now free of the deeck and ready to be lifted off. The cabin truck will be repaired/rebuilt before it is reinstalled after the deck repairs are complete.
Since the cabin will be off the boat, I might as well replace the whole deck. My initial intention was just to just replace the aft deck. It's amazing how things snowball.
Three pieces of deck boards have been cut and dry fit.
Deck beams for the aft deck have been fabricated and dry fit.
Repairs to the deck aft of the cabin are underway.
The deck boards have been removed, the deck beams are being repaired or replaced.
Deck beams at the forward and aft end of the cockpit have been fabricated.
After the injectors and Injector pump were serviced, the engine was run on the test bench to determine if there were and problems. Two significant oil leaks were found.
The first leak was caused by corrosion to one corner of the oil pan.
Another leak was found to be the result of a corroded timing gear cover.
With the use of the engine hoist I lifted the engine off the test stand in order to gain access to the oil pan.
The replacement (used) oil pan and timing cover installed.
Picked up the order of Southern Yellow Pine from the wood dealer and milled it at a friends boat shop.
The wood was cut to width and thickness and bevelled.
Calking is now nearly complete. Seam compound has been applied to the starboard side.
Laura Ellen now has a coat of primer and caulking has begun.
The deck from the aft end of the cabin trunck to the stern has been removed and will be replanked..
