The dinghy

[bunn]

I bought a sailing dinghy! It was fifty quid. Pretty sure I'm going to spend about four times that on buying paint and replacing all the ropes. She was born in 1972 so we are nearly the same age.

From what I can see, the wood looks pretty good, but the paint is very tired and peeling, and the varnish has also seen better days. Of course there may be horrors lurking under the paint, but I am optimistic.



She spent about 25 years living in a garage loft.

I'd brought my ramp solution to get her on the car roof, but the previous owner declared 'We need help!' and summoned two helpful butchers from the butcher shop around the corner, who whisked the boat on to my Octavia with no difficulty at all.



The drive home was slightly hair-raising at first, particularly as it rained like mad, and I had to brave the motorways.

I did start out going along the remotest Devon lanes.



My idea was that if there were signs of slippage I could leap out and fix it immediately. But in fact, there was no slippage at all.

I did at least get to use the ramp to take the boat off again. It actually feels lighter than the canoe, which is odd, because it should be at least 15 kg heavier. But it is shorter, so perhaps that makes it feel more manageable.

Comments

[soemand]

Congratulations! Obviously from afar looks quite nice!

Let the two-foot-itis begin!

https://canadianboating.ca/destinations/two-footitis/

[bunn]

:-D really, in terms of just length this is many feet down - we're selling a 21ft RIB. I really wanted something light enough I can keep it at home and not have to fuss with moorings, drystacks, trailers or engine servicing. But also with a power source that isn't just my own arms!

[greenwoodside]

Fingers crossed the wood is revealed to be solid! The garage where she was kept looks pretty dry at least.

What are your plans for her? Sand and repaint?

[bunn]

Step 1 is to put wheels on the timber thing I made to carry her home, so that I can use it off the car to wheel her in and out of the house bottom up - the trolley I have only fits her right way up which is no good for working on her bottom, and I want to do any sanding outside where there's fresh air. But it's Wales, so I can't count on it staying dry for long!

Step 2 is remove all the loose paint, decide whether the rest is solid enough to sand or if the whole thing needs stripping, and if so, strip it (and repair any soft bits) and then sand

Step 3 is repaint

Step 4 is turn her back right way up, sand the rough bits and varnish

Step 5 is replace all the ropes and string

And Step 6 is the most terrifying one : float her and see how much she leaks.

[independence1776]

May the wood prove to be in good condition!

[bunn]

Fingers crossed!

[grundyscribbling]

Nifty! Hope the parts underneath the paint are in good condition!
(Nomansland?)

[bunn]

I happened to be driving through and thought the name was excellent. I passed signs to Black Dog, and considered a visit there just for the name, but it was a bit wet and gloomy and the road home was long.