On Saturday (8/12/2018) it was interesting to see the old and the new together in Victoria Harbour. Photo taken from the Alma Barge.
The priming of the steel casing around the keel has been completed. The casing needed wire brushing to removed the surface rust from the steel, checking for any deeper rust and then priming with a two pack metal primer suitable for immersion in water. This task has taken volunteers several months to complete.
The following photos show some of the work the shipwrights have achieved in the last few weeks. The work has concentrated on framing as much as possible before the Christmas break. No explanation of each photo is needed as previous posts have explained the work that is being repeated for each frame. Work has progressed to frame 45 of the 52 on each side of the ship.
Where there are keel bolts the frame sections are butt jointed between the keel and the keelson around the bolt. In the absence of a bolt then the frame section can be a solid piece straddling the keel. The horizontal bolts shown on the sides of the frames are securing the two side by side sections together. ( see next photo.)
Left photo is from the previous post 2 weeks ago and the other photo shows the progress on the starboard side. Several frames have been removed, some completed and others commenced. The photos below show the port side with similar progress. Each frame requires 8 to 10 laminated sections to be made and fixed. It can be time consuming removing the old frames as the ceiling planks in each cabin need to be preserved as most do not need to be replaced.
The next photo shows the keelson and frames in a rib-like pattern. The battens running parallel to the keelson are used by the shipwrights to shape the inward-facing side of the frames. This is necessary to obtain the correct shape for the inside of the cabins, engine room etc.
The engine room has had the engine mounts and frames removed and the shipwrights are now installing the new frames as they progress toward the stern.
Another section of the garboard strake has been fixed on the starboard. It has been butt joined to the first section that extends to the bow.
