Well, it has been a few weeks since I last wrote anything...thanks Trevor for chasing me up!

So, what have we achieved since my last post?  We have stripped out pretty much all of the interior, including the engine.  So now we can see and assess all the hull.  So far nothing too nasty but we have found that most of the ribs require work, and the engine bed needs replacing.

Work is slow, it takes almost a day to refit one rib.  First you have to remove the old rob, or part rib, assuming you are replacing.  If just sistering, then just any bolts etc that might be in the way have to be removed.  Then the new rib section has to be prepared and fitted.  First it has to be bent to shape, (a great advantage of working in the tropics...the sun does all the heating!) clamped to a former. Then cut and bevelled if needed.  Finally bolted into place and each plank screwed up tight to fit.  

We are using HDPE, a plastic, because we can’t source appropriate wood here in St Lucia.  I did consider using stainless steel, but it is very expensive and much harder to secure the planks onto.  I am concerned about different flex and expansion properties, but the research I have done suggests it will be okay, time will tell.

I will try and post more regular reports....

Fair winds.

Plan B... Antiqua Classics 2022

 Many things have happened over the last few weeks that have led us to change our plans.

Notably, it seems highly likely that this years Classics will be at best a much reduced affair.  Also, several people suggested that having stripped the boat, we would be better to fix everything properly once, rather than cobbling it together to get to Antigua and then having to start again back in the UK.  So we have decided to stay in St Lucia for another year, or at least the boats will.

Having made that decision, we opted to strip out the forepeak and the galley.  Just as well because we found more cracked ribs. The next to go is the engine so we can get that sorted and also check out the condition beneath it.

We made real progress last week.  First we finished removing the caulking from all the seams.  Another change is that we had been just going to recaulk below the water line.  Now we will have a clean start, we will know when all the caulking was last done!

Secondly, Zaka positioned the first new rib on Friday.  It still needs to be screwed in place but a huge step forward.

Gill, Dan and Carmen when we first arrived to review the work needed

 Carmen and Ziggi stripping paint 

Carmen getting down and dirty in the bilge

Zaka removing the first rib

Where has the galley gone?

Bending a new rib 

Gill checking out the hull

My favourite tools for stripping seams

My favourite tools for cleaning seams..

The state of play

 I think that I have worked out the very basics of how this blog works.  I am still unable to find it by searching on line, I guess that will come eventually.

I will try and add a little biography of who we are and how we came to take over as custodians of Guiding Light.

As you can see from this photograph we have been working hard to get the hull prepared.

The list of jobs so far includes...

Making the hull watertight, relatively speaking

Repairing the 19 cracked ribs

Freeing the seized engine

Replacing the rotten fuel tank

Repairing the sails

Painting and varnishing to protect 

Wiring sufficient to run bilge pumps, engine and navigation lights....

All, in six weeks....

More news to follow

New blog

I am just trying to set up a new blog for Guiding Light.

Still not sure how it all works but I seem to be getting there

We have recently taken over Guiding Light, a Berthon Gauntlet 12 ton, built in 1936.

When I work out how this blogging works, I hope to post regular updates