When Arjen Schipmolder began to investigate the condition of the decks on Tig (F24), he found widespread degradation. Eventually, the entire deck was replaced, together with some deck beams and a section of the top of the starboard sheer strake. The work is outlined in the following images.
Not encouraging! As the rotten ply of the side deck is removed, the rot in the cabin / cockpit side is exposed. Underneath, the beam shelf (outer beam), carling (inner beam) and decking half-beams are revealed. (Photo: Arjen Schipmolder)
There wasn’t much left of the lazarette deck after the rot was cut out! (Photo: Arjen Schipmolder)
The roof deck was entirely removed. Most of the deck beams were good enough to retain. (Photo: Arjen Schipmolder)
The ends of the half-beams are exposed where the top of the sheer strake has been cut away. The rot at the bottom of the cabin side has also been cut out. (Photo: Arjen Schipmolder)
The starboard cabin side had a new lower section, together with a new carling. The half deck beams have been removed for this. The tops of the steamed frames are seen peeping up between the beam shelf and the new section of sheer strake. (Photo: Arjen Schipmolder)
Starboard, looking aft. The usual dilemmas- what to save and what to chop out. The new sections of cabin side will fit into the routed recess. (Photo: Arjen Schipmolder)
A good view of the forward cabin roof structure. In 1973, the beams were single timbers, steamed and bent. By the end of production, beams like these were laminated. (Photo: Arjen Schipmolder)
From left to right: sheer strake, frame ends, beam shelf, carling, cockpit coaming. (Photo: Arjen Schipmolder)
Ply decking being fitted over the saloon. Ply will only bend in one dimension. Two thinner sheets are easier to bend but more work to fit and seal. (Photo: Arjen Schipmolder)
The foredeck was also replaced. (Photo: Arjen Schipmolder)
All of the new decks need to be glassed, of course. Overlaps are essential to protect the end grains of the plywood. (Photo: Arjen Schipmolder)
Finally- a beautiful job. The Samson post was renewed and the cabin hatch was reinstalled with new coaming. The deck sheathing was finished off with the rubbing strip and cabin beading. (Photo: Arjen Schipmolder)
The glory of pictures: they tell the story.
What is good here is that we all can see how the deck structure is put together.
It also highlights the importance of ‘edge maintenance’ of the deck covering.
There should be a follow up from Brian, owner of Quo Vadis, which is about to be renamed (I understand), detailing what he has had done at Alan Staley’s yard in Faversham – doing away with a visible deck edge above the rubbing band.
Well done Arjen, and thank you for this.