Leila2c

Restoration Diary

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EASTER 2013

The bunks are made and Jeckells have measured for mattresses. The heads (toilet) works, the cooker is installed, the surveyor has inspected and we are getting ready to move to Lowestoft.

Ready for Sea

After four years and £150,000, we are operational and ready for sea trials. But we still have the bunks, heads and safety gear to fit.

Getting Ready to go

Ocober 2012

Rodge has finished the transom which has been completely rebuilt.  The engine works fine, the electrics are in conduit and a bilge alarm has been fitted to keep the MCA happy. We have to rebuild the steering box, then be ready to move to Lowestoft. If we can find another 2k we should be able to move in a month

Progress at the end of July

	Rodge, David and Michel have been steadily getting through the list -ballast,channels, engine, electrics, stempost,  bit, anchor. To do: steering, capping rail, stanchions, mastfoot
	The helmsman's view of instruments and switches.

Mast stepped in June

She's in on June 7 - The Launch

May 24th - She's Out!

 Leila came out into the sunshine at 0900 on Thursday morning after four years of restoration in the Southwold boatshed. In a delicate operation because of her deep draught and narrow beam, the full expertise of Harbour Marine Services was needed to move her out onto the hard standing in readiness for an expected launch in the first week of June.

Standing proudly outside the shed were the two main men who had laboured to get this 1982 gentleman’s racing yacht ready.

Chris King 54 of Leiston, on the right, has been running the restoration since Christmas for Harbour Marine Services, where he has worked for 5 years. “This has been the most rewarding experience of my short boat building career,” he said, “ The help from the volunteers is what has made it work.”

Michel Bougard 67 a retired toolmaker of Reydon has volunteered every day. “It’s been wonderful. I’ve really enjoyed it and I ain’t looking forward to it finishing,” he said. Michel who still sails his Laser SP3 off southwold every weekend, will however look forward to a trip to Holland on Leila that he has been promised for his efforts as a volunteer.

It was a tricky process that was expertly handled by the HMS team. First she had to be winched across on the cradle so that the hoist could get round her, then she had to be gently raised off the cradle without toppling over, and finally moved to her hard standing temporary berth outside:

	On the left, Steve winches as we watch. Michel poses, then Chris poses. The main man again. Nice butt - the boat! JB slots her in nicely to a hard standing berth.

May 3rd

A month to go to launch, and the pace quickens

The first topcoat goes onto the topsides below the new bulwarks.

Toughened glass is delivered to finish the deck hatches.

The transom is rebuilt.

Another week and she will emerge from the shed for the first time in nearly four years.

May 2012

3 weeks to go and all starting to look shiny!

The foredeck is looking good to go.

A month to go to launch and the pace quickens.

The last bulwark is matched up to the new transom and the first topcoat goes onto the topsides.

 March 2012

Stuart, a volunteer from Lowestoft College, lays the deck under instruction from Chris of HMS.  CLICK picture to see youtube video.

Chris, Rodge amd Stuart finish laying the deck. The curve of the pitch pine planking looks really good. This was how decks were laid in Victorian days.

The hull is undercoated

Rodge and Chris start to fit the pitch pine deck planking. We extract a keel bolt which is remarkably good shape for 50 years old. A modern steel bolt would have rusted by now. We need to find a wrought iron replacement

February 2012

January

Chris knocks off for the day after the ply deck is finally fitted.
	Painting down below.