Shamrock & Covid

With Shaune classed as a non-essential worker and furloughed during the lockdown and the volunteers sent home, Shamrock was left sat in her cradle on the slipway at Cotehele Quay. With his and the crews return in late August, Shamrock was checked out and found to be drying out with her ‘Elm’ bottom hull planks seams opening up. Her cover had also taken a battering with the after section needing the most attention this has now been covered with a new tarpaulin.

Shamrock aft cabin.

Under the cover looking aft

Looking forward.

Open seam.

Repaired cover.

Due to the sudden shutdown in March, Nancy Belle was left in the boat shed during the lockdown this resulted in her hull planks drying out and seams opening up from stem to stern. On the crews return she was moved out onto the slipway and the hull was soaked by filling it with water in an attempt to swell the planks back into place. This failed, and was evidenced by water pouring out of her seams, so to facilitate the removal of all the various sealant materials used on her hull planks over the years all her electrics and engine have been removed and cleaning the out of the seams started.

Nancy Belle not holding water.

Bow needs repairing.

Open seams.

Braced and chocked.

Stripped out.

Around the site the stocks of wood have been recovered where the previous covers had deteriorated or rotted away.

In the boat shed, Shamrock's workboat has been braced and chocked, this craft also needs some planks replacing, and the shed is in the process of being cleaned and tided in preparation for it being closed up and secured in November, no date has yet been set for when it will be reopened. 

Shamrock's workboat.

December Update

With all the progress made in the last few weeks Shamrock is starting to look like her old self.

• The fairing of her sheer line has been completed. 
• All four new oak sheer strake planks have been cut to size, nailed and bolted into place. 
• On the starboard side one more complete strake of hull planks has been completed. 

Bolted butt joint.

• In the boat shed the next strake of larch hull planks has been cut and planed to size. Once these are fitted one more strake will be needed to seal the hull. This will be completed after the the new bulwark stanchions and covering boards have been fitted.

• The old bulwark stanchions have been recovered with the starboard sides being temporarily fitted and the port side awaiting fitting. This will enable templates for the new covering boards to be made. 

• Beams that are not being renewed are being stripped of paint and their old deck nail holes plugged.

May Update

The renewal of Shamrock's starboard beamshelf has been completed with the cutting and fitting of the forward section. The first hull plank has been cut from a 9.75 meter (32ft) plank, steamed shaped and fitted. With the high cost of galvanised boat nails the crew have been employed in recycling a large quantity of old nails that where recovered during the removal of Shamrock's hull planks. These have been straightened, cleaned and finally had a coat of galvanise paint.

Beamshelf section bing checked for size and fit.

Beamshelf complete.

Shaped hull plank.

The last boat nail

Hammered home.

First hull plank in place.

Old nails.

Mass production.