Two In One Out

With the two new beams bolted firmly in place, and using two heavy duty cargo straps to hold Shamrock's sides in place, the forward cargo hold coaming and the main beam beneath it have been removed. The two cargo straps, one forward and one aft of the main beam, are fitted across Shamrock and secured around a frame and the beamshelf at both ends. A large plank of oak from a tree with a natural curve has been sourced and the new main beam has been cut from it. There is enough oak left over to cut out a second beam that is earmarked for the next beam forward of the main beam.

New forward beam fitted.

Removing the main beam.

Aft securing strap.

Well secured.

Marking out the main beam.

New Beams

The shaping, steaming and temporary clamping into place of the last section of starboard beamshelf has enabled the cutting and temporary fitting of Shamrock's aftermost deck beam. To get the correct deck camber a plywood template has been produced taking the curve from her cargo hatch after beam. Two partner beams have also been cut with tenons at one end that are to be mortised into the new beam while the other ends are to be bolted to the new deadwood adding extra rigidity to Shamrock's stern. Sections for her after deck shelf have been temporarily fitted to the transom and one of the forward beams that needs replacing has been cut and shaped ready for fitting. These new sections will need to be removed and given a protective coating before they are finally bolted in place.

Last section of beamshelf

Josh beam shaping.

New aft beam in position.

Partner beams.

Deck shelf.

New forward beam.

Warping Horse

With the new warping horse in place followers of Shamrock may notice the new top beam has a pronounced curve when compared with one fitted in the late 1970’s restoration. This is intentional. Details of this form, for the warping horse, were found amongst a collection of old photos of Shamrock operating in and around Falmouth. Amongst these there is one photo of her under motor/sail, taken from astern, showing her original warping horse complete with curve. Shamrock's top gudgeon has been fitted and checked for alignment. The rotten rear port section of beamshelf has been removed and a replacement is being fashioned. Thanks to Richard Trebilcock for the historic photos.

New warping horse.

Shamrock off Falmouth

Top gudgeon.

Checking alignment.

Sternpost

Six inch (15 cm) high draught figures, spaced 1ft (30 cm) apart from the underside of the keel have been carved in Shamrock's new sternpost. This is now bolted in place and the bottom two rudder gudgeons have been fitted. The top gudgeon has had an extra steel strap welded on its inside edge ensuring that once fitted the ruder pintle drops freely through all three gudgeon eyes. Oak for the new warping horse has been cut to size, using the old warping horse as a template, with shallow groves being cut on the inboard face of the new transom ready to receive the uprights. Lengths of galvanised treaded bar with a nut welded on one end have been used for the through bolting of the transom planks. Through bolting is achieved by drilling through the section to be attached with a drill the same diameter as the bar and then counter sink ensuring the nut will not be proud and there is sufficient space for a socket. The receiving plank is drilled undersize, once the plank butts have received a layer of black butter, an impact gun is used to screw the bar into the receiving plank.

New and old sternpost.

Sternpost fitted.

Botton gudgeons.

Ready for the uprights.

New warping horse timbers.

Old warping horse.

Taking Shape.

Two new slabs of oak have been shaped, bolted and through bolted onto Shamrock's transom giving her more structural strength as well as restoring her distinct shape. All that remains to complete the transom is to trim the ends to profile then fit the sternpost and fashion piece (wash strake). With Cotehele rangers assistance the main tabernacle has been lifted out of Shamrock and moved boat shed where the crew has started the thrilling task of scraping all the old paint off.

Through bolt.

July Update

Shamrock's aft deckhouse coaming has been removed allowing its supporting beams and the mizzen tabernacle to be inspected. The good news is that the beams and tabernacle are sound, and it was already known that the coaming needed to be renewed. The new aft 'deadwood' has been black buttered and bolted into place and the new transom board is in the process of being fitted. The timber for the decking, hatch coaming, knees, etc. has been delivered and drying out nicely under the cover of a tarpaulin, while the large Oak timber required for her new main beam is still being sourced.

Deckhouse coming.

Exposed beams.

Ready for fitting.

Old and new bolts.

Deadwood fitted.

More wood.

New Deck Planks

The first batch of new Cornish timber has arrived, delivered by Penryn's ‘Jo Sawmill’. The delivery consists of a large quantity of quarter sawn Douglas fir for Shamrock's new deck. This has been ‘sticked’ out and is being allowed to dry before it can be used. Quarter sawn boards have two advantages: they are more resistant against warping with changes in moisture and, while shrinkage can occur, it is less troublesome, just what Shamrock needs to keep her deck watertight.

 From Wikipedia
Quarter sawing gets its name from the fact that the log is first quartered lengthwise, resulting in wedges with a right angle ending at approximately the centre of the original log. Each quarter is then cut separately by tipping it up on its point and sawing boards successively along the axis. That results in boards with the annual rings mostly perpendicular to the faces. Quarter sawing yields boards with straight striped grain lines and greater stability than flat sawn wood. It also yields narrower boards, because the log is first quartered, which is more wasteful.

New deck planks.

Quarter sawn grain lines.