A hole in my bucket !!!!!!!!!

Have now removed all the internal bulkheads and removed any wood that needed replacement from the side panels below the gunnels along with the insulation. Pleased to see that he metal is sound and the original hammerite finish is still good......on the sides...

Standing in the middle, I can touch both sides

However when I cleaned out the the bottom corners, HORROR of HORROR
daylight peeped through ..... and I spy a hole....in the bottom.......a sharp intake of breath
.........and words I cant print.......

On close inspection, the hole is NOT rust related, many sighs of relief, phew.

The hole is perfectly round, 1/4" diameter and very much man made ????? did it have a plug hole / drain hole.......I wonder.......?????

The good news is that the thickness of the base is established at 1/2 ", the metal is sound.....and welding in a bolt will seal it, but I will make further investigations with the builder......Jim would be joking about corks and bungs......and a Hancock impersonation.

Anyway, I am not panicing...Mr Mannering

Out goes the kitchen sink

After a week on the outside and until I can get more red oxide paint, I got stuck in to the interior and more cleaning rust, but also removing the 2 main bulkheads and the kitchen unit (2 small bulkheads still in place) The gas and water pipes have gone...only the water to be renewed cos not having anything gas on board...bottles far too heavy for me to manover, particularly in the winter getting them on an off the boat, bugger that....I remember us almost dropping one in the cut once.!!!!!! and its jolly expensive....changing 2 bottles twice a month ... harrumph harrumph indeed...... .so I am sticking to the decision and will have solid fuel and diesel only with solar panels and wind turbine back up. Saw some cracking kit at the crick boat show so by the time I will be ready there should be plenty of choice....
Needed to get a crowbar to the plywood side panels then a very good mask when removing the insulation..... and held my breath.!!!!!! anyway have now got a major start on the inside, almost 90% of the floor exposed and half the walls. but only below the gunnels.....above appears to need not much ...

Revealing so much of the interior gave me the idea that if I could clean and paint the floor where the solid fuel fire is going to be, then I could install it before the winter, and work through the cold weather....with the means to make tea and jacket potatoes to boot....ha whoopydooo...so I am spurred on. Have already seen the stove....its called the Portland multifuel for marine and has all the new boat safety standards / regulations accounted for, like insulated sides and flue, saftey rail and convection holes... Could be a Chrissy treat......

Sitting inside is making me start to think about wires and pipes and switches and lighting.....back to drawings eh !! ha ha

About time too

After a lot of cleaning and wirebrushing, finally I was able to give the skirt its first coat of red oxide paint......now almost all the way round, 'she's lookin good'..... Also given the roof another layer ....theres a lot of filler work to be done yet on the roof and I have to find out how the stuff I have will work.....Dimitrol ???? I think thats what its called....the tech support said it would be good enough to fill holes in a chieftan tank !!!!! so I thought to myself that it would be just the job for WildRose ha ha...

The sides will need rubbing down again, then a coat of Grey before the winter

Had a good visit to the Crick Boat Show last weekend.........found lots of goodies and ideas.......particularly the new design Portway multifuel stove.....built to meet new boat safety standards.....I thought that it might be a good idea to fit one in this summer so that I can work through the winter .... Also been looking for a marine electrics course, tey used to run them at the Stourport Marina Clubhouse.. I thought that it might be a good idea to find out how it all should work befor I start (that will be a refreshing change for impulsive me ha ha)...and whilst I am stripping out the inside I can get a better idea of what I can or can't do..... No sign of getting the engine fitted yet, but there is have plenty I can get on with. Back soon