Since the last newsletter (August 2002) work has continued with re-planking
the hull. The inner skin was completed at the end of September. We again experienced
considerable difficulty in finding top quality larch essential for the outer
skin. We were finally successful in October when we purchased four larch trees
from an estate in Norfolk. These trees have proved to be very high quality
and will be sufficient to complete the outer skin. The severe storms experienced
at the end of October caused a delay as the sawmill at Orford was off power
for a week. Peter Chroston has replaced the
outer skin in stages in order to allow the planks to dry and shrink, before
trimming the planks for their final fit and the application of white lead and
calico. At the time of writing (Jan 28th) almost 100 outer skin planks have
been replaced. There are about 10 more planks that run from gunwale to keel
to be fitted. The rest are shorter planks that run from gunwale to deadwoods
at the stern and gunwale to stem post at the bow. Some 70 outer planks have
been nailed to the inner skin. (Clenching). This is one of the few processes
in wooden boat building where modern tools and methods are of no use. Each
nail has to have a cap (rove) put on it from the inside before being pulled
tight to tie the two skins together. Clenching always seems to have coincided
with extremely cold weather. Re-planking should be finished sometime in February.
The next step will be to restore or replace the 80 ribs (timbers).
Other News: The Trust has recently received a grant of £5000 from the Essex Heritage Trust.
Sponsor-a-Plank: All planks have now been sponsored, but we are now inviting sponsors for the 80 ribs (timbers). £25 will sponsor one rib, with the donor’s name being marked on it. Contact 01255 675308 or 01255 677946 for details.
Richard Griffiths, who now lives in California, recently visited the boat.
Richard is a grandson of Joseph Wyatt who was born in 1878. Joining the Royal
Navy he fought in the Boer War. He joined the lifeboat crew in 1906, his first
lifeboat launch being on 3rd May 1906, not on James Stevens No. 14 but on the
relief lifeboat at Walton during JS 14’s motorisation. He took part in
many famous rescues including the Demaris (1907), Eleanor (1914) Peregrine (1917) Atlantic (1924) and Cuthbert (1927). Joseph Wyatt continued serving
on the crew until World War Two. Richard has sponsored ribs for his two grandsons,
which will be placed amidships on the starboard side where they will be secured
to the plank sponsored in memory of their great grand father.
Talks: Any supporter who belongs to any club or society interested in having
an illustrated slide show and talk on the restoration should contact me on
01255 675308.
Email: Could any supporter who receives this newsletter by post and now has email advise me of their email address so that future newsletters can be sent by email thereby saving on postage? My email address is at the top of the newsletter.
John Steer: Newsletter Editor
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