Hartley TS16
Restoration Project
 

Both port and starboard decking had been removed but to half way between the second and third rib. As this is not a good place to make a join, the remainder of the deck has been romoved back to the bearer at the second rib on both sides. Surfaces have been prepared and are ready for new decking to be fitted.
Sanding back of the cabin and foredeck has commenced, removing the old paint back to the fibre glass underneath. As the majority of the decking and cabin had to be replaced, this job is not such a big one. Some of the existing glass had blistered away from the cabin sides where moister had got in behind light fittings, and had to be removed also. No decay of the underlying timber was evident.
As mentioned earlier, this had been originally built as a bilge Keeler. Here is a repair that had been performed by the previous owner of the hull where the port keel had previously been. It just needs to be sanded back along with the rest of the hull. The paintwork is peeling away but the glasswork is in good condition.
The starboard keel had broken away leaving a couple of rusty pieces of mounting plate and the fibre glass reinforcement. This needed to be removed before repair work could commence.
A broken stanley blade later and the remains of the starboard keel has now been removed. the timber underneath is essentially in good condition. A small portion of the outer layer of ply has cracked and peeled away, but easily treatable and repairable. Beyond this It will need to wait until I roll it over.

Sanding back is a long, slow and very dusty process, however, slowly but surely and some pleasing results are coming through. Thank the powers to be for electric power tools is all I can say. Manual sanding has it's place, but I really don't want to see this boat out of the water longer than it needs to be.

You'll also notice that the port side deck has now been replaced with some new marine grade ply running to the back of the cabin.
The starboard side deck has now been fitted as well. Piece by piece Southern Cross is looking more like a boat and less like a deralict.
Measure twice, cut once! this was a piece of advise given to me by a builder when I was working as a laborour. You'll notice a line on the left side of the panel toward the bottom of the picture,... the advice safed a costly mistake. Cockpit seat locker floors are in and a nice snugg fit as well.

Now that the cockpit locker floors are in, the rest of the seat supports can be fitted. You'll also notice that the cell dividers have started to be fitted as well. There will be three cells in total on each side. A larger one to the back, a small one in the middle, and another small one to the front accessable from the cabin only.

The side panals have been cut to size but need to have the cupboard openings cut out before being fixed to the cockpit.

Seat supports in place, locker openings cut and starboard side panel is now securely in place.

Port side panel going into place.

cockpit seat tops have been cut to shape ready to be fitted in place.