Restoration of the classic 1930's yacht Gadfly II/Mai Star II

Having removed the lower section of the first frame to have a lower section across the keel/hog. It is time to make a pattern of the piece and go through the oak pile to find some suitable pieces of oak to make up a new lower section which connects together  the two frames in the hull at the forward end of the keel bolts.  Another jobwe did was to remove as much of the rotten section of lower forefoot which the samson post mortised into when it was in position. The new forefoot will be made out of some of the seasoned oak  we have in the yard and will likely be made up of two pieces glued together to make up the correct thickness. and then new bolts will be made up and the fore foot will then be bedded on a bed of red lead putty and thick paint.  The three bolts were able to be moved in their holes which is a good sign and will make it easier to put new bolts in to the holes. possibly go up a size and bore new holes through the outer part of the hog/keel. Just placin...

The inner hog pieces now replaced and ready to be screwed and bedded down on a mixture of  red lead powder and linseed putty in the same method the original inner hog pieces were fitted almost 80 years ago. The frames are all dry fitted and the same method to be used on the frames as are the inner hog pieces. The same method will be used on these port side frames  The grown floor which as come out of here will be replaced with a laminated oak as it is difficult to source a piece of oak with the grain pattern to make a new floor.   

As before removing the rotten or broken top sections of the frames and replacing these sections with seasoned oak which we have kept for just such a job where seasoned oak is the better wood to do this job. we have replaced two frames on the port side, one of them is a complete frame and the other is the upper section of the next frame aft in the boat. Both of these frames are the frames where the chain plates are bolted through and they have to be in good condition to take the loads the chainplate put in this area of the hull. The next job on the starboard side will be to remove and replace the next frame back from the frame that as already had the upper section replaced and have this done on this frame too. The rest of the frames are in good condition and only need a bit of attention to make them fit for purpose. That is that they just need a small piece of oak let in on the very top part of the frame. The inner part of the hog on Mai Star II is made up of sections of hog set in betw...