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

We are now moulding a GRP tender which we will put up for sale when it is completed to raise funds for both Chance and the Mai Star II restoration projects. Follow along as we mould this 8 ft tender. Which when complete will sold to give us more funds for the projects.  

The deck beams are now screwed down in position with bronze screws rather than iron spikes as they were originally. The forward two deck beams are now also fixed down in position and so the samson post top partner pad is ready to refix into position as well. The new parts of the deck beams, namely the short cross beams which hold the forehatch base need a bit of leveling so that the new decking can lay flat across the deck beams. The foredeck hatch base will need to be shaped on the bottom face so that it fits the deck camber before it is screwed in position with screws through the deck beams from below.  These two plates are the hanging knees to connect the deck beams for the mast to the frames. They could be seen as a bit of an overkill. It was possibly done because after the Second World War the boatyard who build Mai Star II did not have any good grown oak to make up a pair of hanging knees. so they possibly had some steel plate in the boatyard so they use it to do the same job...

The foredeck is getting rebuild with a mixture of old and new deck beams. The forward deck beams are some of the original deck beams which have been checked over and have been cleared to be used again as they are in good condition.  The forward deck beams are being positioned where they were original fitted, however, this time they will be fixed in position with custom made bolts and not iron spikes as they were original fixed in position. The new deck beams will have to have a straight edge run through from they bow to ensure they are at the same level as the forward deck beams. Any work will be done to these to ensure this is achieved before they are all fixed in position. The whole of these deck beams will ensure the front of the hull will stay in its correct position and shape. Once the fore deck is sorted then the fore deck hatch can be fixed in position to ensure the other deck fitting go back in their original position.