Smart as paint

Job done

Moving to the ramp

Back in the water

Back on the berth, showing off

The purpose of painting a wooden boat is to protect her from the elements. But the wonderful spin-off is that she looks great too, and you feel great about her. Thanks to Lloyd and Roger at Sounds Shipwright Services, Orion is looking fantastic: cabin roof, deck, topsides, boot topping, and hull. There's a new mast too, seen here in the lowered position for coming out of the shed.

Caulking

Nick and John have done lots of caulking

One would use red lead, but it takes a long time before it dries enough to putty over. So now Nick uses a primer made specifically for underwater work, and he notes the time he paints it on and there's an optimum time to start puttying - when the paint has taken a set, but hasn't completely dried. He says the paint then kind of glues the putty into the seam. So, they go along in sections, chalking up the time they put on the paint.

Some of the butts needed attention because they'd got rather wide and stayed wet long after she was out. John refastened some of them using silicon bronze screws and was pleased to note they all pulled up tight. And some we put a tingle over as well, as in the picture below.