It reminded me of a scene from an old James Bond film: extras in white coats criss-crossing purposefully in the background, clipboards in hand, with banks of computers twinkling behind … Continue reading Day 84: Saturday 2 June
Day 85: Sunday 3 June
‘Do you run a tight ship or a loose ship?’ she asked. It is obviously the latter. I had been too relaxed. My sister had phoned as I was leaving … Continue reading Day 85: Sunday 3 June
Day 86: Monday 5 June
I was there at 9, but DA and Ian had beaten me to it. Ian tackled the gunwales. Our worst fears were not worst enough: the epoxy and uneven laminates … Continue reading Day 86: Monday 5 June
Day 87: Tuesday 6 June
Today was our last big sanding day, or so I thought. Ian had other ideas; there were too many “bumphles” in the epoxy for his liking: ‘There’s an awful lot … Continue reading Day 87: Tuesday 6 June
Day 88: Thursday 7 June
Another ‘last’ sanding day; Ian was pitiless. Simon and I were sent back to work with our bare hands ‘down below’. Russet seems to have been singled out for promotion … Continue reading Day 88: Thursday 7 June
Day 89: Friday 8 June
Two days’ work in one. DA and Ian took over sanding the already sanded: things were getting serious. DA started on the gunwales, giving them slightly rounded edges to make … Continue reading Day 89: Friday 8 June
Day 90: Saturday 9 June
It was P-Day! After three months of sawing, glueing and abrading, we were there. But we first had to sand down the last pieces of filler over the holes we uncovered … Continue reading Day 90: Saturday 9 June
Day 91: Sunday 10 June
Veni. Vidi. Pingimus. I came. I saw. We painted. (Attributed to Julius Caesar, skiff builder, no relation). The Eposeal sealant had hardened varnish-like. The skiff’s glowing plywood was asking not … Continue reading Day 91: Sunday 10 June
Day 92: Monday 11 June
Some Jainist monks in India sweep the path in front of them so that they don’t step on anything living as an expression of their commitment to ahimsa or non-violence. … Continue reading Day 92: Monday 11 June
Day 93 (Ian)
Picture the scene if you will. In the Noust, Alasdair and I have been working quietly for about an hour on the thwart supports, and DA has been refining the … Continue reading Day 93 (Ian)
Skiff Talk 