A Very Big Jump Forward ! The Complete Repair of My Swedish Koster !

[udo]

Hello everybody!


A very big jump forward! About the complete repair of my Swedish Koster

Am I just a fool? Is it courage? or maybe both?
Or maybe I am more a builder than a sailor?

Used the boat, after I bought it in August 2010, only 3 day's for sailing!

It started with the engine, which had to be taken apart completely last year!

Yes, I worked with my hands before, but not on boats, therefore, my eyes were (last year) not trained enough to spot potential problems. I should have hired an expert to check out the boat for me? Yes right. I did on a previous occasion, but was far from impressed with that person.

Anyway, I did bite the bullet in spite of the lack of knowledge and training, but I guess, when knowing this, it will be a matter trying to find the right people who can help and advice, which I think, I did.

Phil (Dr Spoke) from the wooden boat forum was a great help and a boat builder from my own country the Netherlands was also great in supporting me through this hole journey which is still not finished, but at least we moved on a lot.

I documented everything with lots of images, too many to post directly here on the forum, therefore, you can find it all in this gallery via this link:

and I hope you all enjoy following the process of this repair.

Here is the link to the image gallery, you find the text describing what we do at the bottom of each page, below the images.

http://dev.colourcertainty.co.uk/01I...Koster-repair/






Udo

(Sweden)

[anglooff]

Dear Udo,

Impressive!!!

What is your expected timetable for final completion?

Best reagrds

Alan

[udo]

Hi Alan,


Yep, last year I knew nothing about floating wood. This has changed a lot for sure, but of course, thanks to all people who helped and advice me.

Hopefully I am going to glue in the very last pieces of wood and get the hull closed the coming week, all depending on the humidity levels in the air, since the wood should not have a humidity of over 12% ideally for using epoxy, though the one I am using is less sensitive for that.

Following step will be to sand and bring back to shape the hull, which actually does not take too much time using an angle grinder with sanding pad.

But to come back to your question: It all depends on the weather. I wished I could find a barn during the winter storage. Last winder I could not do anything from October till April, since the temperatures were too low for gluing anything.

Ideally, I hope to get the boat into the water next summer, but I still need to:

1. Finish the hull: sanding and drilling holes for the new sillika brons screws and fitting them.
2. Scrape off the paint everywhere below the waterline and apply a new coating system (Epifanes I am using)
3. Replace the hole bumper strip with new strips of ash wood
4. Put a new glass fibre epoxy roof onto the cabin.
5. Re-new a few wooden panels at the entrance of the cabin inside the cockpit.
6. Scrape the hole hull above the waterline and apply a new coating system from Biopin (based on wood oil, for less future maintenance)

Next year? I hope so, depending in the weather I am afraid.

Udo

[speakeasy]

Udo, thanks for your excellent photo essay. I found it quite instructive. Good luck on getting her finished and splashed.

Jon

[James S]

She is just gorgeous Udo....well done on the repairs.

[udo]

Originally Posted by speakeasy

Udo, thanks for your excellent photo essay. I found it quite instructive. Good luck on getting her finished and splashed.

Jon

Thanks Jon,

Udo

[udo]

Originally Posted by James S

She is just gorgeous Udo....well done on the repairs.

Thanks James,

Udo

[Me-and-Boo]

Din båt är vacker. Du har arbetat hårt för detta. Jag önskar dig den bästa segling.

[udo]

Originally Posted by Me-and-Boo

Din båt är vacker. Du har arbetat hårt för detta. Jag önskar dig den bästa segling.

Yep, that is correct, full time since June up and till now.
Next time I could do it much faster, but finding the right information, the right products and so on takes most of the time.

Starting without any experience...ooops, yes I did work with my hands, but not on boats before, was very daunting and had no idea I could do it.

But thanks to the people who helped and supported me during the whole process made it all possible.

But we are still not ready. I wish I could find an indoor place so I could work during the whole winter. If the boat stays in the harbour under the tent, work basically stops in October till end of April, because temperatures might be way too low for doing any work at all.

Cheers and thanks for the commends,

Udo