Wow.. how time fly's.. it only seems like yesterday when I was building my Harley in the front room.
http://loboybobberbuild2010.blogspot.co.uk/
I'm going to BLOG the restoration of my Grand Banks this winter. Not everyone's 'cup of tea' I know, but when I was looking at buying one of these old girls any information I could find on the 'net' really helped when it came to detail.
Im not going to rip her to bits because generally for her age she's in good shape. I'm hoping not to touch the bottom or the decks which are the largest area's, and I believe sound and watertight! 'Teak decks watertight' I hear you say! Yep.. a miracle I know lol. I guess the old owner maintained these well... the boat was in Scotland for years, and I guess with the weather up there she had to hold out.
Ill be concentrating on the top more than anything else, plywood construction generally, some of which is rotten, around windows, parts of the coachroofs, upper deck etc. You can soon spot these defects by simply tapping with your knuckles around any vulnerable areas. Im going to run some teak deck across the upper deck too, as this areas a little bland.
Inside im having the saloon upholstery refurbished. Ill turn some of the cushions around, relay the piping and have new foam fitted. They all look good in this pic but when you get close there's lots of old repairs and damage.
The fuel tanks will need descaling and ive got some rust killer... I will then repaint them with something anti corrosive! Im guessing in a few years time I might be replacing one of them!
Electrics, ill be calling in a few mates to help me on this one. I guess another battery, generator charging, a new trickle charger etc. Ill probably have two banks of deep cycle batteries, each with at least the necessary cold-cranking amps to start the engines. These two banks can then be alternated for domestics use. This provides greater overall capacity and versatility. I want to live on this old girl next summer so I want lots of power, and no embarrassing moments when I turn the ignition keys!!
http://loboybobberbuild2010.blogspot.co.uk/
I'm going to BLOG the restoration of my Grand Banks this winter. Not everyone's 'cup of tea' I know, but when I was looking at buying one of these old girls any information I could find on the 'net' really helped when it came to detail.
Im not going to rip her to bits because generally for her age she's in good shape. I'm hoping not to touch the bottom or the decks which are the largest area's, and I believe sound and watertight! 'Teak decks watertight' I hear you say! Yep.. a miracle I know lol. I guess the old owner maintained these well... the boat was in Scotland for years, and I guess with the weather up there she had to hold out.
Ill be concentrating on the top more than anything else, plywood construction generally, some of which is rotten, around windows, parts of the coachroofs, upper deck etc. You can soon spot these defects by simply tapping with your knuckles around any vulnerable areas. Im going to run some teak deck across the upper deck too, as this areas a little bland.
Inside im having the saloon upholstery refurbished. Ill turn some of the cushions around, relay the piping and have new foam fitted. They all look good in this pic but when you get close there's lots of old repairs and damage.
I guess some curtains or blinds as well but other than that the inside is totally original and im going to leave well alone.
The engine rooms fab! My favourite space... must get that from my Navy days when id spend months on end in the engine and boiler rooms. The engines proved themselves on the trip from Inverness. They are pretty dam perfect.. so apart from winterising not much else. I'm tempted on getting the rocker boxes chromed but we will see. The fuel tanks will need descaling and ive got some rust killer... I will then repaint them with something anti corrosive! Im guessing in a few years time I might be replacing one of them!
Electrics, ill be calling in a few mates to help me on this one. I guess another battery, generator charging, a new trickle charger etc. Ill probably have two banks of deep cycle batteries, each with at least the necessary cold-cranking amps to start the engines. These two banks can then be alternated for domestics use. This provides greater overall capacity and versatility. I want to live on this old girl next summer so I want lots of power, and no embarrassing moments when I turn the ignition keys!!
Somehow she has a BSS certificate for use on inland waters. Handy... because I need this on the Broads. Looking around the fuel and gas systems though I just scratch my head!... this MOT for boats was definitely bought in the pub! Its valid for 2 more years so that will give me time to sort out the following!! Fuel pipes, fuel filters, tank drains, fuel tank vents, gas locker construction... the list goes on...!!
After this lot its just colour schemes. I'm going for black and charcoal for covers and dodgers. I will oil all the Teak. Black antifoul with a boot stripe in green.. same as on my Rebel. (looks good with varnish). Then the top will be as all Grand Banks... WHITE.
O yea...Jonathon Greenwood boat builder extraordinaire is building me a classic pram dingy to go on the aft coachroof. Yum!
