These pictures show the extent of the work that has been completed by all the wonderful people who pitched in in the early phases, when the boat was in really sad shape. She had an extensive yard period in March 2016 where Jeff Rutherford's Boat Shop (Rusty and JD) replaced nine rotted planks. Bay Marine boat yard painted the topsides and our volunteers (Fergus, Kate, Andy, Russell, Onie, Mike M) painted the bottom.
CLOVER was then towed over to Sugar Dock Harbor across the canal from the boat yard and work continued on restoring the interior structure of the boat. All the aging tanks and plumbing and electrical wiring was removed to get at the bilges and remove the corrosion and repaint and protect the spaces underneath the cabins. Then the forepeak or the foremost part of the boat was repainted and the anchor chain (all 3,000 pounds of it - thanks Will!) was removed and re-stowed. Each cabin the boat has been restored and the main cabin in particular has had its table and cabin sole refinished.
On deck, a protective layer of fiberglass was put over the leaky deck as a preventive measure to protect the interior and stop any more moisture from rainwater coming into the boat's deck structure and damaging it. After that was completed the deck was painted and the work on the varnished cabins, hatches, and cockpit began. The work was very extensive and painstaking and carried out by so many people (Fergus, Bob, Russell, Jennifer, John, Will, Andy, and several volunteers John organized from SalesForce). CLOVER began to get her swagger back, and it was exciting to see.
In 2018 we made the decision to save the engine and so made plans to remove it from the boat, no small task. We needed to be able to remove the aft cabin from the deck, so a crane was hired and we proceeded to separate the cabin, both Jeff Rutherford and myself. I discovered the pleasures of properly wielding a sawsall and of disconnecting an engine and preparing it for removal. Just one sticky engine mount bolt and the engine popped free. As we had the crane we also decided to remove the mast and the rig in order to inspect and repair and reuse it.
Now we have the boat ready of the next phases - engine installation and replacement of machiney and electrical systems, and repair and replacement of the deck.
CLOVER was then towed over to Sugar Dock Harbor across the canal from the boat yard and work continued on restoring the interior structure of the boat. All the aging tanks and plumbing and electrical wiring was removed to get at the bilges and remove the corrosion and repaint and protect the spaces underneath the cabins. Then the forepeak or the foremost part of the boat was repainted and the anchor chain (all 3,000 pounds of it - thanks Will!) was removed and re-stowed. Each cabin the boat has been restored and the main cabin in particular has had its table and cabin sole refinished.
On deck, a protective layer of fiberglass was put over the leaky deck as a preventive measure to protect the interior and stop any more moisture from rainwater coming into the boat's deck structure and damaging it. After that was completed the deck was painted and the work on the varnished cabins, hatches, and cockpit began. The work was very extensive and painstaking and carried out by so many people (Fergus, Bob, Russell, Jennifer, John, Will, Andy, and several volunteers John organized from SalesForce). CLOVER began to get her swagger back, and it was exciting to see.
In 2018 we made the decision to save the engine and so made plans to remove it from the boat, no small task. We needed to be able to remove the aft cabin from the deck, so a crane was hired and we proceeded to separate the cabin, both Jeff Rutherford and myself. I discovered the pleasures of properly wielding a sawsall and of disconnecting an engine and preparing it for removal. Just one sticky engine mount bolt and the engine popped free. As we had the crane we also decided to remove the mast and the rig in order to inspect and repair and reuse it.
Now we have the boat ready of the next phases - engine installation and replacement of machiney and electrical systems, and repair and replacement of the deck.
