MFV BF494 'Pansy', an old Motor Fifie Conversion

No, I'm not moving to Hartlepool! Got the last bit of the neww rubbing strake done today (well port side anyways), there weren't a soul around the place so the monkey dance involved me, one foot on pontoon, the other on the rudder chains 5 feet away, trying to hold a 14' plank between my knees, drill in one hand, 2lb mash hammer in the other, 8" boat spikes clenched between buttocks and trying to fix a clamp using a combination of toes, fags and swearing. Didn't help that its the plank with the biggest compound curve of the lot either.

fixind said plank was further compound by the fact there's a 2 foot steel plate fixed to the hull about half way down the plank, and even I know that would be tricky to get a nail into, Had spotted this previously though, so took the welder down and welded some new studs to the plate that could be used to bolt the new plank on to that bit

anyhoo, much knee tembling later, and several tourettian bouts of swearing, the fecking thing is on. The curve is under a huge amount of tension, so keep your eyes on the news as its entirely possibly that the stern end will spring off and launch an 8" boat spike into some poor unfortunate soul... or my neighbours boat!

New very very very bendy bit of wood bent into place using the monkey monkey knee trembler technique

So she's ready for the turn around. and with absolute perfect timing, 'Constant Friend' the converted trawler moored next to us, has got a big squad of arms and legs ready for just such a task.

with not so perfect timing they did their turnaround yesterday!