Relentless wind and rain continue to batter the yard, interposed with unseasonably mild conditions.  The absence of ice and snow has meant life on the yard is more bearable than past winters but has led to a noticeably increased amount of algae on pontoons and boats in the marina.

It’s been a busy month in both workshops.  ‘Will Laud’ has had her osmosis treatment.  This lengthy, arm aching job involves a lift and pressure wash before putting on a high frame to enable removal of gel coat by shot blasting and finishing with another pressure wash to remove all salts.  After this, an ‘osmosis’ boat is picked up, placed on a trolley and put in our workshop for two weeks of 24 hr drying.  Infra-red lamps are placed all around the hull and moved regularly to ensure an even dry. When moisture levels are tolerable, it’s time for their first coat of epoxy.  Once the epoxy has gone off,  the whole hull is skimmed with filler and left to harden for a couple of days before sanding out.  This is always a two-day hard horrible dusty job which must take place to ensure the hull is fair again.  After the fairing was complete ‘Will Laud’ had three more applications of epoxy before putting on a coat of anti-foul primer. She now awaits final antifouling, boot topping and full electric topside polishing.

Another interesting job this month was something we rarely come across these days, (but used to be a familiar part of the season); the recovery of a boat adrift.  One night in the early part of the year ‘Lady Emily’ broke free from her mooring and ended up on the Sutton Hoo side of the river; many river wall walkers and river users will have seen her pushed high and dry – sitting up on sheet piles. After much discussion, Simon – with Tam Grundy – recovered her to prevent damage during high tides and strong winds, which could have resulted in breaking up and pollution to the river. The search to find her rightful owner has begun but continues to meet with dead ends. ‘Lady Emily’ now sits safely on the yard, while the hunt to find her owner continues.

Two new boats sit on our quay.  A broads cruiser brought up from Martlesham Creek for restoration and repair and a Colvic Northerner 26, which will be restored and have a refit before being used for local coastal cruising.