The decision to have further work carried out has been made easier for us as we are not relying on the boat for our accommodation. So in July 2022 Xavier took to the seas once again and captained by a skipper from the Penzance Dry dock, it made the voyage to Penzance.
We are refurbishing a house in Falmouth and are also living there. So after everything is arranged with Penzance Dry Dock, we are busy working in Falmouth whilst making regulr visits to Penzance to keep up to date with the work going on there.
Note that in this photo taken before going into the dry dock, the companion way entrance and the well deck canopy supports have yet to be constructed
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| Xavier waits at the side of Penzance harbour |
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Xavier is carefully settled on supports under and to the side and the water is drained away.
No canopy or companion way yet. |
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| Work begins stripping away the paintwork |
As soon as Xavier was settled in the dry dock, our surveyor was able to have a good look at the condition of the hull . The hull was steel rivetted and whilst it was considered sound by our surveyor in the Netherlands, due to the work and expense involved with working on a boat of this size in the UK, we have decided to have the entire hull overplated so that we can rest easy that we had a solid hull for years to come. Our surveyor marked out exactly where the 6mm steel plates were to be welded on, and where 8mm was required, mainly down the spine of the stern. Penzance Dry Dock moulded steel plates to fit each section and welders carried out the uncormfortable task of welding under the boat in about 1 metre of space!
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Sand balast is removed from the internal hull seen here on the welldeck.
Attempts are made to protect the superstructure from sandblasting of the hull. See the blue tarpaulin. |
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| Chats with project manager Bluey in the dry dock. |
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| Steel plates are welded on. Priming and painting begins. |
Meanwhile Julian and I take the opportunity to explore the Helford Estuary in between our work on the house in Falmouth. Whilst we were desperate to live on board, we were happy with the programme of work we had agreed with Penzance Dry Dock and we were also happy to take some time to explore the area and enjoy visits from family and friends. There would be plenty of time to work on the internal refurbishment in the Autumn and Winter of 2022/23.
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| The Shiprights Inn at Helford. |
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| The Ferryboat Inn, Helford Passage |
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| St Michael's Mount and Marazion with Rachel. We can't resist organic cucumbers. |
