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Looking beyond… Then seeing it through…
www.Tectona.org.uk
Welcome to the Tectona Trust website
TECTONA off Bolt Head by Gordon Frickers (1978)
On 16th October we sailed (motored actually) Tectona back from Polruan, to take up a winter mud-berth at Southdown Marina. This friendly community and good-value berth was close enough for Chris Rees to cycle from his home to carry out 8 weeks of boatbuilding work on board.
When we arrived, Tectona had a spanking new deck replacing the 80-year old 1 7/8 inch teak planking with 2 ¼ inch Opepe a strong African hardwood giving yellow to golden brown timber. But there was a huge list of finishing off jobs, even before we started on the next stage of the refit. This included re-aligning the main engine, refitting ventilators deck-lights and equipment and a complete clean-up down below after a wet summer exposed to the elements.
[] Masts & spars removed and completely overhauled
[] New bowsprit
[] New housings for bowsprit on stem-head and sampson post
[] Aft cabin gutted and refitted.
[] New heads compartment aft.
[] Engine room now partitioned off, with new space on the stbd side
[] New berth, work-bench and storage in old starboard side of engine room
During this time, Bill and Jim have painted the new deckhead, and we have steadily cleaned and refitted everything down below, only the electrics and the galley now remain to be finished.
Since the New Year, work has continued in between the snow showers. Jim has resolutely scraped and painted inside the bulwarks – we are returning to Tectona’s 1960’s colour scheme of dark blue topsides and cream above the rubbing strake, with only the cappings varnished. Bill, apart from directing operations when Roger isn’t there, has focused on painting below decks plus innumerable issues where his previous knowledge of the vessel is invaluable.
Throughout this period of work, we have been advised and supported by David Cox the Surveyor, as Tectona will have to pass muster for MCA coding before she resumes work.
A notable Phew! moment happened when David’s structural survey was completed in June last year when Tectona was on the slip at Polruan. He wrote:
“She is, despite her age, a very able seagoing craft which is in a very sound structural condition. This is mainly due to the high quality materials that have been used in her construction.”
which is in a very sound structural condition. This is mainly due to the high quality materials that have been used in her construction.”Refit continuing apace
