Right, I have now collected 2986 the Rowsell Fadeaway Satisfaction known as 'Fuming'(see Another ebay Merlin thread), and now I need some help.

Basically the hull is in good condition but it needs redecking. So whilst this is being done I may as well take the opportunity to bring it a little up to date - I want a classic looking boat but may as well get it going as quickly as possible eh!
Have read a lot of stuff on here regarding the low/high bow tanks and the effect on strength of the hulls and have seen various mods attempted, tubing to stiffen up this area or adding bulkheads etc.
My first question is therefore - why not remove the high bow tank and fit a new low tank with integral strengthening bulkhead between the mast and shrouds as per the new boats? 

Secondly, I have seen a lot of mention of converting to a deck stepped mast, I can see how this could be a fairly simple modification, but what are the advantages?

Cheers.

Oh, will not attempt all this work myself so if anybody has any recommendations of a sympathetic restorer that would be good.

There is no reason why you should not change the tank and that has alot of advantages and if you are going to deck step the mast this will have to be done to stiffen the area between the shrouds and the Hog/king post. As for deck stepping the mast you will find that there is alot more tuning that can be done to the rig and you will be able to get more rig tension and get the mast bending in the right places. All in all a worthwill exersize if you plan to race the boat.

Alan Jackson from Chipstow is a good man to talk to about doing the work. He has a wealth of experience at this sort of thing but you could also consider Spud Rowsell who knows the boat well or Kevin Driver who is also very good and probably the best builder out there at the moment.

Laurie Smart is the man.  one many sympathetic 'restorations' recently, inluding Richard Page's Restless IV.  Give him a bell!

I agree. Laurie is definitely your man. A legend in building/repairing in wood, old or new.

His contact details can be found on this website under Boat Builders. I am sure they will be happy to help.

It will not be the cheapest excercise to undertake but when you see the results Laurie produces it is well worth the outlay.

Good luck

Lauries no. 07976 536922

Based in Haywards Heath, West Sussex.

Your only other consideration when deck-stepping an older boat is that the whole thing is held together with cascamite that is now well over 20 years old.  The deck-stepped rig increases the stresses on the hull particularly round the shroud attachments - more so if you are going to go sailing in stronger wind and waves than at Tamesis!  I had trouble with Elusive 3347 in this area (not helped by previous Bowen-Perkins maintenance schedule).  However if you are also redecking the boat this will help.  You are talking about a fair bit of money, but it sounds as though the purchase price was not exactly OTT...

I have found from my exploratory digs so far that some of the glue around the deck support structure has failed but as far as I can tell the hull is in very good nick. The paint on the outside shows no sign of crackign anywhere accept in one location at the transom where water has sat in cockpit - but quite localised.
Redecking will obviously sort out the deck and I am hoping that the new bow tank/shroud bulkhead will take any additional load from the rig.
Interested to here of problems now before I go any further (although I might have already removed deck and forward tank :) ) as I will be sailing here at sea.

GB

It might be worth you grabbing a copy of this months Dinghy Sailing Magazine. In this edition 'Krakatoa' (forget sail No but older than your boat) has been completley & beautifully restored, low bow tank, deck step, carbon king post etc,etc.. It might give you some idea as to what is achieveable given time & money!! I believe the author Jamie Stewart (son of Ossie) works for Ashdown Marine on the south coast with Richard lovering. Might be worth giving them a call??

Given also that your boat was sailed with huge success by the great duo of Spud Rowsell & Jon Turner it would be great to have 2986 fully restored to the 21st century!

Good luck!

Asdown Marine website:


http://ashdown.emworx.com/about/default.asp


well.... a sort of link!!

Even if the hull looks OK, the cascamite is slowly dying - I'm afraid the carlins might pop out at any moment, they always seem to go. Nothing to fret about - just got to get out the epoxy each time it happens.

what are carlins?

Oh dear! 
The bit of wood wot goes round the inside of the hull next to the planks that you use to glue the decks too.

Ah so those things have a name!
They are what I refered to as deck support structure above. Was looking at them last night and where I have removed the deck on the port side they are all good, but as Mags says have come loose in several places.

Its always worse when the boatbuilder makes them pretty - out of several strips of alternating colour wood. More joints to reglue!

I THINK? Mags mean "Gunwales"! "Carlins" are the ones you can't see on the inside!

In the case of 2986, the outboard edge of the deck is glued to a strip of wood which runs along the outside of the planking. So I suppose it could be a Gunwhale or a Carlin.... or even a Gunwhale Carlin?

the gunwhale (pron. 'gunnel') is the outer edge of the deck, also called rubbing strake sometimes. i thought carlins were the inner edges, designed to cut into your calves! but maybe thats the inwhales....

Indeed they are!