MERLIN ROCKET FORUM

Topic : MR 2986 Fuming

Well, as most of you know, I now have MR 2986 "Fuming" and I hate to say it but she is in a sorry state. The decks were pulled off so I dont have any templets and most of the varnish is peeling off. She will also need a new paint job as there are some problem areas too. 
I was wondering, for interest sake, if you guys have any ideas for her restoration. I have attached some pics of her in her current condition. If you want different angles or specific areas let me know.
I have the idea of putting in a space frame like Jackos as I think I can do it for about the same price as a new fore deck? and maintenance wise it would be alot easier annually especially if I have a fleet of them in my backyard!! but I am open to any and all input too make this as much fun as possible.
Richard Bates just informed me that there used to be some lettering on the side? does any one have any pics of that?
Shane

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8QZNG7lmybMLo

Posted: 14/03/2006 11:49:11
By: MR 1018
Shane,  I think this boat is screaming out to have carbon decks and be deck-stepped.
1) Rebuild the bow-tank back to the hog with a nice fat piece of Western Red Cedar on the keel for your king posts and purchases to go into.
2) Make a space-frame and king posts out of off-cut carbon poles scrounged from a chandlery (they make 2 metre spinnaker poles and chuck the odd bits away)
3) Make a carbon deck out of foam and carbon by laying it up and vac-bagging it off the boat and sticking it on afterwards.
4) Sod the varnish, paint the whole inside with grey interdeck and the decks with white (dark colours get too hot) toplac and away you go.


Posted: 14/03/2006 12:31:48
By: Jon
BTW if you are coming to Banbury you can see Panatella (carbon'd decks) and Moonshine (deck-step converted Summer Wine)


Posted: 14/03/2006 12:34:35
By: Jon
Shane, She looks in a bit more of a state than the website suggested! I saw her on e-bay when gb bought her and she did not look too bad.

I would start by replacing the front tank with a lower one and put carbon tubing in between the mast step and chainplates and back to the mast gate. From here you can deck step the rig. If you ask Mags i am sure he will let you have the M1 Mast that Demelza is trying to give away or you could cut the bottom off the one you have (bend charecteristics might be wrong). Put a wood deck back on it as it would be a shame to spoil it. You will have fun with the inwhales as they bend in 3 directions. Best bet with these is to do them in smaller strips and work down one by one (this is why they are laminated when Spud built it!) that will make life alot easier. The rest of it looks like it is just alot of glue and elbow grease.

As for the writing on the side, i do not recall. I know the is a great shot by Pat Blake of Spud and Jon flying down a reach in her in the Merlin Rocket book, don't think you can see the side though. Someone with a good memory for thease things like Robert Harris might know.

Good luck and keep us informed how it is going.


Posted: 14/03/2006 12:47:29
By: Jeremy3550
Jon, the best bit of an old merlin is the varnish!! just because yours is quite rightly called the White Whale!!

I am coming to Banbury and am dreading seeing what has happened to my Panatella! She was the first merlin i ever sailed in when i was 5 and the decks that where on her were put on by my dad when he took delivery of a bare hull from Laurie 26 years ago!


Posted: 14/03/2006 12:51:12
By: Jeremy3550
Lol, varnish smarnish.  The best bit about having an old merlin is overtaking newer Merlins.  Especially ones with varnish, especially when they are pink and called something like "laugh on the rocks" or something like that.

I have to say I'd bet wooden decks would be a lot easier to make than carbon but carbon would be a damn sight stiffer.......


Posted: 14/03/2006 12:59:21
By: Jon
He has already got a deckstepped mast and boom - He is getting Cobra's one, as we have invested in a shiny new black one.

cheers

Rich


Posted: 14/03/2006 12:59:25
By: Rich3465
Thats very generous of you Rich but how do you deck step the Boom? LOL


Posted: 14/03/2006 13:21:40
By: Jeremy3550
its quite complicated Jeremy - think Mirror rig :) Note to self, must learn to check posts for grammar.


Posted: 14/03/2006 13:28:43
By: Rich3465
Jeremy, Sorry if I've filled you with such trepidation re; Panatella, but as I've said before, it was a case of do something, or kiss her good-bye. One more winter exposed as she was would have seen her off for good and all.
The decks, despite the best efforts of the original builder, were beyond redemption. The inwhales were loose, the gunnels on the rear quarters were peeling free. There were big cracks running from the foredeck/sidedeck junction. The c/b case was no longer attached to the thwart. There was incipient wet rot in the hog aft of the case. There was rot in the blind spot beneath the thwart where it meets the planks, both sides. The foredeck at the mast gate could be moved up and down by +/- 2cm, by hand. Putting a couple of coats of varnish on wasn't going to do anything.We don't all have the luxury of heated garages to overwinter boats in, and I've seen what a winter outside can do to a newly varnished deck.
Panatella has not been radically altered in anyway, other than the sheathing, in fact, she's more original now than she has been for years, having had the godawful hoop removed, and the original full width traveller put back on. If a future owner wants to restore her exactly, he/sha can, as the deck shape is the same, and all the internals are as original, other than the struts around the mast foot, which could be removed in 15 minutes with a jigsaw. This was the whole idea when I did her, to try and keep her original, but usable in practical terms.
See you Saturday!


Posted: 23/03/2006 13:43:37
By: BmaxRog
Oh, I forgot to mention that some vandal had also sawed off the extreme top front of the c/b case, and left it as raw wood, gawd knows why, -to give clearance for some weirdo kicker arrangement? I'd appreciate advice as to what the original lay-out was- there doesn't ever appear to have been a cross brace running from side to side, like Rowsell boats had?


Posted: 23/03/2006 13:56:03
By: BmaxRog
Unfortunatly my crew has just phoned to say he cannot make it tomorrow so neither can i despite a manic phone around i cannot source a crew. Gutted, i really wanted to come to Banbury too!

Anyone fancy crewing me? call me on 07957593148.


Posted: 24/03/2006 20:05:12
By: Jeremy3550

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