Bumpkins!

Evening all!

Today my father, my mother and I got Laughter launched at Kielder, having finished four days of work on her to get her ready for the season.

My father and I began the work by collecting her from a lovely storage facility nearby. After a jolly good wash (of the boat, not ourselves) we started by re-coating the bulwarks & rubbing strakes with Decks Olje D1. They had been done last winter with this, and the coating had lasted well. It helps that we use an overall cover to protect her from the sun (and the midgies). We sanded down the previous D1 lightly then applied 3 coats all over. We are very pleased with the results.

Leather pad. Ship's Mascot, Mr Mole, sunbathes

This morning I fitted a leather pad - which had come from Churchouse Boats - to the bumpkin.

This will allow us to withdraw the bumpkin into the boat from inside it rather than going through the "Will-I-or-won't-I-fall-off-the-stern?" moment of indecision during bumpkin removal during rough weather.

To fit it required first enlarging the hole. I marked off the thickness of the leather around the existing hole, then set to work with a round surform and rough files.This took longer than expected (in fact, I suspect all boat-related tasks follow this pattern. Thankfully, I include the sailing itself in this respect). When I thought I had enlarged the hole enough I discovered the bumpkin leather was thicker than I had though - or at least measured - and so I re-marked the hole and re-enlarged it!

At last, a result! Note the first of the copper tacks - supplied with the leather - has been tapped in place.

... and here is the view from inside. I then removed the bumpkin and drove home the rest of the copper tacks.

The bumpkin can now be removed in safety (and I checked that the end of it is on the centreline of the boat!

New beginnings...

The project to record the work we have done on Laughter, together with the sailing we have enjoyed, starts here!

Laughter is a Devon Lugger, originally built by Honnor Marine in 2007. She spent two years as a trailer-sailer, making only a few outings upon the Solent. My father bought her in October 2009, and she resides at Kielder Water Sailing Club in Northumberland, where I am a member.

During 2010, Laughter made quite an impact upon some members of the club. I took a family out, complete with their 9 month old baby. It was his first sail. The family had to date owned a Wayfarer, but having sailed in Laughter, finding her so stable yet enjoyable to sail, decided there and then to get their own similar boat, and ended up buying a Dabber.

Other friends at the sailing club have commented upon how well the Lugger sails, and how in a blow it is so easy to reef her down and remain relaxed!