Extensive refurbishment to Hunstman 28

Tom Wright · Post by **Tom Wright** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 6:34 pm

I decided in the end to have my boat completely refurbished and all rot taken out and made good. I have an excellent specialist doing the work but it is taking ages because he is always off doing other jobs or resting or whatever.

To this end I find it difficult to keep track of the hours he actually spends and I wonder whether I could have some guidance as to what hours I should expect the following jobs to take.

1. To make a pattern and construct a new laminated windscreen (not the side sections)
2. To laminate in situ a new cabin roof an fix the windscreen in position to the roof and the side frames.
3. To fit new stringers (joists) to 60% of the decks and to make and fit new ply support planking all round
4. To lay teak stripping all round and calk. There is an aft deck of about 2/3rds mtr broad.

Other than the aft deck, the boat is a standard Huntsman with foredeck, cabin and open cockpit. I would be very grateful to have some sort of idea how long the above jobs should on average take, worked at full time.

It may be of interest to members who do not know already that seeing the innards exposed, the original construction was amazingly lax. In the first instance the boat is no way symetrical the stb deck at one part being nearly two inches wider than the portside. The stringers were merely held in place by short screws into the grain. Not surprisingly many came away easily when removing the old planking. OK, my bodging over the years also came under scrutiny but at least it held. The cabin roof took an odd route too. When I bought the boat in '85 I was amazed at the shoddy finish with chipboard and formica much of which had acted as an efficient moisture absorbent I replaced as much of it as I could over the years. Sad really because one cannot fault the unique hull construction.

tonyhh · Post by **tonyhh** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 8:39 am

Hi Tom,
Unless anyone else posts a message here regarding timings etc for all the work, maybe best to get hold of any of the shipwrights on the reference page and ask them.
Chipboard was never used by FM (for obvious reasons!)so I can only think that a previous owned must have done a bit of 'DIY'. Where was the chipboard used on your boat?
In quite a few cases each boat was fitted out to the owners' spec and Formica was sometimes used.
Regarding the decks - sounds like the 'chipboard' man may have been there first!
Good luck
Tony

Paul Foulston · Post by **Paul Foulston** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 10:38 am

Dear CSLG,

Please do not interpret my comments as rude, however I am a little surprised that you have entered into an open ended contract with your guy, and it sounds like trust is running out already. From the negative comments also sounds like the man does not hold Fairey boats in high regard.

Having completed major work on a Fairey boat I have always asked for an estimate first to avoid nasty surprises. From my experience if the man knows his job and the boat, he will rattle off a figure which avoids nasty surprises. Also makes sense to 'free issue' materials, in order to keep control.

I made a mistake in asking a shipwhight to make me an internal air vent trunking without asking. I thought about a days work should do it. I ended up with an expensive masterpiece which would not have looked out of place in the V&A for Â£450! The price included driving to get the timber, etc,etc

Sounds to me like you will need deeper pockets before you are done!

ian e · Post by **ian e** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 6:04 pm

Sorry Tony but Venator had a chipboard toilet bulkhead.............

Tom Wright · Post by **Tom Wright** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 9:59 am

Hello Tony,

I think you know my boat - Navarre. You remember the Chocolate man! I dont think anyone would be crazy enough to replace good wood with chip board. Anyway, it certainly must have come out of the factory out of symetry. All the interior cabin panels and doors were of chipboard - even the door of the heads. Still, thats all being replaced. I assure you it will look a dream with rechromed original fittings and stainless steel trims etc. There's even an electric windlass to compliment my old age. In short, everything will be new except the hull cockpit decks and side panels and engines. The guy doing it is excellent but its a matter of my being able to account for the hours he will be claiming for when he has hardly been there.

Will refer to a shipwright,

Thanks

Tom
Guernsey

Tom Wright · Post by **Tom Wright** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 10:07 am

Dear Paul,

Thanks for your reply.

Its very difficult to obtain definitive quotes before the work commences. With a 30+ year old boat you just dont know what you will find. Basically I had a quote for replacing the windscreen and the calking of the decks. I decided to go the whole hog and although I have had figures, I would like to be able to see on average how long an artisan would take to do the jobs so that I have a yardstick when I come to settle the account.

I know I will have to dig deep into my pockets but you cannot do much more after you fingers touch the deck! Eh?

Thanks

Tom Wright

Paul Foulston · Post by **Paul Foulston** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 11:10 am

Tom,
I have looked at my timesheets and would estimate around 600Hs for the work you have listed.

Paul

tonyhh · Post by **tonyhh** » Mon Jul 26, 2004 10:42 am

Ian,
Thanks re the chipboard saga...I guess every boat really was different! The H31 brochure says re the interior that ALL wood was 'hand rubbed oiled teak'!
Tom, I guess you will have to get your man to clock in and out!
Tony

Scott Pett · Post by **Scott Pett** » Mon Jul 26, 2004 12:00 pm

Number 5 has a mostly chipboard interior. Its in surprisingly good knick given the age. I found the original speckle finish locker paint after removing the water tank. (you remember the Public Toilet wall effect?)

Original facings are either dark brown wood effect or white formica, although she has gained a few teak veneers during her lifetime.

What's interesting is that the framework for the cabinetry is mostly solid teak or mahogany. Opposite ends of the wood quality spectrum.

Your H31 brochure, Tony, looks to be post 1970 - large air intakes - so maybe the interior had been upgraded by then - or maybe just the veneers were teak instead of Formica.

Cheers,
Scott

Tom Wright · Post by **Tom Wright** » Mon Jul 26, 2004 4:03 pm

Thanks Paul, Thats a good guide - presumably that would be one man? My man has an assistant who holds this and that and rubs down this and that and demolishes, screws and helps to glue.

Cheers

Hello Tony,

Thats a good idea but its his workshop and anyway we havent invented clocks yet in Guernsey!

Thanks

Tom Wright · Post by **Tom Wright** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 11:27 pm

As a point of interest, scraping all the paint down to the wood revealed that the topsides below the gunwales are finished with one sheet of ply from bow to tail, not the strips of veneer I was expecting.

tonyhh · Post by **tonyhh** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 11:01 pm

Tom,
Not sure what to say here other than to have a word with Alan Burnard and see what he says about this. I wonder if someone years ago has done a repair. I am sure Alan remembers your boat when she was called Honeyrush & Tufter and based at Hamble
Tony