Essex Spritsail Barge replanking.

Here’s one at the big hairy end of the building spectrum. 90 odd feet of it. I spent three months replanking one whole side of this Thames barge in a floating dry dock over the winter. Using a planking method that I haven’t encountered before, this was to be three layers of 1″ sawn larch on top of each other, close boarded and luted in between with roofing felt and vast quantities of bitumen. (Pictured here is as far as the second layer.) Some frames were replaced in chestnut too toward the stern as I went. I was mad enough to somehow ‘agree’ to be left to tackle a large amount of this colossal task solo, and some weeks in had to beg for assistance when throwing six metre larch boards around all day became just too much. Eventually taking matters into my own hands I persuaded the management to allow Laura to join me for two two week sessions, which helped enormously. I did my best with this, and consider I proved I could do it well, and fast. I enjoyed the bigness of this challenge though, planking and steaming is always fun, and the working environment despite being harsh and exposed in December and January could be quite beautiful when the weather was calm.