A bit of a blow
Posted: November 10, 2010 Filed under: Iain Oughtred, Scottish Coastal Rowing, St Ayles Skiff | Tags: 'Gale damage', Epoxy ply plank repair, Storm 11 Comments »In the early hours of last Monday, 8th November, a combination of a strong South Easterly gale and a high tide exacerbated by the wind direction tested our skiff ‘Ulla’ quite severely. Whilst we snoozed our pride and joy was being tossed around on the rocks by the Wee Pier like driftwood. Daylight revealed that we now had a self draining hull – as long as she is beached.
After the storm
After recovery and a hosing down we could see the extent of the damage
- Ouch!
It looks quite nasty but we don’t think it is insurmountable, really just a few lengths of planking to replace and a new stem to laminate up. We are really impressed by the way the hull has retained structural integrity and the way our Gunwales have come through with flying colours.
The chewed up bow stem - looks like a new one needed
Detail of the Portside stern damage
Now we could hold an inquiry to establish just what chain of events caused this to happen and who should be castigated in the local press to ensure ‘it can never happen again’ but we would rather use our misfortune as an object lesson to others – principally take notice of the forecast, never believe the tide won’t reach that high – and grasp the opportunity to explore the challenge of repairing our boat to racing trim once again. Indeed we could think ourselves lucky that it happened at the end of the season giving us time to restore her before racing starts next year.
As the procedures we are going to have to execute are likely to need to be repeated by others at some stage we are fully documenting the repair process on its own page – Ulla’s Repair.
So sorry!
Thanks Michael,
Stuff happens and we could wring our hands and say ‘If only’ but nothing was ever achieved by that – the positive is that it gives us a chance to explore clinker ply repair techniques and find out if it is as difficult as the ‘experts’ would have us believe. Ulla will ride the waves again
Watch this space
Chris
What a shame, but so glad it was no worse. Good luck with the repairs. Puts our minor maintenance into perspective.
All the best
Osbert
Hi Chris P and all you Skiffies up in Ullapool, sorry to see the damage done to your bonny wee boat, but as you say Chris a chance to try out new techniques.
Good luck with the repairs. Keep us posted. Graham
Ouch! Good luck with the repairs, I’m sure that your combined skills will prevail. It needed a paint before the next season anyway!
Richard
Ullapool, Anstruther, and North Berwick all damaged. I think we have all learnt a lesson in this.
Good luck with your repairs.
Alec J
I am still in shock after seeing the pictures of Ulla with great big chunks torn from the hull and a chewed stem! Looks like a shark attack.
Make a grown man sob to see such a sight; good on you for taking it so philosophically and are not going to burn anyone at the stake for it! We will watch with interest how you repair her, as it would be good to know for when it might be our turn.
I believe Chris o’Kanaird and St Baldred have also suffered injury at the hands of the weather lately. Maybe there are a few lessons to learn from these early mishaps which should be passed around the skiff-community as part of our learning.
Best wishes
Andres
I am so sorry to see you skiff in such a state, very disheartening and a bit of a shock. Hope you are able to repair it to its former glory.
We had a wake up call this morning when trailering the skiff to the Primary School to announce the winners of the boat naming competition. We flew in the air after hitting a pothole, we were only doing 20mph. No damage done, but now I realise what could off happened. We now plan to load the trailer with sandbags to give it some weight. The skiff is actually very light given its length, something you don’t realise when having to move it around the shed during the build.
All the best with the repair.
Regards
Gert
Newhaven Coastal Rowers
So, so sorry to see the damage to your beautiful boat. The web record of your build is required viewing for all of as aspiring (but failing!) to emulate your standard.
John Watson,
Queensferry Build
Such a shock to see the lovely ‘Ulla’ in such a state….but confident that she will rise again, hopefully none the worse.
Like Gert, we had the whole trailer with the ‘Lass’ turn turtle in the wind on her trailer…luckily stationary and no damage done; but a good warning. What if that had happened on the A9! However she has always been weighed down with loads of camping gear!
Look forward to seeing the ‘Ulla’ restored to full beauty very soon.
Best wishes from all the skiffies in the ‘Buie.
It was a great shame to see such a beautiful boat being damaged but thankfully nobody was hurt. Hope that you and we are ready to race next summer