And more hull repairs

Step by step the hull be ready. Just terminate the beams and stringer and the bilge looks like a new one.

The problem with the mast base

The mast base looks like its been standing for years in the salt water...and I think rigth that was happen. The bilge form hase made it impossible to drain away all the water coming in by the mast. So we go on to change the plate and the base construction.

Windows

Deckshouse windows and portlights be installed. At last Reliant be tightly....at least on deck. The worke with Sikaflex is one of the worst. This polyurethane mass travel with you on the whole boat. No way to stay cleen. But the result is awesome.

Welding, welding and welding...

Steel: 4m2 we change in the deck, 2m2 in the bottom of the cockpit and now 2m2 more in the hull. But this way our Reliant gets a rejuvenation wich can not be better.
The old alu water tanks was the fault of the corrosion below the kitchen area. We found the 4 tanks corroded and a clear track of the water drips in the bilge. What a shame for the last ovners that have not solved this leaks. A couple more month in the water and Relaint will go to the ground.

And the torture never stops

With all my illusion I put away the welding equipment, thinking I never will need it again in this Refit. Failed! Just out off the paintig box with all the water in the bilge we note some verry small water stains in the hull area...outside, below the water line. And its not raining! So this water is coming from the bilge inside and filters trough the steel out of the hull. What a shit, we have a serios corrosion problem in the hull.
A closer look in the hidden bilge areas showes us frightening. No way to repair this rotten steel without dismantel the gally with all the floor in the middel of the ship.
Ok, here we go. Now its a bit to late to abandon the proyect.

Paint job

Finally Reliant becomes a new dress. We are so annoyed to see here allways in her rusty look. From now the motivation rises again.

Sand blasting

Now this is a realy hard job. And Reliant is on flood. So much we also seald all the orifices, the water is coming as Tinatik at her last hour. When we conect the battery system again the bilge alarm starts to sound for sheer water acumulatet in the bilge.