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So who hasn't had that happen?

Here's the short story, just for entertainment value really.

About 4 or 5 weeks ago, Gabi and I took a short trip into Brisbane Water, and seeing Storm Petrel moored, decided to go in closer, taking a chance of running aground, which we of couse did in the end....
Fast forward to the boatshow. Gabi and I went on the Sunday, specifically to entertain ourselves, but also to get hold of a run out in-expensive sounder/fishfinder. I got the Garmin 90 for $347! Well, actually the unit itself was only $99 and a good deal considering Bias and WW were selling them for $139-$149 or there abouts. Where the other money went was tickets, parking lunch and a lovely checked shirt from the Musto stand that Gabi had to have!

So, I then build a lovely swing away panel to house the sounder and the iPad. The panel would swing into place when sailing, at the top of the opening of the companionway. When anchored, it would swing inside and be visible from the seats.

All went surprisingly slowly. There was already an in hull transducer that I didn't realise was there because it was hidden way up in a foward void, and only found it when I followed a cable that had been cut. I then had to prise away a glued wooden panel to follow the path further, which will be screwed back in place in the future. The previous owner must have had a lot of faith in his wiring abilities! Finally, I realised the transducer that was there was useless because of the cut wires, and because I didn't want to void the warranty by cutting the wires on the new one to test the old one..... I started looking for a good spot to epoxy the transom mount transducer to the inside of the hull. That was easy, just in the crease between the starboard main bearer and the forward cabin bulkhead. A good solid reading on auto gain mode. Yes, I knew how deep it should be I then had to start the task of boring a new set of holes in all the bulkheads to take the new wiring and plug head back to the aft of the cabin. Once that was done it was time to hinge the new swing away panel into place! I was simply going to mount a seperate piece of timber on the companionway frame and hinge the panel to it. Yeehaw.... woops, why did the drill go in so easily? This is supposed to be hardwood. Rot..... literaly about 200mm down the starboard side and about the same across the top. The only thing holding the storm boards in was varnish.....

So, I'm about to go visit Sydney Wood at Mona Vale for some new teak and spend the next two days on annual leave building a new companionway interior frame.... Here's hoping I don't uncover something else when I remove the rotten framework!

I'll try and update with pics shortly.....

Good thing you found it now, rather than having the storm boards washed out in a rough sea. Interested to know how your repairs go.

Cheers,
Mark

So true, jobs expand and grow in complexity. Have fun. Do you know the source of the problem?

Killick, the problem was poor workmanship by the previous owner who used some kind of interior timber to make the doorway. According to my friend the timber merchant, It was something like maple. Made out of one piece so the whole lot has come out today. Basically because the varnish was old, and the whole top section had broken the seal it let water in.
As I type this I'm resting after making three trips to Mona Vale to get the timbers properly cut, recessed and rebated. I made a minor change but the design is essentially the same out of Teak.
The timber is now finished and dry fitted so I can put the boards in to sleep. In the morning I'll seal the recesses and bolt it all together before putting some varnish on it.
Must go, bourbon and chicken pasta are just cooked!
Michael