James Silver Western Isles Chance Restoration

Chance is presently in a crane hire yard in Woodplumpton near Preston in Lancashire. First day at the Chance was to take a good look around the boat and see how much work was going to be needed to make her sound to move her back to Walton on the Naze where my yard is situated. The second visit to Chance was with my family and Brother John who helps removes the rubbish from the inside of the cabins. Loose Items, such as the Masts and Booms, which were placed under the boat on blocks to keep them off the ground and keep them straight and out of the weather.   Other items such as cupboard / locker doors and drawers were removed and put in my works van to be transported back to my workshop to be put into storage until they are repaired or new doors and drawer are made where necessary. Other rubbish which included old vacuum clearer and a number of other items which were removed so the floorboards could be accessed to take a look in the bilge areas of the hull to see what was in t

The reason for this is two fold, firstly to expose the inside areas of the hull and gauge the extend of the rot in the planking behind parts of the hull covered by paneling and lockers. Secondly to be able to re-fix the hull planking in the same way it was done the first time round with copper nails and roves and not to relay on just screws. Because this is going to be a full on restoration the rebuilding of the hull planking it will be in the same method as used when Chance was built in 1948. The forward cabin is especially in need of careful measurement being taken and photograph of all the items that are in their present position. However, looking at other James Silver's of a similar size. The hull was not paneled out like Chance, but bare painted hull will mahogany slats screwed on to the frames and ribs to act as back rests for the bunks when the crew are sleeping in the forward cabin. I expect to find evidence of this when I remove the present paneling off the frames as it is

   

  This photo is of the engineering space aboard Chance full of old out of date equipment and wiring which is all going to be removed and new up to date electrical wiring and equipment will be fitted to bring up to date and safe.  Just a sea of old old out of date equipment and wiring and bilge pump Much of this equipment as not been updated in decades if in some case never The original heads in the aft cabin with its sink and original toilet  Having taken off the ensign and flag box off the main bulkhead we can see the colour of the original wood finish. Simple and down to earth engine controls, I will looking to find if the instruments can restored or new original looking gauges can be found  The ships wheel is from the period of her launch and cam from Simpson & Lawrence of Glasgow  A view out of the wheelhouse from the steering position along the long foredeck which at the moment does not have its main mast or guardrails fitted which will be restored and hen refitted at a later

  There is Chance in the background   One of the major areas of rotten planking that needs replacing  On the whole the boat looks in reasonable condition when you get past the poor condition of the paint work and look under the surface Much  of the rotten wood is in areas of poor air flow in the past and the lack of been look after over the past few years single rudder which was normal practice in the period when Chance was build  One area that need attention to stop the bow moving a block under the bow to support the forefoot of the keel  

  J-Star Marine Services as just taken on its largest restoration project to date. It is a James Silver Western Isles Motor Sailer called Chance.  Here is a bit of its history Chance was built in 1948 by James Silver at Rosneath Boatyard, Argyll & Bute. Designed by John Bain, his first true motorsailer design, called Western Isles - one of two vessels of this design. Built for Rolls Royce, according to her log book.  much of the interior is original and what is not will be returned to the way she was when she was originally build.  The first job now is to get to the boat and make it weather tight so that the work can start on her as soon as possible.