The Papendick Family's restoration of our James Silver "Western Isles" Motor Sailer "Chance"

Today, our son Michael has been sanding down the first of four butterfly hatch lids which have been removed from Chance before Christmas and now that they have had a chance to dry out Michael is sanding down the hatch lids and has been highlighting any damage that they have, so between us we can make any repairs necessary to restore them to their former original condition.

Together, we both have to still have to remove the base parts of the hatch from the foredeck of Chance which have been proving to be a bit of a job to remove to say the least. Although, we have already started, they are proving to be not coming out even after all the fixings have been removed holding them down to the deck beams.

However, it is on the job list to get done shortly. given that we need to get the hatch bases removed as part of the bigger jobs on the hatches and the fore deck.

Simon has been making a replacement hatch rail holder for the one that is missing off the hatch lids. Simon is also going to measure up for a set of replacement rods to fit the hatch lids protection. These new rods will stop people from putting their feet through the glass in the hatch lids and with these rods in place the hatches will look like they were originally made when Chance was build and commissioned. Simon is also a full time boat builder and in his spare time when not restoring Chance or his other restoration project Mai Star II does a little bit of car restoration. So he has his hands full and not a lot of spare time. He says that he would not be doing this job for the past 47 years if he did not enjoy the daily challenges of his varied job and that everyday is different.

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