Lady Ellen Restoration

LADY ELLEN RESTORATION

The plight of Lady Ellen has been documented on ww in the past (link below). We were able to happily report that she had been purchased by Bruce Mitchinson & 6 weeks ago transported north to Russell in the Bay of Islands.
https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/06/25/mystery-launch-25-06-2015/

A few days ago Bruce gave me an update on the restoration – read below.
“Restoration work underway with removal of rotten timber around cabin, decks and bulkheads. Much of the interior has gone to the tip. Under the foredeck canvas, near perfect Totara decking, which is drying out ready for a sand and some fibreglass.
Next up, replacing the rotten timbers with old kauri before new side and aft decks go down.
Engine is back together, almost, and Ken Jaspers is sorting out new mounts, gearbox seals and couplings down in Whangaparoa”
Bruce has promised to keep us updated on the project.

27-09-2017 Project Update ex Bruce M

Starting to look like herself again.

Glassed plywood cores for  cabin sides ready for timber finish inside and out.
Slight adjustment made to the rear windows, which always looked a bit odd, but still trying to retain that McGeady look.
Rebuilt coachroof over the aft cockpit to remove the v-shape combing and modified structure so that corner posts are no longer required.
Narrower aft deck now provides enough room for continuous seating around 3 sides of the cockpit and storage.
Galley has gone, including the floor, to make way for a new under floor water tank, raised floor and new galley fit out.
As you can see there is still a lot of work to do.
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Update Jan 2018 – The focus over the last few weeks is to get topsides ready for finishing by the end of the month. A lot of work has gone in to re-fastening and frame repairs to pull everything back into shape, and as you can see the Lady Ellen has plenty of shape. Thanks to our boatbuilder, Brett Avery, we now have a very sound vessel. Main saloon is now completely stripped out, including the old steel diesel tanks and de-greasing the bilge and engine bay is next up, while removing the last of the antifoul underneath and cleaning up the diesel soaked planking. New rudder tube is in and Brett has made a start on framing up the floors so that we have some work space inside to start on the interior work next month.
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UPDATE 24-02-2018 More restoration photos here https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/02/23/an-update-on-the-lady-ellen-restoration/

11 thoughts on “Lady Ellen Restoration

  1. Pingback: The Launching of Lady Ellen | waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news – updated daily

  2. Pingback: An Update on the Lady Ellen Restoration | waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news

  3. Pingback: The Continuing Issue of Electrochemical Damage To Our Wooden Boats | waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news

  4. Hi Bruce, how exciting to see her progress. Looking forward to seeing more pics. 🙂

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  5. So wonderful that she is going to be loved again, as she so richly deserves. — More power to your elbow Bruce. — Keep up the good work, & keep us all posted regularly — My dear old friend, the late John Richards, will be looking down from up there & smiling — so exciting — KEN R

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