Restoration of Flying Fifteen 3428 from mould to glory
by Graham Lamond 8 Apr 2020 19:01 BST
Restoration of Flying Fifteen 3428 - Jordan Aspin shows his handiwork © Graham Lamond
Our boat bimbling series continues with Graham Lamond's Flying Fifteen 3428 making the transition from green/black mould to shining glory.
The boat is an Ovington hull out of the popular Mk IX mould but fitted with a very nice wooden deck by Arnott Dobson. First registered in July 1992, she had been sailed until 2006 before being laid up in a garden in Wales where she sat until coming up for sale in early 2019. The years outside had taken their toll and the boat was looking rather sorry for itself, with much of the varnish peeling off the decks and the underside starting to go green with growth.
Fortunately the boat itself was sound and following discussion with a fellow Fifteener, Jordan Aspin, he collected the boat and took her back home to begin restoration. Jordan has access to a large shed and was thus able to start the strip down under cover. There was some very minor delamination on the foredeck and part of the crew floor needed to be replaced, but otherwise the woodwork was sound and a testament to the quality of Arnott Dobson's original work.
Jordan and I sailed together at a Fifteen Open at Ullswater in May and a deal was struck that I would buy the boat once the floor repairs and revarnishing had been done and I would fit her out. Ten coats of Epiphanes later and I collected the boat at the end of July, driving her back from Barrow across the A66 during the worst driving conditions I have ever experienced as torrential rain brought devastation to the Dales.
The boat was fitted out over the following months and although not a complete rebuild, it has been satisfying to get her back to sailing condition and I'm looking forward to racing her as soon as we are allowed to slip our domestic moorings again.
The photos also show repair of the rudder, making a carbon tiller, and finally getting her afloat on Windermere. Jordan had asked for a first sail when she was ready and I was more than happy to keep the promise. I was finished just in time for us to get afloat on Thursday 19th March before government restrictions kicked in the following Monday.
The amount of shine on that varnish is epic! We applaud the handiwork of Jordan Aspin. Remember we want to hear YOUR stories of boat repairs, renovations and invention too.