Mildred - a traditional wooden working boat restoration
Mildred is a well-known local working boat built in 1915, was fully restored to former glories in 2004 - 05 at Cockwells. After this critical work, she has returned to the working boat fleet and will be very active during 2008 racing season especially with her new sails.
/>
/>
/>
Mildred - restoration work
Time, hard racing, and the damp Cornish winters had taken their toll on Mildred's stem, stern, and decks. Mildred had been fitted with a short bumpkin common to many racing working boats. This passes through the stem and carries the forestay, the 1 ½" diameter fitting put a tremendous strain on an already weakened stem. The result was that cracks opened up and rain water permeated down, rotting the stem and most of the hood ends above the waterline.
We decided to replace the stem (6" x 4" and 5' long) from our stock of season bends and add a 6" deep apron to take fastenings from the original planks, onto which, we scarfed new hood ends. The carefully prised apart garboards were pulled back into place and refastened with silicon bronze screws, bedded on white lead. A couple of frames were replaced, in the region of the chain plates, the whole front end of the hull was then made fair.
At the other end a new vanished transom was made from 1 ½" seasoned oak boards and fitted, together with a new starboard fashion piece (a lovely "S" shaped, quarter sawn bend)
The work at each end necessitated the removal of a portion of the plywood deck. It was deemed prudent to replace the whole and so it was, with an epoxy screed to seal and fair. Mildred's hull has also benefited from a new set of 5" high toe rails and 1 ½" rubbing strakes, in varnished Iroko, all set off by a glossy new coat of white.