Lagertha get plated

The contemporary yole Lagertha, which was donated to OHBS last year, has finally had a builders plate installed.

Further research about the lifeboat from the Norwegian Motor Tanker Arne Kjøde (known to us as AKL) has turned up a couple more photographs which include the ships lifeboats. These will prove very helpful when we get around to restoring AKL.

Arne Kjøde in Oslo 1938

Arne Kjøde in Oslo 1938

An ordinary day at the workshop

Nothing special occurred today, we just carried on cleaning and tidying, so a few photos of some of the boats.

White Wings name has been refreshed

Shamrock's floor boards have been painted and refitted.

Very hot and no wind

With the fine weather continuing many volunteers were away doing other things which left a small group to sort through the newly arrived cut timber to see what we had received.

Fine weather...

The day started off with a heavy haar (sea fog) covering the island, this slowly cleared during the morning and left us with a fine sunny day. At the workshop Waterwitch had her engine & gear box serviced, all fluids were changed. Next time we will clean up the inside and prepare her for storage under cover at another location as we need to free up some more working space.

We recently ordered a cut larch tree of boat skin quality which was transported up to Orkney from Scotland. This log arrived at the workshop today. This wood will enable us to start work on some of the boats that are waiting for planks to be replaced.

Running

With nice weather today we pulled Waterwitch out into the compound and prep'd her for an engine run. Her engine hasn't been run for 5 years or so but it started with the first turn of the key on old diesel. We let the engine run for 30 minutes to properly warm up and drive off any moisture. Now we know that the engine runs ok we will complete a full service and re-prep for storage as it may be sometime before the engine is run again.

Waterwitch Engine Run

Having received some grant funding from the Orkney Islands Council Culture Fund this year we purchased some new hand tools and built a tool rack on which to store them. The tool rack is moveable and uses the French Cleat system so we can reorganise and replace tool attachments easily.

Working

OHBS has acquired an old lifting frame which we are in the process of cleaning up and preparing for own use. 

Inside Waterwitch is nearly ready for an attempt to start her engine. We now just need some fine weather so that we can pull her outside as we will need to run a a hose to provide cooling water and we don't want to flood the inside working area.

Doris is getting her deck cleaned. This is actually a new deck fitted by Ian Richardson many years ago but has never seen use as the boat has been in storage since being re-decked.

Saga is nearly ready for varnish. Her new deck still has a little cleaning up to be done but she should be ready to take varnish in a week or two.

A Journey Through The Northwest Passage

On Thursday 25th April 2024 OHBS hosted an illustrated talk by Captain Maiwenn Beadle who in 2022 was master of a 36m ice breaking super yacht which transited the Northwest Passage from East to West.