Restoring Rosalind: Introducing a New Boat Restoration Project

Many of our featured ‘guests’ on the blog are folks we’ve been working with awhile- so it’s always exciting when we get to introduce someone new!

‘Andrew Guest is a shipwright who is rebuilding Rosalind, a lug-rigged sailboat built in St. Ives, Cornwall, England by William Paynter in 1903. She has had a long and well traveled life, but is now housed in a shed at West Mystic Wooden Boat in Mystic, Connecticut, as Andrew prepares her for a new chapter as a working boat. He had already been thinking about building a lugger when he found this one destined for the chainsaw in Oxford, Maryland.’

Restoring Rosalind is a channel that features extensive restoration, as well as tips on woodworking, carpentry, toolmaking, and boatbuilding - all the stuff we love!

In their latest video, we get a detailed update on the progress of Rosalind’s boat restoration project. From construction of the foremast, the use of different types of wood, the creation of spar components, caulking of seams, making seam compound, ballasting, installing the bulwarks, progress on the cabin top, and interior work like the galley, head, and cabin bunk. The boat's transformation involves a combination of woodworking techniques, materials, and innovations, all of which contribute to its restoration and enhancement.

As we all know, restoring a boat is a labor of love, a journey that involves a delicate blend of craftsmanship, creativity, and dedication, and Andrew is no exception to this journey.

The video kicks off with Andrew describing the creation of the foremast, a pivotal component of the boat's structure. The construction process involved fashioning two large staves and two smaller ones that are assembled into a box-like configuration. These staves are complemented by triangular wooden fillets on the inside, reinforcing the mast's integrity.

As the video progresses, Andrew showcases his blend of traditional techniques and innovation. He delve into the art of caulking, a process that involves filling gaps between planks with cotton and a specialized compound. This compound, lovingly concocted by Andrew, combines a linseed oil-based putty with bottom paint, resulting in a substance that not only seals the seams but also wards off microbial growth and adapts to the wood's natural expansion and contraction.

Balancing Ballast: A Weighty Decision

The video also highlights the critical aspect of ballasting, where Andrew determines the distribution of weight in the boat for optimal stability. He ultimately decided to use lead blocks nestled in concrete, providing a secure and balanced foundation. This technique not only adds ballast but also reinforces the hull and prevents rot through the application of alkaline concrete.

Progress on Deck: From Bulwarks to Cabin Top

Moving above deck, we get a glimpse of the completion of the bulwarks, including an in-whale that will serve as a landing surface for the cap rail. The cabin top also takes shape, with multiple layers of laminated plywood and soon to be fiberglass. Here we see Andrew make use of TotalFair for prepping the cabin top surface for the fiberglass.

Crafting an Interior Oasis

Not just limited to the exterior, we can see Rosalind has a lot of work ahead when it comes to creating an inviting interior space. Andrew shares his vision for a functional galley, complete with an innovative head and chain locker arrangement, and a standing shower. The bunk area is coming together with ceiling panels fashioned from planking offcuts that Andrew cut and milled himself, which add a nice personal touch to the soon-to-be bunk space.

Rosalind’s transformation is a work of art in progress and encapsulates the dedication and skill required to breathe life into an old boat. Make sure to check out Restoring Rosalind on YouTube, and give them a follow on Instagram as well!