Restoration Details
SULAIRE’S owner has undertaken two major refits over the course of the past 25 years. Complete documentation and photographs of these refits are available on the blog at http://8msulaire.blogspot.com/. Since purchased by her present owner in 1985, she has been consistently refined with an eye towards returning to her original configuration while making her lighter, stiffer and faster. Like many of her sisterships, a cruising cockpit, house and cabin layout had been previously installed. In 1991, she was hauled and moved to a purpose build shed where she received a new cold molded deck with the cabin and cockpit layout returned to her original configuration. Care was taken install beveled strips in the lower layer to give the appearance to her original deck from the interior. The new deck is strong, lightweight and watertight. Other major work included moving her mast step aft and forestay forward to increase the J dimension. At this time, new chainplates and were installed with a new bulkhead and significant reinforcement. In 2004 she was hauled again for refit. Major points included removal of her lead ballast keel, fabrication of new silicon bronze floors and installation of new keel bolts. Her entire interior was sanded and refinished. Her cockpit and interior was beautifully reconstructed. This refit has now been completed and she has yet to be splashed. 1991 Refit Engine removed and all thru hulls eliminated Hull wooded and treated with linseed oil and turps, with pine tar added below the waterline All fasteners in sawn frames removed and replaced with new silicon bronze fasteners, one size larger Deck removed and rebuilt in cold molded red cedar, with 1 ¾” beveled cedar strips in the first layer sprung in to give the visual effect of the original deck from below and two diagonal layers above, set in epoxy and fiberglass with bronze staples Deck, cabin and cockpit restored to original configuration per drawings Cabin rebuilt in laminated construction of two layers of cedar sandwiched between mahogany Beams salvaged from old house to add depth of character to interior Stern timber replaced Mast step and forestay location moved for improved performance ¾” marine plywood bulkhead attached to 2”x2” laminated frame installed to take chainplate load Stainless chainplates and tension rods installed Knees added near chainplates and foredeck Current refit New welded floors of 3/16” silicon bronze sheet carrying large keelbolts and bolted to sawn frames New cast silicon bronze strap floors fitted to bent frames and carrying smaller keel bolts Keel removed and bolts replaced with silicon bronze bolts and nuts machined to match originals Bilge coated in red lead and painted Entire interior sanded and refinished in four coats of varnish New bulkheads installed, constructed of ½” marine plywood overlaid with ¼” by 1” boards, grooved to create the appearance of a planked bulkhead, painted white Sideboard boxes built of old growth redwood harvested around the time of SULAIRE’s construction Settees constructed of Spanish cedar, lightweight with grain characteristics similar to mahogany New cockpit grates and seats constructed of Spanish cedar trimmed with mahogany salvaged from old cockpit supports Custom cast bronze portlights with Fife engravings
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