A quick update to show the early stages of the clean up to allow restoration to start.
The view from the rear of the coachhouse looking forward, after a gap of a few months while we waited for a global pandemic to rise and fall. Mid May 2020. The picture tells the story with the elements clearly doing their work well during its time on land, with little hope of much usable timber out of the interior, or topsides. As an aside, two very nice Tumlarens under restoration towards the front of Ferdi’s shed, the one on the left rescued from a paddock near Goolwa SA and apparently quite a well known and very successful racing yacht. They provide a welcome and hopeful backdrop to this series of pictures, and for the time spent clearing out rotten timber.
The bones of the interior can be seen, for the portion not hidden by the white painted coachhouse roof. There has been some clean out at this point, with the masts and other obstructions removed. Barely recognisable as blackwood are the raised panels at the rear.
What is clear from several of these photos is the damage done when Wyruna was blown over during the early 1980’s, when a very local and high intensity storm hit Altona. Aside from the damage done by punching several props through the planking, several deck beams were broken/damaged, with one of the key hanging knees showing a clean break, likely from this time. Pictures later, hopefully.
Overall, for this quick update, we have made a start towards the end of the beginning. Filled a large box trailer with rotten timber, and made some nice progress. Confirmed that the majority of the internal timber will be replaced, with decking, lining, frames/ribs, and all internal fitout beyond repair. Planking remains sound, and continued inspection of the keel timbers and deadwood etc showing that these large and vital timbers remain in good shape for re-use. Stringers appear reusable, as are many of the floors.
There were four copper water tanks uncovered in Wyruna. Two right in the bow, that may not go back in given the location. Two in a more traditional location under the coach house floor. Depending on the level of lead we wish to ingest via the solder holding them together, we may look to re-use these latter two.
Very early days in this process, but restoring some of the original lines and features, that were much cleaner/lighter and less cluttered is becoming more appealing.
It is also clear that the heavy white paint used in the interior (lining, bulkheads, cabinets etc) looks to have been added later. Something we are not keen to reproduce.
Once the clean up and measuring is complete, hopefully during June/July 2020, we will be ready to bring it back to shape for the professionals to start looking at restoring the structural timbers. More later!
