John Oxley Restoration

Update October 2005

Hull

Our sponsor, H.V.T. Inspection Services is conducting further ultra-sonic testing to determine the state of the hull plates in A and B-strakes. The chain locker replacement is making slow progress with riveting due to the awkward location of the rivets.

Work on the repairs to the floors in the shaft tunnel is 80 percent complete. Access to the floors required plate A-2 starboard to be removed. It exposed for the first time the state of the bar keel. Luckily the bar keel is in remarkable condition and does not need replacement. The A-strake plates are riveted to the bar keel with rivets of 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter and about 4 inches (100 mm) long.

The last floor in the stokehold, part of the boiler room, has been replaced. Each floor measures about 9 metres wide and 90 cm deep. They are made from 12 mm steel plate with 75 mm angles on top and on the bottom that are riveted to the plate webbing by some 120 rivets. See the midships section drawing.

The next step is the replacement of the floors under the boilers. These are awkward to get to with the low headroom.

Engineering

The pintles of the rudder are being removed prior to the removal of the rudder for refurbishment. The pins are proving to be quite stubborn.

The sea valves are being reconditioned. A new bilge manifold has been cast on the pattern of the corroded original and is awaiting machining. A number of the steam engines have been and are being re-conditioned ashore.

Many of the tools that came with the ship are being collected and stored ashore.

Electrical

The electrical department is busy eliciting donations for electrical cable and fittings. There are well-developed plans for the fit-out of the ship. We are in particular looking for a donation of a diesel generator.

Rigging

Plans are underway to lower the boom on the main mast so it can be refurbished and to reduce the load on the main mast itself.

Shipwright

Maintenance has been done, and will continue, on the wheelhouse structure to protect the timber finish that has been restored. The anchor deck has been sealed to stop the ingress of water to the restored lower decks.