Petrel Restoration

‘Petrels’ origins were something of a mystery. She does not appear with the original EYC fleet or had any clear sign of being a renamed yacht. Her construction differs from her EYC counterparts, with several newspaper articles indicating she was purchased from Lough Gill co. Sligo in the 1920s and has sailed on Lough Erne ever since. Some evidence indicated that she may have been ‘Oberon’ of the RNIYC, but it was later discovered that she was built a year after the last of the EYC boats as a one-off yacht for the Sligo Yachting and Rowing Club. She would sail here for around 12 years before being brought to Enniskillen as part of the EYC. After a century of hard use, but equally kind treatment from her many owners she was withdrawn from club sailing and laid up in 1989 and eventually purchased for restoration in 2008 by the Louden-Brown family. While being in a comparatively good condition to her sisters, she still required an intensive and total restoration from the keel up. In 2021 the boat will be re-entering the water at Lough Erne after a 32 year absence. More on her history can be viewed here.

*On some devices the following images come out of order, be sure to view this page in landscape! (phone or device sideways) They should be viewed, left to right and down.

Petrel (left) with Doreen (right) 1960s LEYC
Petrel, laid up since 1989 in her French Blue paint.
The initial paint striping revealed Petrel’s original emerald green and black colour scheme.
Despite the lack of rot, the deck was still very worn out, split and was suffering from subsidence, this along with the deck beams that flanked the sides of the combing had to be replaced.
New meets old. The new Stern timber and laminated Big Knee and frames, made from American White Oak replace the rotten Irish oak.
Petrel being lifted off her keel for the first time in over 100 years.
Once removed, the Keel bolts were tapped to free them, releasing decades of trapped water.
The recently cleaned keel, grit blasted, coated and covered in epoxy. Here it is matched against the new Iroka keelson.
The newly made, laminated frames are socketed and secured to the keelson.
Bow view of the repaired, epoxy covered deck beams.
Internal painting applied before the deck is fitted.
Laying and fitting of the new double layered marine-ply deck. Far stronger and more durable than any traditional deck planking. The layers were similarly treated with epoxy resin to seal them from the elements.
The original deck combing pieces, now repaired are refitted.
Various new fixtures along with the original oar rowlocks. These are a practical component when theres a lack of wind. Though no-one really wants to row a Fairy!
The boats newly carved transom, made with the same pattern style from her original.
‘Petrel’ undercover and waiting for the warmer months of the 2021 season. Her sister ‘Paxie’ on the left is being disassembled for her eventual rebuild.
The work continues.
Merging of dolly and trailer.
Fitting her new cover.
Last minute checks to the mast and spare.
34 year dry spell over!
Back home and in her element.
Brought over to the Lough Erne Yacht Clubs lifting crane to be transferred to a trailer for transport.
Her original deck had ben track-marked in the 60s which had the benefit of preserving much of her timber and original fixtures.
Paul Louden-Brown, removing the boats deck rigging and metal-work fixtures.
A great photo, showing the new wood matching and interlocking with the old. The original transom was too badly worn out and damaged, this along with new planking on the stern end of the boat was the only major timber that had to be replaced.
Keel separated and ready to be grit blasted and cleaned.
Its a Fairy, of course it can fly!
The newly cleaned up keel merged with the keelson and the rest of the hull.
Additions to the lifting procedure include lifting eyes on the new keel bolts. This allows the boat tube directly raised from the centre point of her keel, rather than putting excess force on the hull.
All frames fitted, along with the thin ribs in between. The rear bulkhead has also been installed.
A few cans of paint later…
Original gammon piece and bronze roller are combined with modern stainless steel bolts.
With the deck fitted, the fairing of the hull begins. Fairing compound can be seen across the surface. The new mast, and original spars can be seen as well.
Deck fitting out, rigging and line testing.
Test fitting of steel floors.
Metal floors, drilled and secured.
The rest of the metal floors are adjusted and fitted.
Rolling out of the garage.
Rudder components being adjusted.
Ready for launch day!
Launch day.
Rig and sail adjustments.