Boat preparation - Dream Maker gets a makeover

Following the eventful to the Scilly Isles, we needed to get to work on refitting Dream Maker. The trip as intended had given us a chance to test a number of things on the boat including the steering system (which broke anyway!) and the elctronics. The row also gave us the chance to try out the latest set of oars and decide exactly what length to order for the other two sets. The length and set up of the oars in crucial in a trip of this magnitude as the longer they are the faster you go but then more effort is needed to pull them through the water. With such a long row we need to have oars that we can pull on all day but still get a decent speed, so a compromise is needed. For those of you that are into these things we finally decided on one set of 312cm and two sets of 308cm. All three sets of oars are XCell X3 purpose made ocean rowing oars with hollow carbon and kevlar shafts, wooden handles and macon spoons.

With regard to the steering it quickly became apparent that the existing system was difficult to use and had a number of weak points that are difficult ot repair at sea. The foot plate was also non adjustable which meant that we could move it to accomodate our differing heights. We decided to order a new carbon fibre steering footplate from Woodvale (the builders of the boat and organisers of the race) which would not only let us adjust the length but also would save many kilos in weight over the massive stainless steel structure that was fitted to the boat previously.

The boat was also fitted with a number of deck hatches that leaked badly during the row and needed replacing with smaller water tight ones (although the leaks were not big enough to cause any danger to the seaworthiness of the boat they were likely to cause contamination of our food and waterlogging of other equipment). This involved removing the old hatches and creating a new section of deck to fit over the newly created holes within which the smaller holes for the new hatches were cut. Thanks to the building department at Cambridge regional College for help in cutting the holes to precision in the 8 foot long new deck section. This was then coated with epoxy resin and painted with 5 coats of marine paint.

Due to the movement of the hatches we then needed to move both of our large batteries to another compartment within the cabin and also resite and replumb the water maker for a second time. Neither of these items would fit through the new hatches.

The leaks through the hatches meant that much of the wiring outside of the cabin had corroded and needed replacing (leaks had obviously been a problem throughout Dream Makers previous Atlantic crossing). A big big thank you to our marine electrician Simon Wilcock for giving up his weekends and who almost lived on the boat each weekend in October and undertook not only the rewiring but installation of new electronic equipment.

Other tasks that needed completing to name but a few were

Replacing the footwell floor

Replacing the rowing rails

Varnishing exposed wood

Filling, sanding and painting the damge sustained on the Scilly's row and predominently from shipping back from the islands.

Scrubbing the decks (never buy a boat with white decks)

Repainting the anti-foul

Replacing the guard wires

Removing all the old logos

Refitting the cooker mount

With the date for shipping the boat from Tilbury Docks set for Monday 19th October it was all hands to the pump as Mick conned, bribed and cajoled acquaintances, friends, friends of friends, acquaintances of friends, and friends of acquaintances (you get the picture) to lend their skills to the cause.

The front lawn of Mick's house resembled a Formula 1 pit stop area for ocean rowing boats with at some stages up to six people working on the boat (which is not bad as it is only 24 feet long).

Thanks to the following -

Pete (I like your wood - is it oak?) Douglas - for the many bits of carpentry that needed doing.

Nick (they didn't have self steering like this at Jaguar or Lotus) Sampson - for engineering our new auto pilot steering system and for putting up with my incessant ramblings about ocean rowing at work for the last two years! (Nick has had the misfortune to sit at the desk opposite me for nearly 3 years!) Also for the pit stop tent!

Simon (whahoo! the GPS is talking to the AIS) Wilcock - for his ceaseless enthusiasm and professionalism when doing the electronics and wiring. If he spent any longer on the boat we would have needed to apply for planning permisssion for change of use to a dwelling.

Jake (Simon's son or should it be apprentice) who assisted on two weekends when any self respecting teenager would have been on his XBox.

Pete (I know a man who can, and to me the most important man in Oundle) Dixon - for his advice and assistance in installing the new footwell floor and much, much more besides. Without Pete I am sure that the boat would be nowhere near sea worthy.

Mark (I'll do anything for a large glass of red) Stratton - for turning his hand to just about anything that was needed.

Mark (I'm sure it was white paint when I bought it) Quigley - for helping out on that hectic Friday when I thought that the boat would never get put back together.