Michael Leahy

If you spend any time comparing different COD’s as I do (sad, I agree!) one of the most obvious differences is in the top Rubbing Strip which runs from stem to stern at deck level. Originally, boats such as Kandahar…

So that we could get better access, the deck panels were removed (we’d only used “slave” steel screws). These panels were given a coat of primer, inside and out. At this stage, Gig Jackson brought his years of professional experience…

We had decided to fit the deck panels provisionally before we painted the inside of the boat. We had worked out that 4 sheets of Marine Ply would be needed and had worked out how we would cut them out…

Another trip to our friendly woodyard in Trefnant and we had the two Carlins, which are the beams which run down each side of the cockpit to support the side decks. They are jointed into the deckbeams at the front…

Work had stopped on the boat because the roof of the tent had blown off with the gales at New Year. Everything was covered with tarpaulins so it was a matter of waiting for the new roof panel to be…

Since we put the tent up, the big question has always been “How long will it last?”. On a nice calm day we don’t even think about it — but when the wind blows, being inside feels like being at…

It was time to fit the Rubbing Strips and Top Planks that we had prepared earlier. Handling was the dangerous bit. Having had one disaster through trying to bend one plank too far, Keith and I were now far more…

The Top Planks and the Rubbing Strips all need replacing. This is a big job because they run the full lenght of the boat, they are shaped to fit the lines of the boat and they are made out of…

Last year, when this Centenary Project got started and we were arranging to move Kandahar from Gallows Point, Beaumaris to the workshop “tent” I received a letter from a Mrs Rosemary Asher who lives in the Isle of Wight. Mrs…