Latest News and Updates on the Chance-restoration Project
Chance Restoration Project Update
We always look to keep you all updated on our progress of our project to restore Chance to her former glory.
Sometimes by a simple blog article or a short video showing what we have been up to over the past week or so.
We try to keep them light hearted in content and let you know how and why we are doing the job the way we are doing it.
This winter we hope to get more work done, As we hope we have a cover on Chance which may stay in place better than the last cover did. If the cover does stay put as we hope it does. We are planning to start rebuilding the forecabin after the structural work is done. Work such as some of the planking which need replacing and repairs to the top of the stem and the heel of the stem.
Inside there are a number of parts of the forecabin bulkhead that need replacing. Also we need to remove the old forecabin deck hatch as this is badly rotten that not much is holding it together and we need to make a completely new hatch from scratch.
We have to get some more cover to finish off covering up the stem area of Chance before long to ensure we keep the rain out of the forecabin of Chance over the winter and beyond.
This Autumn's work on the Chance Restoration Project
This Autumn work is going to be putting Perspex in the Wheelhouse windows so that we can cut down the amount of rain and other things getting into the boat, also refit the wheelhouse back in place, so that a cover can be put over the top of the wheelhouse as well.
We also wish to fill in the fixed windows with Perspex and remove the butterfly hatch bases and the forecabin hatch and aft cabin hatch as well so that we can rebuild the forecabin and aft cabin hatches because they are beyond repair and clean up and re-varnish butterfly hatch bases as these are in good condition and only a good sanding down and a few small repairs. While these hatches are off there will be blanks put in the holes in the deck until it is time to refit the hatches again later in the restoration.
This summer's work on the Chance Restoration Project
This summer's work was very little because of outside commitments away from the project. The main reason as been the fact I have been very busy repairing other people's vessels leaving very little time to do work on Chance. Other factors have been the strong winds blowing the cover off of Chance and having to try and recover her after each gale until the point it was not worth the time to try and keep a cover over Chance.
So we are on the lookout for a more permanent solution to the problem, then came the very hot spell when it was too hot to work on Chance.
However, now that the hot weather has subsided a bit, we now can at lease have a chance to work on her again. We are hoping for a bit of a settled dry spell so that we can get on with some major repairs over the coming weeks.
Work on the Chance Restoration Project
Over the summer months we have been out and about collecting parts to replace parts that have been removed or otherwise been missed placed or stolen. We have been looking for parts that have other James Silver's that have been broken up or have change their fittings and they wish to sell on the old items that have been removed and we can give them a new lease of life on Chance and keep Chance looking like she was when she was first built in 1948.
So if anyone out there knows of any James Silver's that are coming to the end of their days and they wish to sell the parts off the boat get in contact with Simon or Tricia so we can arrange to buy any of the parts we need on Chance.
This weekend's work on the Chance Restoration Project
This weekend's work will be to repair or replace any broken or damaged floorboards so that the floorboards can go back down in Chance to make it easier to walk through the inside of Chance while we are doing repairs to the inside of Chance over the winter months.
You can find us either at Chance or at Simon's Workshop in Foundry Yard . Pop along if you are in the area for a chat and a cuppa.
Winter work on Chance
At present Chance is under a winter cover while we make plans to sort out the interior layout and replace parts that are needed to do work on the inside of her over the winter months.
The main job in the new year is to set up lighting and power sockets throughout the inside so that we can work on her in the evenings and weekends.
We are also fund raising to fund the next stages of her restoration . One being to get a temporary shed build over her so that work on the decks can continue.
Updates on Progress on Chance
Next major project on Chance, Starboard beam shelf and deck beams and transom framework.
The next major job that will be undertaken by the Chance Restoration team will be the removal of the starboard beam shelf the short side deck beams and the aft deck beams.
The first part of this job will involve removing all the teak laid deck along the starboard side deck and then across the aft deck and along the port side to expose the aft deck beams, so that they can be removed and new deck beams made to replace the old damaged beams which had been cut off when the starboard side deck beam was replaced at sometime in the past. The deck beams along the starboard side deck will have to be renewed as well as they had the same treatment as the aft deck beams, Cut off short and not refixed to the new beam shelf when the beam shelf was replaced. Also along the starboard side the tie rods that connect the beam shelf to the carlin were cut through and not remade and new tie rods fitted to connect the parts of the hull structure together. if this job had been done correctly we would not be facing this problem now.
At the same time as the beam shelf is being sorted the last frame in the starboard side will have to be remade and fitted. Once this is done the framework for the transom can be made up and once the starboard side as been brought back into its correct shape and position then the transom can be reskinned in the way it was originally made up.
What's happening on the Chance restoration
In order to get on with the major repairs to the starboard side beam shelf and carlin and the dec k knees and deck beams we ordered and had delivered a sizable amount of oak to make the new parts needed to get the repairs underway..
What's happening on the Chance restoration
In order to get on with the major repairs to the starboard side beam shelf and carlin and the dec k knees and deck beams we ordered and had delivered a sizable amount of oak to make the new parts needed to get the repairs underway..
The scale of the task ahead.
As with any major restoration you are going to find more problems at first which you were not expecting to find. however, some of the problems were known, however, the extent of the damage or the scale of the size of the repair can not be judge without removing a lot of wood to see the extent of the damage until you get to see it with bits of boast in the way.
Removing old poorly done repairs which caused many of the problems we are facing on Chance
As with any project there is a lot of removal work before you can get down to reconstruction work and that is where we are at the moment. a lot more removal work, however, when this is done then we can start to rebuild the damaged areas and put back the correct shape into the hull once more.
Life's a Gamble, So lets take a "Chance"
This is Chances' Story
The history of Chance from her launch to the present day
History
Chance was launched at the James Silver boatyard at Rosneath to a John Bain Design Chance was a change in direction for John Bain and James Silver's boatyard as Chance was a true 50/50 motor Sailer and not as many of the boats which came before Chance and after Chance were motorboats.
Chances' design was to be called a Western Isles after the nearby area where the boatyard is situated.
Chance was commissioned and launched in 1948 for her first owner Lovat Crosley at Greenock.
1951 through to 1955, Name changed to Token by Capt. (S) S. J. Read, Southampton
1956 – 1970. The Hercules Engineering Co. Ltd, Southampton
1970 – 1991. Edward W. and E.D. Boxall, other family members until it was sold in 1991. Southampton
After 1980 the Lloyd's register was closed to new entries, at which time it is not known who her owners were and how long they owned her until the present day.
Chance has had the same engines throughout the years from 1948 until 2021 when the engines have been removed to have new engines fitted towards the end of her restoration. They were listed as "2 oil engines, 4 cyl, 90 x 120mm, and Dorman diesels.
Chance had several owners after it original owner and spent most of her days in and around the Solent. Until later in her life which was spent a short time on the River Thames, then for a short while at Membury, then back to the River Thames at Egham where she had some planking replaced, then Chance moved to Wadebridge in Cornwall. Then she moved once more to Woodplumpton in Lancashire where she is presently stored in a Storage yard.
The plan at the moment is to do as much work as possible to get her in a condition to move her down to my yard in Essex so that I can continue the work near to my home.
Technology
Chances' construction was common for the time period in which chance was built. Grown oak stem made in section to go from the stem head to the front of the keelson and keel and apron and through bolted, grown oak frames and steamed oak ribs, Oak keelson and oak keel, grown oak floors which the iron keel is bolted through. Oak engine beds which run for 20 feet along the hull to which the two engines are bolted to.
Chance has two beam shelfs, one that runs from the transom to the galley area of the hull, and then the second beam shelf runs from the forward end of the cockpit to the stem. Chance has grown oak deck beams with lodging knees where the tabernacles for the both mast positions.
The deck is made of teak and is single skinned and screwed to the deck with bronze screws to the deck beams. The deck skylights are fitted to the deck beams and they have their own carlins which the deck skylights are screwed through from below up into the skylights.
The hull is planked in Mahogany and is fixed to the ribs with copper nails and roves and bronze screwed to the grown frames.
The construction of the boat was a common method for the period although the design of the boat was a change in direction for both James Silver and John Bain as they had not built a true motor Sailer before.
The engines that fitted to Chance was a common engine fitted to boats at that time, the only change was they were being used as auxiliary engines and not her main form of propulsion.
Chance is a rare example, as Chance was only one of two built to the western isles design and I have not been able to find the other western isles built to this boat design through my research.
Chances’ provenance is through the Lloyds register of shipping and the fact chance still has the official number on her forward deck beam.
Social Values
I am Chances’ latest owner and the owner who is going to get her back into commission after a long restoration project which will take between 3 to 5 years to complete.
Chance, as symbolic valve in as much as she was a change in direction for the boat builder (James Silver) and designer (John Bain), to build a true 50/50 Motor Sailer.
There is a class association for James Silver boats on Facebook and to which I am a member.
Aesthetic Valves
Chance as a well-proportioned shape to her and the design is pleasing to the eye and the design makes for an easily driven hull
Rarity
As for the rarity of Chance there are no other Western Isles in existence, as it has been impossible to track down the other Western Isles that was possibly built by James Silvers’ boatyard, if in fact the other Western Isles was ever built.
Integrity
At the moment the majority of the hull planking is original to when Chance was built apart from the some of the areas of the hull that have had replacement planking fitted to the hull over the years. However, the interior of the boat has been modified over the years and in places destroying the original fabric of the original interior, however, when much of the more recent modification were removed it was possible to see the original design of the interior and it is planned to reinstate the original design of the interior back as part of her restoration.
Transporting Chance home to Essex
After 18 months of hard work we were ready to transport Chance home to Essex to continue her restoration
This once proud ship starting to get some much needed TLC
This website is to show that with a lot of love and attention Chance will once more sterr the high seas again
Starting at the bow and working aft
This is going to be the story of how we as a family brought Chance back from the grave and got her back on the high sea again. Come along for the journey