KALISTA (Greek means beautiful one)

by Dave C
(Wales UK)

The Tale
continues
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9


I bought this 17 ft open ply boat, single chine, shallow V, with a centre board.

She must be 30 years old but very solid.

Any one recognise the breed?

Simple Boating

by Dagodave
(Wales)

Mine is a simple tale I returned home to the UK from Spain a poorer but wiser man, back at home I began to dream about a boat.
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My last boat had been a hundred year old restoration project.

I now wanted something simple, a friend offered me a 17ft ply ‘V’ bottom skiff of American design it looked good so I bought her.

She had no name so she was christened “Kalista”.

Then things started to get more intense the project took on more work even forsaking paid labour.

So far I have started to examine the hull and it looks good.

A decision was made to strip all the paint and start again and that my friends is where I am up to at the moment ,but it aint simple.

More to follow

Dave
Chester England/Wales border)

Simple Boating part 2

by Dave C
(Wales UK)

Started stripping the paint but before that I had to remove half of the beach from inside the boat.

The whole process is quite calming in a strange way.

The mystifying bit is why has some paint really stuck to the ply and in other areas it comes off in easy strips?

I am really enjoying this project it has so many threads, such as planning the rigging, mast, sail plan and where to launch to name a few.

And as it’s my boat I do not feel the need to justify my quirks, such as will it be a cutter or a sloop maybe I will try a boomless setup.

It’s really a blank canvas for me but as I said in the first part it aint simple
Dave C

Simple Boating 3 "Kalista"

by Dave
(North Wales)

The plot thickens I have now joined the local sailing club which has a compound that will let me have access to the River Dee.

Before that more work.

The paint is coming off in good style and as yet no horrors have been uncovered.

I have made an active decision that at this point I will concentrate on getting the boat in a respectable and safe condition.

The dilemma was restore, rebuild or refurbish I have chosen refurbish but later on who knows.

I am still pondering on the sail plan, the mast is stepped 5ft from the bow and is through to the keel and it looks like there was a second mast just forward of the tiller.

But for now I will just work on getting the hull in good order and continue trawling the net and hopefully some good advice may come and some kind soul will recognise the old girl and throw in a helpful word or two as I said it aint simple.

In response to requests will put more pictures on.

Dave C

Simple Boating 4

by Dave
(North Wales)

Kalista.
The project has now really started to to take shape, she will take the form of a gaff cutter'

After much digging and probing I have found no real problems but I have re-discovered that crawling about a 17 ft boat can be quite demanding on your body!

I am amazed that a 30 year plus ply boat can be so well preserved.

Most of the work is being done using hand tools as I quite like the lack of screaming electric motors it might be slow but its good.

The biggest part of the work so far has been cleaning and scraping and I do not see that ending for a while but it allows time to dream and plan.
The next steps in a considered manner.

Hopefully next time will include some photos of progress

Best wishes Dave C

Simple Boating 5 Kalista

by

Work moves on ,the inside has now had all the loose paint removed and the rubbing down has started.

Preparation for the first primer/undercoat is underway I will use an aluminum based primer and an oil based undercoat and gloss topcoat.

The interior is difficult in that there are so many nooks and crannies but slowly is the rule and methodical is the manner.

Now onto the hull, it has been burnt off and is nearly ready for paint, the seams will be epoxied and taped where necessary.

I have started to list out required materials and will order as each stage is arrived at.

My biggest problem at the moment, strangely is not time or money but weather, our nonexistent summer is the real culprit but rainy days allow for dreaming.

New pictures attached.

Simple Boating 6

by Dave C
(North Wales UK)

Kalista is now becoming a proper project.

I am happy to say that the first coat of primer has gone on and I think she is beginning to look all right.

I have adopted some of Mr Paysons methods for priming the plywood.

I will now start thinking about rigging, I am going to try and keep to old school were possible.

simple boating 7

by Dave C
(North Wales)

Kalista at this stage is now ready for finish coats to be applied to the outside.

The inside is a different matter, I fear I have many hours of preparation before I will see much improvement.

However I keep on going as and when the weather allows (oh for a warm workshop).

I have to keep reminding myself that in bygone days boat were built on the beach or in a field (read Slocum for instance ).

"Kalista" never ceases to amaze me that at her age there is no real rot, I am very happy that this project is going well.

Next on the plan is rig and rigging, after that the trailer has to be restored and who knows, we may get to launch soon after that.

I have a date in my mind and will work towards that.
Dave C

Kalista Simple Boating 8

by Dave
(Chester UK)

At present work on "kalista" is on hold as working in the open when its raining aint no fun.

However I continue to gather materials and study possibilities as to where to keep her when she is ready for the water.

I haves settled on the rig as a boom-less gaff cutter.

And am contemplating an electric outboard as I do not intend to do much powered boating and will probably use her on inland waters.

kalista Part 9

by Dagodave
(North Wales UK)

The story of Kalista continues, not so much in the restoration but more as to where I want to keep and sail her for now I have settled on a large lake in North Wales UK as my base the boat.

Work moves along apace, the first coat of colour (dark cherry)has been applied and looks good (well I think so) the rest of the boat will be cream.

Running gear not yet finalised but it does look like a gaffer with a short jib, the mast will have a couple of stays.

I am trying to use as many traditional methods as possible on such a small boat, in a nut shell 17 ft shallow v bottom centre board no engine home made oars.

Hopefully lots of fun to sail.

Next episode will have current pictures.

I have got a set of nearly new bermudian sails which I want convert to gaff, these come from a GP14 any one out there done a conversion from bermudan to gaff?

Oh bye the way I am looking to make the sail boomless.

Best wishes .
Dagodave