Gadwall like all timber boats has had a chequered past when it comes to refurbishment and restorations. All the owners through the near century of Gadwall’s existence have had substantial “maintenance”. Replacing sails, odd timbers, constant painting and varnishing, and even new engines.
However here we will be detailing major overhauls and works of magnitude over and above the usual yearly maintenance and odd replacement.
We may consider expanding this to list into a timeline of all alterations carried out but again just now will focus on the larger restoration works.
There are 3 key works that we are aware of that we feel constitute a refit / restoration. Back in the 70’s under D.H Trahair’s , in the early 2000’s by “taffy” Harris and the latest refit by Armand Attard.
1970’s – D.H. Trahair
2000’s – “Taffy Harris”
At some point during Taffys ownership Gadwall was put up on the hard in his garden at Roa Isand, and the boat is well know to have sat there for “decades”.
Initlaly Taffy’s restoration and refit started at a high standard and with some momentum. Achieving a new suit of sales, commisioning a lot of stainless steel works, including the beach legs, new stanchions and a boom stand. We can confirm Taffy commisioned these works from the images provided by Ian Barlow, @ ’86.
Taffy documented his works and plans extremely meticulously, going round the boat show and preening quotes for sales, keeping his correspondences with timber yards and several screw suppliers, purchasing the highest standards at the keenest prices.
These works were executed however failing health meant the restoration stumbled and it appeared Gadwall was left to slowly deteriorate in the garden at Roa, with locals of the sailing club adamant that she would never see the water again.
Taffy refused to part with Gadwall, and it was not until his passing that his 2 sons sold her on to her next owner.
2015-2017 – Armand Attard
2021 – Steven Moffat
After purchasing Gadwall there were some works required, initially, there is a lot of wet timber, a lot of leaks-and an awful lot of tired things, the good news was that the standing rigging was new, she was VERY complete, a lot of the original features and deck ware are still with her, incredibly the mast and boom appear original, the ships clock is original, the solid fuel heater etc are all of their time, Taylors stove is genuine, appears to be from the Trahair years.
Mostly the work will be a ” Rolling Restoration” with genuinely most work being a tidy / clean up / maintenance to get her into some form of ship-shape fashion.
The first thing to do was to pump out 12 inches of water accumulated over the winter on hardstand, this was flushed out with several buckets of sea water. Then appraising all that we had, and learning the systems that were on board. Assess everything and make a list of works needed for sea trials.
The standing rigging was in good shape, the windex needed attention, as did the shrouds, the rigging is soldered in places and one of the shrouds has a repair requiring attention perhaps this year or next ( 2021). However along with a set of sails in immaculate condition everything on the standing. rigging and mast all seem in good condition. The chainplates are solid if a little grubby.
Internally there is signs of rot in some of the super structure, as well as rust damage to knees and a couple broken frames require replacing-or stints initially.
Floors all appear in good condition, the fore deck and a lot of the fore beams will require attention or replacing soon.
The carvel planking is wet in areas, and some shrinkage is apparent from sitting on the hard this year, this will require assessment once she has taken up again to see what planks require works or replaced. A full survey is required before she goes back in.