Tumlaren ELISABETH : An Update part 2
On 29 Nov 2021 Tumlaren Elisabeth, previously purchased by retired shipwright Phil (Blue) Holmes, sight unseen due to Covid restrictions a few months earlier – was trucked 4 ½ hours up from Waimaku, NW Auckland to Mangonui in the Far North of New Zealand.
Here follows an update on the restoration of Tumlaren ELISABETH, currently taking place in Far North of New Zealand. In case you missed Part 1 - here’s a link.
Luckily, she was already on her original cradle and it was a relatively easy manoeuvre to transfer her from the truck to her new hard stand home.
Not one to sit around, Phil was working on her hull that afternoon. Within two days the cabin top and interior fittings were removed, taken to the tip and a bare hull remained.
In planning for easier working conditions in the long months ahead, a few days later Elisabeth was once again attached to strops with the keel bolts, untouched for over 65 years, undone and found to be in excellent condition. The lead keel was dropped off and Elisabeth was duly flipped over.
Prior to purchasing the boat half of her kauri hull had been splined and Phil started by completing this job before sanding back the planking.
Phil had decided, like he had done on ZEPHYR, his previous full Tum restoration, to fiberglass the hull allowing ELISABETH to remain relatively maintenance free and last for, hopefully, another 65 years. Two layers of 400 gm double bias were applied with machine and long board sanding over the next week readied her for the final painting process at the end of the project.
Elisabeth now awaits yet another flip over for an interior make over, new decks and cabin.
Meanwhile around the house there have been growing piles of macrocarpa, kahikatia (a NZ yellow pine) and kwila planks slowly being dried and planed for her new finish. Curved cabin laminated beams for the cabin top have also been assembled.
Sadly, her rudder no longer exists, so a new pattern has been cut and oak planks have been measured for its construction with a wooden rudder gudgeons being taken to the metal foundry.
Unfortunately, the mast is also no more, and with oregan almost impossible to source the hunt for a Dragon mast– in itself a rare find in NZ – was on. One was tracked down to a sailmakers loft – new and untouched for 15 years.
So, things are falling into place for ELISABETH. Initially this project was going to be “maybe 2 years”. However, it is now only 6 weeks since her arrival and the way things are progressing out in the back yard – she could well be sailing on Doubtless Bay next summer.
If you’re in New Zealand and finding yourself smitten by the designs of Knud Reimers
have a look at this!
”I have a 35ft Tumlaren in Auckland, NZ and am looking for expressions of interest.”
