ROCQUETTE Restoration Pics..

[Andrew S/Y Rocquette]

Back last year once stripped down - stem and keel fine, bottom of many laminated frames RATHER rotten...
http://www.yacht.ro/raceboat/1_half_of_mahogany_frames_were_rotten_at_bilge_sec tion.gif

Around June this year this was done and new planking went on (she's double-planked carvel)...
http://www.yacht.ro/raceboat/1_hull_planking_rebuilt.gif
Deck was not good and the original had no sheerplank, so this was rectified...
http://www.yacht.ro/raceboat/2_deck_was_reinforced_and_sheerstrake_added.gif
Decision was made (after much consultation and writing to the designer) to laminate 3 fine veneers over the hull as the planking was sound but old and the hull was very thin as built to racing scantlings...so the hull was rotated so this could be best done...
http://www.yacht.ro/raceboat/1_observe_the_rebuilt_deck.gif
Next steps are lots of fairing, replacing the bulwarks, dynel+epoxy for the deck and rebuilding the interior. And painting. Soon (hopefully!) she'll look like this again and be ready for another 40 years!
http://www.yacht.ro/raceboat/0_rocquette_Imperia_Italy.gif
It's taken so long it almost seems like this is just some fantasy of a boat...but we'll get there!

Huge praise for Andrei Rochian of L&A Maritime in Bucharest who's doing the work. Website's here for more pics: L&A - Rocquette page (http://www.yacht.ro/frame.php?lang=en&linc=race)

Mantra - it MUST be worth it...it MUST be worth it...it MUST be WORTH it...HOW MUCH?????

smile.gif

[ 07-15-2005, 07:18 AM: Message edited by: Andrew S/Y Rocquette ]

[formerlyknownasprince]

Great boat, great project, great site.

Ian

[Andrew S/Y Rocquette]

Thank you Ian. Open invite (from whenever we get her back!) to join us for a sail...

Anyone vaguely interested in her history - this also from the website (think I originally wrote it, apparently)...

"Rocquette is a seminal vessel in the history of modern British ocean racing. She was built by Camper& Nicholson in 1964 as the personal yacht of Peter Nicholson himself.
What really put Peter Nicholson's name on the yacht design map was the aptly named Rocquette which he owned and raced in 1964 before selling her.
Lightly constructed, with laminated mahogany frames and two skins of planking, she was the first British ocean racer to have a flush deck - made of two skins of plywood glued to laminated spruce deck beams - and had a small doghouse set well aft.
In her first year, 1964, she won the Gold Roman Challenge Cup in the Round-the-Island Race against a fleet of 325 boats, an outstanding achievement, and went on to win the Britannia Cup, the New York Yacht Club Cup, and the Coronation Bowl
.
In 1966, Yachting World Annual described Rocquette as the first of " a distinctly new type of offshore racer " and her design led to later Peter Nicholson yachts such as Quiver IV and Noryema IV, who were both part of the victorious British Admirals Cup team of 1965 ,as well as influencing the Illingworth-designed Gypsy Moth IV of Sir Francis Chichester fame..."

And it was good seeing GM IV sailing again!

smile.gif

Andrew
p.s. incidentally - this year's Round-The-Island had over 1700 entries but was again won by an oldie - a wooden 1/4 or 1/2 tonner I think. Hope we'll be having her back for her 41st anniversary of winning it...

[ 07-15-2005, 09:32 AM: Message edited by: Andrew S/Y Rocquette ]

[Dale R. Hamilton]

Andrew- tell us more about the 3 fine veeners you laminated over the hull, what kind, how thick, how wide, how oriented, with epoxy?- how fastened? Boat looks just wonderful and certainly worth the effort- and money

[Andrew S/Y Rocquette]

Off the top of my head (don't have correspondence to hand) it's three 6mm veneers - 2 diagonal and last fore-and-aft. If you look at some of the pictures - you can see there were local areas of rot by way of the fastenings in many areas, so the longitudanal strength of the planking was compromised to a degree by the restoration in local areas of planking. Andrei (yard owner) removed rot and graved in replacements, refastened etc. We then decided for strength to add the veneers to "beef up" the hull, given it was less than 1 inch thick anyway. Also, hull was effectively cold-moulded with 2 fore-and-aft layers glued together with resourcinol and through-fastened to frames, so little chance of movement meant the veneering was not a risk (and I checked with Peter Nicholson (designer) and Jeremy Lines (ex-C&N chief designer), both of whom raced on her and who raised no objections!). New veneers are epoxied.

A

[ 07-15-2005, 09:45 AM: Message edited by: Andrew S/Y Rocquette ]

[andrei]

three layers oak veneer 1.7mm each; epoxy saturated; first two layers diagonally; third final layer horizontally.
oak was treated with acetone prior lamination;
staples used for pressure.

andrei rochian/L&A Maritime SRL/www.yacht.ro

[Andrew S/Y Rocquette]

there you have it from the master himself!

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Edited to add: and unfortunately I have no financial stake in the yard...!

[ 07-15-2005, 09:59 AM: Message edited by: Andrew S/Y Rocquette ]

[carioca1232001]

Slow and steady wins the race Andrew !

Most definitely an enterprising undertaking, to include the sea passage from Italy to Romania. No I shan´t ask you how much this project has set you back - or forward, depending on your perspective ;)

I have a v. good Romanian friend who moved to New York from Rio in 1978 and we see each other time and again. Her daughter will be shortly commencing study for a medical degree in Bucharest, after obtaining her BS in the US.

Romania sort of fascinates me, history and all, and of course, Balkans food.

And they learn Portuguese so fast, you wouldn´t believe it. :rolleyes:

[andrei]

all my crew speaks portuguese indeed.
here's the veneer cold moulding.we use west system epoxy ;three layers veneer plus three coats epoxy on the outside .the framing was completely rebuilt in laminated wood :floors frames;knees; beams and all.the bilge is epoxy capsulated.all steel fastenings were removed and changed by bronze and copper.
http://www.yacht.ro/raceboat/2_West_System_Veneer_epoxy_cold_molding.gif

[Andrew S/Y Rocquette]

Originally posted by carioca1232001:
No I shan´t ask you how much this project has set you back - or forward, depending on your perspective ;) Probably a good thing, Cedric - my wife might read this!
smile.gif

[Hwyl]

Originally posted by Andrew S/Y Rocquette:
.
p.s. incidentally - this year's Round-The-Island had over 1700 entries but was again won by an oldie - a wooden 1/4 or 1/2 tonner I think. Hope we'll be having her back for her 41st anniversary of winning it...Frow the round the island site

1 1978-built “Purple Haze” was designed by the renowned David Thomas as the prototype for the Bolero class. She is a 25 foot wooden boat which deserves and indeed demands loving care and attention. Tony Dodd has owned the boat for three years, during which time he has carried out an extensive refit, including new veneers over the entire hull. The boat had many prior successes with her previous owner, John Dudley, former Commodore of the Island Sailing Club and organisers of the race.

So there is a precedent for a newly veneered boat winning. I'll claim the bowman position (I wish)

[Andrew S/Y Rocquette]

Funnily enough, I was out sailing on the Solent 4 days ago (on a 50 foot plastic caravan - stag do, so not my fault!) and we saw Purple Haze. Trim little thing.

And more than happy to add your name to the crew list - we hope sometime to take a year out and do the Atlantic circuit, so we may even make it your way...you never know!

[ 07-20-2005, 04:52 AM: Message edited by: Andrew S/Y Rocquette ]

[andrei]

http://www.yacht.ro/raceboat/3_starbord_cold_molding_complete.gif

here's the completed cold molding half hull
took off the deadwood too;to change bolts;seal and be refastened

[Noah]

Wow!!!

Nice job. I bet it was scary to roll that baby.

[carioca1232001]

Andrew S/Y Rocquette wtote:


Probably a good thing, Cedric - my wife might read this!
Me thinks too, specially as the affliction in this part of the world goes by the name of amante Argentina smile.gif

[andrei]

http://www.yacht.ro/raceboat/4_cold_moulding.gif

here another pic of how the west system molded hull looks today.
yes, rolling the 13.20m long hull was pretty challenging.

[Wild Dingo]

Andrew! How are you old friend long time no see... very good to see you back again

Well done to you both (and all the crew) and welcome Andrei :cool: I hope you can take time and contribute from time to time.

She is coming along most beautifully mate... I wouldst take any slot available! (yep and Im gonna win lotto this weekend too :D )

[paladin]

Andrew...my compliments...and also very much to Andrei...for the fine work....He had sent me photos previously about the work...it is beautiful.....

[Puka]

Outstanding!
Question for andrei/Andrew: How did you dry the hull to required level before sheathing could commence?
The reason I ask is I am doing a similar rebuild and are having trouble drying. Moisture is still up to 30% in some strips below the water line. Topsides are less than 20%.Does the acetone wash remove any moisture/salt from the timber? Being so volatile I would have thought it would leave
it (water) behind.

[ 08-18-2005, 03:26 AM: Message edited by: Puka ]

[andrei]

hey; here's another cold molding we did some time ago. http://www.yacht.ro/bristol_unu/9_fourth_coat_west_system_epoxy_goes_on_hull.gif

in regard drying the hull: the first steps of the restoration were to take off all the steel fastenings from hull and deck ; to take off all steel floors frames; beams; knees ; mast step; diesel beareing structure.
we replaced all that by commer and bronze fastenings ; and installed new; west system laminated floors and framing.
We as well took off the damaged planking below LWL, and rebuilt the new planking in A.Spruce first layer;B.epoxy set &routered strip planking, to the original thickness of cca 18mm
C.On the upper part of the original planking we routered off the rot spots and plugged&epoxied with new wood.
I was of course particularly concerned with the hull&timbers humidity.The upper planking dried very well through the past 10 months; we started the cold molding on 14% humidity.
Not the same happened with the massive elm keel; We needed to force it dry using electrical heat blower.
We did bonding testings prior to cold molding.
We used acetone on the veneers only.The original/upper planking has beed thoroughly sanded until the wood clean and dry.
The bilge too was epoxy capsulated.The whole hull is actually going to be epoxy coated&painted over.
Thank you for the kind words.

[Alan D. Hyde]

Andrew, thank you for a good post on a great job.

You and Andrei have done excellent work.

May you put many happy miles of water under her keel for years to come... :D

Alan

[andrei]

thanks again.i'll consider compliments deserved after launching.
the task was/is though pretty tough.This boat was "lightly" built;and fastened partially with steel; had galvanised ring frames/beams;knees and floors.
As you can see in above; the cabin to deck fastenings were seriously rusted; took them off and replaced with copper.
Had to take off practically all steel bolts and screws-wich is very time consuming.
there were such fastenings at remote and difficult to access places-like the steering pedestal rusted steel fastenings- took them all off and replaced with siliconic bze or copper.

[Andrew S/Y Rocquette]

..and all my thanks to Andrei for his professionalism!

Sorry I haven't been able to contribute much to the forum recently - new job has different firewalls and I can read the site but not log on!!! Botheration. The cross to bear of being a capitalist wage slave...

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[carioca1232001]

Andrew,

Here is wishing you flying colours in your new work endeavour.

They have been awarded thee already, as per the enterprising Rocquette restoration, with a little help from friends like Andrei, of course.

[andrei]

Couple pics of 42 ft classic wooden sloop Rocquette restoration complete, http://www.boatdesign.net/gallery/showgallery.php?ppuser=103&cat=500

[Jay Greer]

Andrew,
Obviously this job took a long time to finish. I congratulate you for never loosing sight of your goal and vision of
compleating your restoration project in as good a manner as I have ever seen!
Jay Greer

[John B]

She's a new boat !
Please keep the pics coming as you get them, Andrew and Andrei.

[andrei]

Thanks for your kind and encouraging remarks.Indeed the rebuild took two yaers and 3 months, was highly challenging , we were practically replacing all steel franing and floors by laminated structures, took off every single bit of screw&bolt originally in steel / replaced by bronze and copper fastenings, most of wich manufactured in shop.
Here's the (blessed)launching day,

http://www.yacht.ro/raceboat/5_sept_11_006_Rocquette_Launching_Costantza_harbou r.gif

and here the sloop Rocquette after having sailed off Romania at september 13(!) and made it to at Lavrios Greece

http://www.yacht.ro/raceboat/6_arrived_safely_Lavrios_Greece.gif

picture shows we kinda succeeded the tracing&painting of a decent boottop(equally challenging due the size of our shop not allowing a good perspective wiew)
as well the re-routering equally decent cavita line.

[Andy Bangs]

What an outstanding and beautiful overhaul. Well done!

[Tom Mac]

WOW!! What a great job, great looking boat. That was a hell of a lot of very hard work. Removing all the steel hardware and replacing them with bronze. I like the way you turn the hull over to veneer it. Thanks for showing it to us Tom Mac

[andrei]

Well , thanks again for kind words.Yes, it was indeed very hard work,
especially there are no experienced boat builders arround here in Bucharest Romania, cca 150 Miles to the Black Sea, wages and expenses are steeply on the rise, there are no boat building supplies on the local market, and I had to sail the boat here frm Genova Italy in order to bring down transportation cost.
Original engine bed and mast bearing floors structure , were badly corroded steel, we rebuilt them all in laminated wood as we rebuilt in laminated wood four ring frames , most of the framing and all floors.
I was indeed very happy to find the height of the mast bearing structure we built at only 10mm higher than the original, so fter launching the re-rigging went on in 15 minutes.
Here the new 1/2" stainless steel mast bearing plate; lamintaed floors structure under.

http://www.yacht.ro/raceboat/5_new_stainless_mast_step.gif

and here the deck that was completely rebuilt, all original steel fastenings removed, new wood scarfed in, new bronze fastenings into the beams, new, cabin to deck fastening structure, then dynel&epoxy on deck and epifanes antiskid.Original Camper&Nicholsons deck ventilators changed by bronze classic marine deck vents and classic bronze framed deck prisms installed.

http://www.yacht.ro/raceboat/6_after_restoration_deck_revarnished_mahogany.gif

[B_B]

http://www.yacht.ro/raceboat/5_sept_11_006_Rocquette_Launching_Costantza_harbou r.gif



http://www.yacht.ro/raceboat/6_arrived_safely_Lavrios_Greece.gif



you did a fine job Andrei! excellent.

I absolutely LOVE the look of the house, especially as seen in the upper picture.

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Wow, that's an impressive job. Cool boat. :)

[andrei]

Actually most of the merit for the elegant great looks of the reborn Camper&Nicholsons racer,
http://www.yacht.ro/raceboat/6_after_launching_manoeuvering.gif

goes to owner Andrew Thomas , who picked the old racer frm an Italian marina where she was slowly decaying, and payed for the two years and 3 months rebuild.

There are a number of wooden Camper&Nicholsons boats frm the 60's on the market , wich simply don't look quite as good as this particular one..