50 ft Thames class lifeboat

Development of the 44 ft Waveny by the RNLI was the 50 ft Thames Class. However as the Arun was also being developed at the same time the RNLI decided that was the better option and so only two boats of the class were built.

50-001 based at Dover.


50-002 based at Islay in Scotland.


Copies of the drawings for the profile, body lines and the table of offsets were obtained and over the last few days were scanned into a vector format and resized to produce 1/12th scale printouts. These were checked for dimensional accuracy against the table of offsets and the listed dimensions of the boat, glued to card and cut to shape, with a planking allowance removed, to produce the patterns needed to cut the parts.

Main keel pattern.


Patterns for the hull shapes at the stations given on the keel.


Now it's time to put new blades in the bandsaw and the jigsaw ( brand new B&D Christmas prezzie from SWMBO!   ) and make some sawdust in the next few days !!

Mike

I'm looking forward to the build Mike.          

so am I.......I think I'll be getting the job of making the moulds for this lovely craft...........looked forward to this for a long time......good on yer mike.

neil.

After much making of mess and sawdust over the past couple of days the patterns have been converted into timber sections ready to fit onto the keel. The building board has been marked up ready to take the parts. 

The Keel has now been positioned on the building board with a spacer under the fore part of the keel to give a parallel datum line that will be used to fit all the frames.


The fitting of the frames has now started with the half frames on either side of the bow section of the keel. This first half frame sets the way the bow will be shaped hence the many clamps and set squares!!

OMG this is looking good Mike.....My mouth is starting to drool!!!!

Glad you like it so far Neil!

Here are the results of yesterday's building. More of the bow frames fixed in place and the top edges fitted with spaces to make the frame rigid. When planked sections at the top of the frames will be removed where the coamings for the superstructure will fit. Before you ask, the bit sticking up on frame three is only there to allow the hull to be gripped upside down in the workmate when planking the bottom of the hull. (There will be another bit sticking up near the stern.)

Wowsers                    

Mike..you know me by now........I never ask and never pry into another man's build..and I know your work is always superb.........you have your reasons for doing all that you do.......and it's looking superb. neil.

carry on my good man,       

The rest of the frames have now been fitted onto the keel. The formers that will make the curve of the stern are also been fitted ready for the stern wrapper. I have also started to remove the beam sections at the front where the access through the deck under the wheelhouse will be. Also I can now finish the shaping of the upper surface of the midship frame 5 (the one near the can with the green top) which was the main reference for keeping the frame straight and true.

                          

superb mate.......superb.........enjoy the show. neil.

The access holes through the deck and into the hull have now been defined, the frame upper sections removed where needed and the bar across the two upstands screwed in place. This bar will allow the hull to be held in the workmate inverted for planking.


Hull skeleton inverted and ready for the frames to be chamfered before planking.


View along the hull from the stern, the keel is not bent it's an optical illusion!


View from the bow.

Coming along nicely            

All the frames have now been chamfered ready to take the planking. As is my usual build practice I have started with the deck. This is being done in several parts as the boat has camber and sheer (including a small rising sheer at the stern) as well as a stepped deck.

that is really looking superb Mike......

neil.

The deck has now been completed and the structure is rigid and ready to turn over for the planking of the hull. The bow section took several attempts to get right as the angle of the sides constantly changes from vertical at the deck step to the lean back at the stem.

looking superb MIke..this is going to be one very nice lifeboat. neil.

Some lovely work there.  Very impressed.

Another small step forward with the build.

The bow section of the hull has a complex shape and making planks conform is a bit of a nightmare. To overcome the problem the forward sections have been filled with expanded urethane foam sheets which will act as a base to support the planks as they twist and bend. It also adds some reserve buoyancy in the event of an accident!

That's a tidy idea with the bow.  Mind if i copy it   ?

Cheers

ken

Tug--Kenny wrote:

That's a tidy idea with the bow.  Mind if i copy it   ?

Cheers

ken

It;s not my idea nor is it new, people have been doing it for years when building model aircraft wings. Just make sure you use urethane foam and not polystyrene as with the urethane you can put resin on it without it melting. If you can't get foam sheets then use expanded urethane in a can that is used to seal gaps.


Mike

Thanks for the advice Mike.

I didn't know about the two types.    I had never fitted this stuff to any of my boats but will from now on.  A sort of sinking protection as well as making the sides sturdy.

Ken

Just be aware if you decide to use the Squirty in a Can Expanding foam then dont use to much!!

just a little squirt and let it finish its expanding cycle, I've seen many 'amateurs' fill a section on full size boats and its expanded so much its deformed the shape, popped planks and split seams! that stuff is lethal if not used sparingly.

Other options if your worried about that ''sinking feeling'' you can create polystyrene shapes that fit into gaps between bulkheads and secure with some PVA glue, or in some cases i've used in the past, Create watertight compartments between the hull skin and the bulkheads outta edges fitting a layer of foam board in-between (much like in the dolphin build) guaranteed way to stop sinking, which i tested with the dolphin, she can be totally filled with water and still remain above the water surface significant enough to be retrieved ( i was actually testing for leaks when i tipped the boat over adding weight to it looking for the best waterline, when i discovered she wouldn't sink!)

yes, I knew about the squirty type, but have taken to the idea of the sheets which can be shaped afterwards.

Very tidy.

Ken

Here is the reason why this Thames build has been going slowly, I have just posted this video on youtube of the Tyne class build Which I will be delivering to its neew owner at the weekend.

Looking forward very much to moulding this one Mike........am off to ballycotton in 3 weeks and hopefully will get a lot of photos of 001 which is up for sale in Cork Harbour, so will have plenty of detailing on photos for you......will email them to you when I get back home on Good Friday.

the plug is looking beautiful. neil.

Neil,

I wouldnt be so sure externally a lot has been removed in the way of deck fittings and all of the stanchions need replacing (removed for pilot boat use).

Will email you again tomorrow afternoon.


Mike,

Good job so far, awesome build already! Can't wait to see further progress and can't wait for my delivery from Neil!!! What are your thoughts with the Superstructure? The plans Neil has sent over to me show the original design superstructure so I couldn't produce 3D printed windows from them.



Ta for now

Tyne class lifeboat delivered, client overjoyed, back to work!!


The foam supporting structure at the bow has now been planked over.

Mike,

Just another quick thought which hull are the lines for?

I've just been looking at some of my pics of the two and noticed a very small difference between them both at the stern.

50-001 has a squared off stern at the waterline by having some blocks welded on.


will post pics up later on

50-001 showing hull modification


50-002 showing lack of hull modification

spongie wrote:

Mike,

Just another quick thought which hull are the lines for?

I've just been looking at some of my pics of the two and noticed a very small difference between them both at the stern.

50-001 has a squared off stern at the waterline by having some blocks welded on.


will post pics up later on

The lines plan says that it's for both 1031 and 1032 so such modifications will have to be added after the basic hull has been moulded. Same with the upper works as they were both slightly different, especially at the rear of the wheelhouse and the stern rails.

Sorted

Finally fitted the last of the planks onto the frame and can now peel off the dried glue from the fingers!!



This view shows off the knuckle in the hull that starts at midships and continues all the way to the bow. 

Coming along nicely Mike                

that is looking superb Mike.......great lines.................am off to Cork nest sunday and am hoping to go to castletownbere where 001 is stationed as a pilot boat and up for sale so hope to get some photos of her..........will email them to you when I get home. neil.

The planks have now been turned into a "solid entity" by adding resin and cloth on the inside of the hull.


After sanding the outside of the hull was coated with easy sand body filler and allowed to harden. 


Most of today was spent with a combination of power sanders (belt and detail) and hand sanders (block and flexible) to get the starboard side of the hull to the correct shape.


Result of the days work. Just need to repeat the whole process tomorrow and produce a matching Port side.


This will be followed by a light coat of primer and more filler as needed, then it's on to the spray primer, sanding, spray primer, sanding, spr................ etc.

Wow looking incredible!

Mike you make hard work look easy. Well done.                

spongie wrote:

Wow looking incredible!

I must admit it does have a very nice shape

Damien wrote:

Mike you make hard work look easy. Well done.                

Looking easy or not it's still hard work!!   

The Port side has now been shaped to match the Starboard side completed yesterday



The hull has now had a coat of matt black. This is then sanded off to allow me to see where the smaller defects are on the hull.


After sanding off the hull has now developed a case of the measles where filler has been spotted into the small holes!


Back to sanding and filling again tomorrow!! 

matey...that is almost orgasmic......superb. neil.

The fairings for the propshafts have been made and fitted onto the hull as well as the locations marked for the rudders. These have been moved outboard of the centre line of the shafts by 6 mm. This will allow the shafts to be removed as needed for maintenance without dismantling the rudders.


Close up of the shaft fairings.


Finally for today the bases for the rubber fenders have been plotted and fitted in place. The other side and the stern will be done tomorrow. The tip of the bow will have to be built to the correct shape when both sides are in place.

Sun shining this morning, birds singing.....................COCK UP TIME!!!! 

The upper base for the fenders I fitted yesterday is in the wrong position from the step in the deck to the bow.   

This has meant the removal of the fender base and repairing the hull surface ready to refit in the correct, higher position.


The moral to this tale is never assume, CHECK WITH THE DRAWINGS !!!!

The fender bases are now in place as well as the forward spray rails on the lower part of the hull. The upper forward section of the hull has also had the pipe section added to the joint between it and the deck. The whole hull has now had the first of many coats of grey primer to be followed by sanding, primer, etc until I get the finish I want or the cows come home.  

Having become sick of seeing sandpaper and primer I have made a start on sorting out the templates for the superstructure.

The drawings from the RNLI are at 1/20th scale so it was out with the calculator, ruler and engage brain to draw up the first of the templates for the sides.


After much creaking of the old brain cells here is the first part in place to check it fits where it should.


Back to the sanding this evening!!

 gotta love sanding!!!

looking great so far keep up the good work!

Looking real good Mike.            

Further information has come to light in relation to the block at the bow. As a result of this the boat has been in for a "nose job" today to reduce the size and shape of the block.




Back to the primer and sanding tomorrow !!

my god, you've done a lot since I've been away........

sadly I got called home early from Ireland because of illness in the family so never got to castletownbere.........but Songie has said that he is thinking of taking a flight direct to cork and then on to take some photos..........he'll find what a wonderful country Eire is........I had a wonderful time in just the short few days we were there...........hope to go back some time. neil.

Probably going to fly over second week in may as looks too expensive next weekend. can't take any holiday from work at the moment. so will fly out Saturday and back Sunday as not feasible same day travel.