PROJECT BOAT RESTORATION Companionway fix

James Wood gets to grips with epoxy when repairing a rotten step support

- James Wood

AFTER

Newly built step was a like-for-like replacement

Our PBO Project Boat Maximus was built 43 years ago, and beautifully built at that. But, when you come to own a boat that is the same age as you, you accept that not everything is in as good a condition as it once was!

The Maxi 84 had been ashore for nearly two-years at Dell Quay, Chichester, during the Covid pandemic. In that time, a number of leaks had developed. The companionway hatch cover was ill-fitting and rainwater had found its way in. My wife, Ali, and I emptied buckets of dirty water out of the lockers, and also discovered that the wood in the companionway steps had rotted.

We got a quote from a woodworker but the timing didn't work, and we were in a hurry to launch on the next spring tide (see last month's PBO). Unfortunately, once we were at Chichester Marina, and had three kids (not to mention several adults) climbing up and down the companionway steps, the structure supporting the top companionway step collapsed altogether!

BEFORE

Companionway step had rotted

Preparing the area

The existing woodwork had obviously done a good job for a long time, so I resolved to replace like-for-like. We removed the top step and took it home to replace the plywood facings that had rotted. We also removed the wooden fittings that had failed, and measured up for replacing them. We covered the companionway and engine with a tarpaulin while the repair was taking place.