The work continues at MSO Marine, they have ultra-high pressure washed the hull and removed the ballast (16 tons of it) from the inside. Nate looked a bit puzzled to see it on the dock, as he'd watched me move a lot of it into place only a few months ago.
Misterton looks a bit grubby due to all the residue from the blasting.
The deterioration of the bottom plating was as bad as expected, shame as the eternal optimist in me was hoping otherwise. Here are a couple of shots of what has been removed. Those little black specks on the bottom half of the plate are all holes.
One of the guys fixing Misterton showed us about 6 plates, they were all the same, either paper thin or with several small holes. Basically its pretty amazing she was still afloat.
It was quite strange seeing just the frames with no plating on them.
MSO have started re-plating already and look to be doing a good job. Its a lot of work and unfortunately a lot of money, but she will be saved, which is something.
In true 'Blue Peter' style, where is one they did earlier, Leonie.
Actually, I think she was just in for a re-paint, but she looks nice all the same.