Margordel Restoration
Year 1
Dreamers
Dreamers Embark: The Voyage of Acquisition and Discovery in Restoration
Acquisition
Unearthing the Margordel - Reviving a Forgotten Classic
In October 2020, Greg and Sam stumbled upon a hidden gem in the tranquil waters of Yowie Bay, Port Hacking – the Margordel, a 60ft timber classic motor yacht with a rich history. This elegant vessel, painstakingly crafted over seven years in the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, had languished in neglect until the duo recognized its latent beauty.
Sam, armed with 17 years of expertise in the marine industry, had conceived a groundbreaking ownership concept – the Custodian Society. This innovative model, developed during the challenges of the COVID lockdown, offered a unique way for enthusiasts to partake in the classic yacht experience without the burden of sole ownership. More on this later, but first, let's delve into our captivating journey with Margordel.
With a perfect blend of funds, expertise, and unwavering passion, we embarked on the ambitious task of restoring the Margordel. This endeavor has not only transformed a neglected vessel into a majestic work of art but has also transformed our lives. The challenges we faced during this restoration journey have become the very essence of how we live and relish life today. Stay tuned to learn more about the Custodian Society and how it's revolutionizing the classic yacht experience.
Bleach, Vinegar, and Determination
Unveiling the Hidden Beauty Beneath Mold and Fungus.
Like all ambitious projects, a clean slate was our starting point. It's astounding how many hours and skip bins were filled with the remnants of neglect. Countless hours were dedicated to scrubbing away the mold and fungus, employing the cleansing power of bleach and vinegar. The goal was to restore the Margordel to a semblance of her former glory, free from the ravages of time.
Beyond the surface, the challenges ran deeper. The engine exhaust systems had rusted away, rendering the boat immobile under its own power after five years of immobility. To make our dream of restoration a reality, we had to arrange for a tow. This required us to ensure the hull's integrity and the effectiveness of the bilge pumping systems for a brief voyage seaward, eventually leading us to Botany Bay. Our destination: Shell Point Marina in Taren Point, where Margordel would receive the care and attention she so desperately needed.
The Tow
Many hands make light work...
The tow from Yowie Bay through Port Hacking and then out to sea,
bound for Botany Bay and Taren Point for the first yard period.
The tow was truly a collaborative effort. Equipped with our reliable 6-meter Rigid Inflatable, we ventured to Yowie Bay with a dedicated team, ready to provide assistance in case any unforeseen complications arose. Setting up the bridle and meticulously rechecking every detail, we ensured all systems were in perfect order. Fortunately, it was a serene day - the ideal backdrop for this delicate operation.
Carefully, we pulled the Margordel from her berth in Yowie Bay, navigating through the bay's sandy shoals and narrow channel. To enhance maneuverability, we opted to push the tow from the port side, guiding her through this challenging route. With the RIB securely strapped to the Margordel's side, we maximized our control.
As we ventured into open waters, we transitioned to a longer tow, securing the bridle to the Samson post on the Margordel. Both vessels performed admirably, maintaining a steady speed of 3 knots. Thankfully, the sea offered us a smooth journey, with swells measuring less than half a meter, and the weather graced us with a beautiful, windless day. Our voyage to Botany Bay unfolded seamlessly, and we arrived at Shell Point, securing the Margordel to her mooring just in time to welcome a gentle southerly change.
The first slipway
The moment of truth
The first slipping of the boat at Taren Point's Shell Point Marina
With butterflies in our stomachs, we lent a hand to the yard staff as they carefully maneuvered the boat into position, using pull tenders to secure her within the cradle. The moment had arrived – it was time to winch the Margordel out of the water. It marked a pivotal point, for the first time, we would lay our eyes on the true condition of the hull, a moment filled with anticipation and a hint of anxiety.
As the significant process of transitioning to dry land unfolded, we found comfort in the words of Mr. Ford, the yard owner. He, like us, couldn't help but admire the inherent beauty of the Margordel. In his own candid manner, he remarked that he had "seen worse." These reassuring words from an experienced figure in the field served as a testament to our undertaking and further fueled our determination to breathe new life into this classic yacht.
Following the meticulous scraping of five years' worth of barnacles and marine growth, and a thorough pass with a robust pressure washer, we finally had the chance to inspect the Margordel's hull. To our delight, the initial assessment revealed the hull to be in excellent shape overall. There was little to no worm damage in the hull itself, with the sacrificial timbers unsurprisingly withstanding the worst of worm infestation. While some repair work was necessary, it was a relief to find that nothing major required our immediate attention.
With a dedicated team of friends, we embarked on marathon days that stretched from 12 to 16 hours for three straight weeks, all of us staying onboard as a close-knit crew. During this intense period, we successfully completed a series of crucial tasks, each contributing to Margordel's revival:
Thru Hull:
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Replaced all thru-hull fittings with Tru-design fittings.
Docking Strip:
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Replaced the docking strip under the keel.
Exhaust System:
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Replaced the exhaust outlet with a new custom stainless-steel elbow.
Aft Sacrificial Timbers:
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Fiberglass sheathed the end grain of the aft hull.
Shafts:
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Fiberglassed the shaft boxes and
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Serviced the stuffing box in the stern gland.
Hull:
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Repainted the entire hull.
Antifoul:
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Removed the excess antifoul and Sikaflex used under the hull,
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Properly sealed areas that needed attention, and
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Epoxy-primed before applying fresh antifouling paint.
Bilges:
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Fully degreased the internal hull structure.
Portholes:
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Removed and re-chromed portholes.
Anodes:
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Replaced the anodes.
Batteries:
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Replaced both house and starter batteries.
The collective effort put forth by everyone involved was truly remarkable, and we managed to catch the tide by a matter of minutes. The bilge pumps were all equipped with brand-new batteries, ready to handle any water ingress through the seams. It took several weeks for the planks to swell back up, making the initial days of the restoration effort nerve-wracking.
Shipshape for Sea
Navigating Challenges, Unveiling Potential
All systems to go
In the months that followed, our primary focus was preserving the timber components we intended to keep. This entailed weeks of arduous work involving stripping, sanding, and fairing, all in the pursuit of restoring the Margordel's timeless wooden beauty.
Concurrently, as we contemplated the next venue for the completion of the full restoration, we delved into an in-depth examination of the engineering systems:
Generator:
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Reconditioned the starter motor.
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Installed a new battery.
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Installed a new fuel lift pump.
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Replaced several solenoids on the electrical board.
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Flushed the cooling system.
Engines:
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Fitted the new custom stainless-steel exhausts.
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Serviced them with fresh oil and filters.
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Replaced raw water pumps.
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Replaced anodes.
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Successfully started the two Gardner engines, a symphony to our ears, resonating with their signature low-revving, balanced, and methodical sound.
Battery Charger:
Initially, it performed well but ceased functioning due to long years of dormancy in a marine environment. After consulting the manufacturer and sending it for testing, we sadly had to condemn it.
Sea Strainers:
The main engine sea strainers were meticulously removed and fully restored to their original condition.
This period was a profound learning curve, requiring extensive research, investigation, and consultation to acquaint ourselves with the boat and its intricate systems. It significantly influenced our decision-making processes and the trajectory of our lives.
With the Margordel located more than an hour away from our home in Tamarama, we began seeking a change that would bring us and the boat closer together, allowing us to efficiently execute the most comprehensive and invasive stages of the restoration process.
First Voyage Under Custodianship
Gardner Engines Purring, Margordel Sails On
Perfect conditions for her passage
The Margordel's first voyage under her own steam since coming under our custodianship was an exhilarating yet nerve-racking experience. After countless hours of dedicated work, the moment of truth arrived as we embarked on our maiden sea trial, taking us up the length of the Georges River. The sound of the Gardner engines running smoothly was a source of immense delight. As the Margordel gracefully cut through the water, the hull exhibited little to no water ingress, reinforcing our confidence in the progress made.
With this successful sea trial behind us, she was now ready for her grand journey out to the vast ocean and her new home in the picturesque Hawkesbury River.
Leaving Brooklyn aboard our RIB, fully fueled and eager, we set off on a tranquil Sydney morning, destined for a new chapter of life on the water. Picking up additional crew members in Rose Bay, we departed from Sydney Harbour, embarking on a journey bound for Botany Bay, where the Margordel awaited us at Taren Point.
The day unfolded with sheer perfection - a scene of very little swell and no wind, creating an idyllic setting for her inaugural ocean voyage. With six hundred liters of fuel onboard, we possessed the potential to reach as far as Yamba. As we set out, towing the RIB, everything fell seamlessly into place. We made a brief stop at Sydney Harbour to welcome yet another crew member before steering our course toward The Hawkesbury.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, we arrived in Brocken Bay, making our way up the river to a mooring near the iconic Mooney Mooney Bridge. The Margordel's performance during her maiden voyage filled us with immense pride and marked the beginning of a remarkable journey aboard this classic yacht.
