Ship of Theseus

(This page is in progress)

The Ship of Theseus is a thought experiment about whether an object is the same object after having had all of its original components replaced.

Sheila was :

  • built in 1903-1905,
  • restored in 1913-1914 (after her floundering)
  • restored in the 1950’s (after being bombed and charred during WWII)
  • restored in the late 70’s under MB custiodianship
  • Properly maintained ever since

Original

  • The iron keel – Albert Strange’s little yachts carry their ballast outside the hull only.
  • the oak frames (sawn grown frames – some of the beams were changed and are pine.)
  • The Pensacola pine planking
  • The main mast in Norwegian spruce
  • Bronze rudder stock head and ring inscribed with the yacht’s name, date and builder.
  • The doors and the lock
  • The little oak water barrel which has been passing from Guardian to Guardian. The tap which was originally adjusted to the barrel is fitted on the port side of the saloon for the provision of fresh water.

1913-14

  • Filler piece to increase the draft by 5″
  • Cabin coamings. At this time, only one light was set on each cabin side, an unhappy alteration which was fixed in 1994.
  • The original straight-laid pine deck was then replaced by a classic canoe yawl swept deck in Kauri pine

Pre Mike

  • The main boom

1978-1980

  • Main gaff
  • fittings on the bow and on the masts
  • Mizzen boom and gaff
  • Interior
  • EN58J anaerobic stainless steel keel bolts

1985- 1987

  • Bronze floors fitted forward of the mast position
  • New rudder stock. Iroko blade on an oak mainpiece
  • Garboards replaced in teak (Iroko ?)
  • Bowsprit replaced and extended by 6” over original sail plan

1988

1995

  • Mizzen mast in British Columbian pine.
  • New deck laid in Alaskan yellow cedar, secret fastened to the deck beams, swept and joggled to the varnished teak king plank between varnished teak cover-boards and toe rails. All the details are here.
  • Decorations (cherub and mouse)
  • new rudder stock and rudder post improvements.
  • a window plank was fitted in the old space and the original twin windows were restored.

2004

  • Stainless steel standing rigging, with Talurit terminals top and bottom with top ends shackled to the mast bands.
  • New mast step – massive iroko

Other historical features

The boat was originally painted cream as she is today – this was confirmed when the first coats of paint were scrapped in 1978.
The original coveline colour is unknown. Gold was the colour after Mike’s restoration.

Historically, Robert Groves had a barometer and a clock in the cabin. The originals instruments are replaced by Glaswegian 1905 instruments. The clock is signed “Wilson” of the Glaswegian Chart Makers Imray, Norie, Laurie & Wilson. He was using a compass to make course in poor visibility.

Robert Groves also reports using a Primus (pressurized paraffin) stove. During Mike’s keep, this was replaced by a Taylor’s paraffin cooker.

Deck pump : the deck pump on starboard is not only in the original place, it is an original ‘Glasgow’ yacht-pump found by Mike – “the real thing”.  All it needs is a mug of water to prime it and then it is away.

Dinghy : most pictures by R Groves show Sheila with a small dinghy in tow which is now lost. Mike had a 8ft clinker sailing dinghy built for her 75th birthday in 1980  –  which was a Masterpiece  – that is a ‘piece’ made by an apprentice for his Mastership, this case of The Boatbuilders, by young Brian Upson son of The Master of the Boatbuilders, Mr Upson of Aldeburgh. It proved difficult to manage. In 2016, it was in a very poor state and to save its future, it was donated to a shipwright school in La Roche Bernard.

Non historical features

Electronics

An echo sounder was fitted for a short period. There are no (permanent) electronics on board now.

Water tanks

2 plastic water tanks were fitted under the bunks in 1995

Navigation lights

In 1988, to get Sheila to DZ88, a car battery was installed to power navigation lights
In 2024 we keep a set of portable battery powered led navigation lights for safety.

Outboard engine :

In the early 80’s a long shaft Seagull Siver Century was fitted over the starboard cockpit side and proved to be a nuisance. It was disposed of when the deck was redone.

It was replaced by a 2 strokes Mariner for the rubber dinghy which was pinches at Le Bono.

The current outboard engine is another 2 strokes Yamaha. It stays on the dinghy.