Annual refit and maintenance
Volunteers needed
The 2010-11 refit will start on Wednesday 3rd November 2010, and will run through to the following March.
We will again be looking for a number of core team volunteers to work on the refit, as well as casual short-term volunteers.
We will also need donations, from major funds to small items of refit equipment like binbags, gloves and cable ties? See here for a list of equipment needed last time - the next list will be similar.
Refit volunteers
Why do such an extensive refit?
What do volunteers do?
Who can help?
What does the refit cost?
2009-10 refit plan (pdf)
Priority sea staff bookings
Refit location
2009-10 refit timetable
John Laing undergoes a major refit every year from November to March. The refit and maintenance is carried out almost entirely by volunteers.
In 2009-10, 439 days were worked on the refit (279 by volunteers). Huge thanks to everyone involved! Even at the low end of unskilled boatyard rates of pay in the area, this would have cost us tens of thousands of pounds if we had had to pay for it, instead of using volunteers.
Most people come to the refit for a weekend or a few days, but some come for longer - and a few core-team volunteers get involved full-time.
Refit details will be advertised in the weekly newsletter each week, including locations and contact details.
We hope to see all sea staff each winter, plus anyone new who would like to join our volunteer sea staff the following year (it’s the best way to meet us, and new volunteers who come to refit get priority when we allocate scarce training berths), as well as any others who want to support the charity. Skilled or unskilled - we have a huge variety of jobs. If you are aged 16 or 17, especially if you have been recommended for bosun training next year, you need the skipper’s permission to come to refit on a date when we have someone available to supervise you - please ask! I’m afraid that for safety and insurance reasons, we can’t have under-16s working at the refit.
If you are available to help, we often have spaces available in the refit house; and we also welcome anyone who doesn’t need accommodation.
Why do such an extensive refit?
John Laing needs extensive angle grinding, sanding, filling, priming and painting, inside and out, to avoid rust. In addition, there is a rolling programme of replacements of major and minor items. A great deal of machinery and equipment needs annual testing and servicing. More details here of the last refit plan - a new one will be available before the next refit starts.
If this level of work is not undertaken every year without fail, John Laing will rapidly deteriorate - she needs to pass rigorous inspections every year under the MCA Small Commercial Vessels Code to be allowed to carry out sail training for young people.
A replacement vessel would cost around £2 million, and would have its own refit costs. Therefore, although the Trustees of OYT South are making long-term plans for an eventual replacement vessel, they believe it makes sound financial sense to keep John Laing in good condition for several more years. Failure to maintain John Laing in condition to keep her delivering adventure under sail to young people would be an appalling waste of a valuable resource which has the potential to give hundreds more young people the experience of adventure under sail.
What do volunteers do?
We need both skilled and unskilled volunteers. Jobs on board range from those which require an experienced marine engineer through to those which can be tackled by anyone prepared to wield a sheet of sandpaper. There is really no need to worry if you have never worked on a refit before, or have limited practical experience - there will nearly always be something you can do. Even simple things like helping with shopping and cooking for the refit team frees up others to work on board. There are also items which can be taken off the boat and worked on at home, in your own time. Oilskins need to be washed and any tears stitched up; someone has to sort through the medical kit and list anything which needs replacing; charts have to be corrected and kept up-to-date.
If you can come for more than just a day or two, it will be greatly appreciated. People who do a lot at the refit will get priority when sea staff bookings are taken for popular voyages in the following season.
We provide food for everyone who turns up, and sometimes we are able to provide accommodation too.
Who can help?
Provided there is room, we welcome offers of help from anyone: sea staff, crew members, parents, group leaders, employee volunteering programmes, shorebased volunteers, longstanding OYT supporters and people who are new to the charity - including both skilled and unskilled refit workers.
The only significant restriction to this invitation to volunteers is based on age. Generally, to come to a refit, you should be aged 18+. Volunteers aged 16 and 17 may be allowed to the refit at certain times, at the skipper's discretion - this is because someone needs to be available to supervise you, for safety reasons; but 16 and 17 year olds who have previously sailed in John Laing and are hoping to be relief bosuns next season should certainly make an enquiry about coming along. Sadly health and safety rules mean we are unable to accept refit volunteers under the age of 16.
What does the refit cost?
See here for estimated costs for the 2009-10 refit, and see here for making a donation.
Priority sea staff bookings
Volunteer sea staff are all expected to come to the refit for at least one weekend over the winter. Those who help will get priority in the following year's sea staff bookings over anyone who doesn't turn up; and those who give the most help will get the first chance of booking on the most popular voyages, such as Tall Ships races.
Unlike some other sail training organisations, OYT South does not charge sea staff for each voyage – mates pay a flat rate sailing fee of £100 (£70 concessions) plus annual membership of £36, and can then sail as often as they like. A weekend or two at refit is the price you pay for such cheap sailing opportunities! We cannot keep John Laing in good working condition unless people come and help.
Refit location
To be confirmed - normally Hamble or Southampton.
2010-11 refit timetable
The refit will begin on Wednesday 3rd November 2010. We need plenty of help that week and over the weekend of 6-7 November to get lots of kit moved off the boat, and to help us move in to a rented refit house. Call 07990 518915 if you can help.
There will be a refit break betwen Christmas and New Year.
The weekend of 18-20 March 2011 will be a shakedown voyage, where we can make sure everything is in proper working order and all last-minute jobs are completed.
On Monday 21 March 2011 the first proper voyage of the season will start.
