Once the main channels and underlying wales have been removed, Jim Barry discovers a section of the starboard hull that has started to decay.

The crew systematically removes all deteriorated wood, plus some extra surrounding plank sections just to be sure.

Two small sections of the ship's ribs adjoining the affected area are also removed. Here, Jim Barry lines up a replacement rib with the template used to shape it.

Mouse over to see Jim drive the rib home.

Once the rib is carved and filed into shape, Jim drives it home with a sledge.

 

Jim inspects the new rib to find that it is now securely in place.

Now that our repairs to the support structure are complete, it's time to close up the hull. In 1609, shipwrights would have sealed the hull planks with hot tar; today, we'll be using epoxy.

One by one, we measure, cut, fit, and position the wooden strips that form the hull's core.

The strips are expoxied together, and the expoxy is then sanded down to a smooth surface so the exterior planks can lie flush against them.

Meanwhile, the rib is sealed with caulk.

Once the interior strips are in place and the epoxy has dried, the crew fits and positions exterior, white oak planks on both the exterior and (shown here) interior sides.

Lastly, a bit of caulk seals the seams and finishes the job at hand. This section of the hull is now good as new.