Restoring a Dunkirk Little Ship. Episode 9: Sealing The Hull, Painting Below Deck

Описание: In this update, I start painting the first layer of topcoat past the stern bulkhead. My timber delivery arrives, and the long process of sealing Dowager's hull seams begins.

As a sealant, I use my own mix of red lead putty (maybe too much lead) instead of the more modern polyurethanes that are on the market. In this attempt to honour the old ways back when this lifeboat was constructed, will my homemade sealant hold up, or will it crumble to dust like so many of my dreams? Only time will tell...


First launched in 1933 bearing the name Rosa Woodd and Phyllis Lunn before being renamed Dowager in 1973, she is a little ship whose crew saved 143 lives during her incredible career as an RNLI lifeboat. Yet it was her three hellish journeys to rescue stranded British troops from the deathtrap beaches of Dunkirk that made her a legend.

In December 2023, Dowager was found for sale after being abandoned in a boat yard. Her decks and wheel house had badly rotted from exposure to the elements, and her hull had flooded from countless rain showers. This channel serves as a record of the efforts to save, restore, and return her to sailing the sea once again.

Visit our website: Dowager.uk