Page 23 - Folk Boat Year Book 2021

The Rebuilding of Yo-Ho – FB1

By Bernard Bull
Owner of Jarramas F 686 A wooden Nordic

Yo-Ho, built in the Woodnutt Yard, St Helens, Isle of
Wight, surrounded by XODs in 1947-48, for Mr. Jack
Southin and was called “Josephine” when launched,
at what point she was renamed I’m unsure. Yo-Ho by
the time she was owned and loved by Jenny and Rob
Wilks. 1988-2014. At which point my good friend Bob
became the new owner. For the next 4 years she
became a part time project of mine, helping Bob
with repairs and keeping Yo-Ho afloat. Unfortunately,
in 2018 Bob was taken ill, thankfully now recovered,
but unable to carry on with boat ownership. He
offered Yo-Ho to me. I gave it some weeks of
thought, (I had visions of Yo-Ho ending up scrapped,
being in no fit state to sell). Well, I let my heart rule
my head! Folkboat Number 1, can’t let the worst
happen.... Bill of sale £1. As your only allowed one boat in Mudeford Yacht Club. I had
to get her home and in my drive. As if it were fate, I’d built a trailer for Jarramas, in
the previous year. So, without further ado, I let the
keel bolts go while lifting her off the ballast keel all
one ton of it, and lifted Yo-Ho on the trailer. Late June
2018 she’s in my drive. Then the work began. As I
started to take her apart, I’m beginning to realise the
enormity of the task. May be quicker to build a new
one.
This boat was floating on a wing and a prayer. Hope I
can do it justice. 1800 hours £3000 and still counting,
she’s now taking shape, and it seems like there’s a light
at the end of the tunnel. I retired early 2020 and being
locked down, it’s now my full-time job. I was hoping to
finish for Folkboat week 2021. But this now seems a
bridge to far. Especially if I’m gonna get some use out
of Jarramas this year. Jarramas F696 photo by Susan Hayward
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