Because the upper portions of the frames were in excellent condition we chose to cut long scarf joints staggered over the relatively even deadrise and glue the new frames to the old.
The sided dimension of the new pieces was increased for strength as there are very few transverse floor timbers on Saga. Where these existed, the molded frame thickness was also increased to allow us to bolt to the floors where no fastenings existed before.
We were able to complete the repair by only removing the garboard, giving us access to the most difficult frame ends. This meant less work replanking. We reused the original garboard.
Other items addressed included new cockpit seats, some alterations to the companionway bulkhead, forestay fitting and mast collar. Back in the water and racing, Saga placed first in the Sir Thomas Lipton Cup, Sept. 2002.
1936 Bjorn Aas design and build
In similar fashion as for Buzzy III, Saga’s broken frames, 24 pairs, were removed in small sections, patterns taken and new frames laminated of white oak. The hard turn of the bilge is a common place for steambent frames to break.