Le Dragon Wreck 2018 Project

Starboard Side Amidships

The storms had uncovered the amidships section of the starboard side. This meant that we could easily access some of the floors and futtocks and could measure them and investigate them for the first time. The Team tried to compare the frames on the port side with the starboard, but it seemed that some of the starboard side timbers had been replaced or repaired and so the thickness of the timbers did not match the corresponding timbers of the port side. In addition there was the usual worm damage which made understanding the floor futtock configuration a challenge. It is hoped that during the 2019 survey we will be able to clear a tunnel through the sand which is between the floors and futtocks on one section of the port side right through to the starboard. This assumes that there is a gap next to the floors which continues over the keel and under the keelson. In July 2019 we will know.

All the visible floors were tagged, measured and drawn and then re-covered with interlocking sandbags.

Featured

Raimund and Connor recover the anchor which was tangled arround the barrel hoops so that it can be returned to a fisherman

Lt. Ventura from ONPCS who was part of the team for the whole month and was a great help all round

Looking down at a hole in hull on the starboard side. Copper sheeting can be clearly seen where it has separated from the hull planking

Floors and futtocks before a light dusting

The larger frames are floors

The smaller ones, slightly thinner are futtocks

As we move down the starboard amidships section it becomes a bit confusing due to the hull repairs

Here you can clearly see the hull planking with the floor, futtock, floor configuration with the ceiling planking on top

The tape measure was placed on top

The work damage can be clearly seen at the ends of the floors and futtocks, as the worms eaten away through the timber which was American white oak according to the archives

Another double frame, this one looks like a floor and futtock next to each other, or a strengthening to the floor under the repairs

The sand is slowly uncovered to reveal the ends of the timbers

To be hand fanned

Interestingly there was the remains of a metal strap which was wrapped arround the side of the floor to act as a strengthing. This was also seen on the port side during the 2000 survey

The white calcareous tubes from the works can be seen protruding from the ends of the timbers

Another double frame, but the join is difficult to see due to the worm damage

A round blue flint on top of the ceiling planking which was used for the flintlock

A possible repair due to the small gap between the frames which does not match the others as it is too small to be the normal and too large for a deliberate double frame

The end of the exposed floors and futtocks on the starboard side

The floors and futtocks after cleaning and tagging

The next section, clearly showing the ceiling planking

And the next section

Double frame 31 & 30

Frames 33 & 32 on the starboard side