In 2004, Adventuress completed an extensive four-year restoration. The object of this work was to return her decks and interior accommodation to as near to their original layout as possible, taking into account the change from a schooner to ketch rig and Coast Guard certification requirements. While some consideration was given to restoring her original schooner rig, this was ultimately rejected in favor of maintaining the existing, more easily managed, ketch rig.

The first step in the process was the removal of the original copper plating allowing for inspection of the planking. The 2-inch Burmese teak planking was found to be in excellent condition. However, portions of most of her sistered sawn oak frames had suffered some deterioration over the years. Sizeable quantities of slab white oak were located from as far away as Georgia and have been sawn on a ship’s saw to provide the necessary materials to replace most of the sistered frames (98 individual frames). Jamestown Distributors of Bristol, RI supplied all of the bronze fasteners used in the project including some 2,800 one-half by six inch or longer silicon bronze bolts.

Repairs were also made to the oak rudder post, where some minor worm damage had occurred, to the upper portion of the stem and to the planking. New floor timbers were installed in wood or steel as original together with new bronze keel bolts. The entire hull was recaulked and the topsides resplined. A bowsprit has been fitted per the original sail plan necessitating certain changes to the standing and running rigging. Most of the teak deck was also replaced.

The deck structures were also restored in Burmese teak to very near their original configuration (some changes were required to satisfy Coast Guard rules). Extensive work on the deck beams was carried out to accommodate these changes and to facilitate the possibility of a subsequent conversion to the original schooner rig.

Replacement of the frames necessitated gutting much of the interior of the vessel. This was not considered a great loss as the boat had been refit in the 1950s in France in a style that was not in keeping with a Fife design. Over a two-year period the interior accommodation has been painstakingly restored to as close to her original configuration as possible.

The original Fife interior accommodation drawings served as the basis for the restoration work. In addition, the owner spent time studying other Fife designs in Europe to gather information on the details of the interior joinery. The restoration features woods originally used in the construction, including extensive raised mahogany paneling and a teak cabin sole. Copies of the original interior brass hardware castings were obtained from Fairlie Restorations and installed.

The outdated engines, tanks and running gear were also removed. Twin Perkins engines were replaced by a single, significantly lighter 240 horsepower Yanmar turbo diesel. A new 10kw Westerbeke generator was installed. All tanks were replaced or upgraded. A new freshwater system was installed as well the entire electrical and other mechanical systems.