Mid Feb
17 February 2018 | cape town
steve
Mid Feb, hot as hell !
Progress seems to have slowed again. The welder is still booked off work. We plod along…..slowly…..
All the portholes have been cut. Hatches, and then portholes, internally and externally are being ground down and prepared for priming and a ‘strip’ of finish paint, all before receiving the hatch / portlight. Andrew does it in this manner so that the steel below the hatch / portlight is actually finished of properly thereby protecting the steel.
Portlights and hatches should arrive early next week.
The biggest ‘change’ form last visit is the great big bloody steel tube sticking out the bow !
Yes, the bow thruster tube is in process of installation. I dont envy the welders this one as it requires shaping steel to suit the hull shape & to allow for a smooth water deflection…..curves in many dimensions !!
Once they have the curves correct, the internal support structure is determined and the internal hole for the motor is marked. The tube is removed and cut, and the supports welded in place internally. Tube is reinstalled, checked that all lines up etc, and welded in place together with all hull structure removed for tube installation.
Externally, a ‘filler’ piece is welded to the forward section of the tube and hull, and faired off to create a smooth water flow over the bow thruster openings. Geez !
The saloon and galley furniture has been removed and ‘made’…..or at least all the hacking has been repaired….to make something that resembles furniture units according to the agreed layout. Filling, fairing and sanding to bring to an acceptable finish is continuing. Cutouts to seat lockers have been done.
The lockers have been placed to confirm they work. The supporting flanges have been made. Cutouts and supports for the hull structure have been made altho Andrew wants another layer of glassfibre before bonding onto the lockers.
Finishing of the below waterline is continuing. Fairing has been sanded and primer applied to most of the areas. Above waterline areas is dealt with as a separate section as it requires more care. Personally, if the above waterline is to the same as the below waterline, I would be very happy !
More discussion was had around detail. Primarily recess opportunities for ‘stuff’, handrail fixings, ‘bilge’ storage opportunities for wine……the important things : ))
The carpenter has started the saloon window frames. Andrew explained how it all fits together….to intricate to explain here, just - wow ! Hatch frames have been oiled ready for installation.
Exhaust thro-hull outlets have been made. Just need to mark the waterline to make sure they are installed correctly.
No news on the shafts yet……!
Completion date has also moved again. Now looking at end June…..we hope !
For images see "Favourites - Mid Feb"