2/21/2009

Cabin

We finished gluing up the cedar strips. Some were full-width, others tapered to create the cabin's rounded shape. Then we glassed it inside and out and added fore and aft panels and bottom flanges, or trim pieces. We have cut the aft door opening but still have to add the doors and portlights. We also need to attach the cabin top, via brackets, fasteners, and gasketing, to the central cockpit coaming.

Ballast/tankage/stowage

We bought a sheet of 3\16 inch aluminum and cut it into floorboards to cover and retain the tanks and bins. Then we built side rails to hold the floorboards in place. The floorboards slide fore or aft to allow access to tanks and bins. The rails should hold the system in place in case we turn turtle again! The rails in turn attach via brackets to the four columns on each side that support the side decks of our 1985 Sea Pearl. This project is basically done now but as yet untested.

Change of venue

I am pleased to say that to finish up these projects we have relocated to your website's place near Atlanta.. Thanks for the hospitality, Larry!

Cheers!

Steve Ladd and Ginny Phelan

More updates soon!

2/22/2009

Steve’s old trailer looked pretty bad, especially after the rear end collision on the way to SP Boats HQ. 

Steve sands the under deck battans prior to applying Sikkens Cetol.

Ginny fabricates the companionway components

Aluminum floor elements laid out on the new trailer.  This frame was bought at a local trailer manufacturer as scrap. Steve is adding the extra necessary elements to make a nice large, and very sound trailer package. 

Ginny’s meticulous framing of the hatch will not doubt, yield a water tight seal in the case of a capsize.  The rough hatch material is in the forground. 

We are waiting on trailer parts ordered online as the work goes on around the boat yard.  Steve and Ginny have completely reorganized the tool supply shed and shop. We have installed a completely new roof on the shed.  Things are looking good around the yard!

3/22/2009

Ginny checks the fit of the floor boards

Attaching the keel board to the trailer involves a recess pocket for the nut that secures the u-clamp to the frame.  Steve mans the Shopsmith in drill press mode.

Shows inset with bolt heads ground flush and galvanize applied.  The holes are then painted with epoxy and filled with epoxy thickened with colloidal silica.  The flat surface of the plank is painted with epoxy and the corners are re-approximated with clamped pressure applied. 

Steve proves that rain will not stop work in the boat yard.  With the fenders in place, the trailer is ready for final fitting to the boat.

3/26/2009

Ginny demonstrates her precision skills drilling the lanyard retention slot holes for the floor boards