Companionway Fun...

 

In my last post, I showed a picture of the hole in the cabin that will soon be the companionway. The fun part of this stage is the introduction of nicer wood. It would be nice to be able to afford to build the whole project in mahogany, but my wallet dictates otherwise. We have also decided to use mahogany rather than teak due to cost and I like the look of mahogany anyway..! If the boat was going to live outside, I might chose differently, but we plan to keep a spot nice and warm in the garage to store her after sailing!

 

The douglas fir I have been using is very nice stuff from Clark Hardwoods in Houston, but the mahogany is beautiful...

 

 

 

The work has slowed as I try to make everything fit together nicely. It was also fun learning to use a router to put nice edges on the boards that I used. It's harder to create a snug fit to everything than I imagined since I only have hand tools, but rewarding nonetheless when completed...

 

More pix coming as the work proceeds.

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Pirate

 



Workin' On The Hideout!

 

Work always seems to progress faster when you get to add big chunks of wood to the project! And it's so nice to now get a real "feel" for the lines and the size of our new vessel and hideout!

 

 

 

After wrestling with another big piece of plywood, we now have a cabin top and I have installed the rest of the cabin sides! We even had to throw a few cushions below to try it "on for size....!"

 

 

The "Hideout" gets closer to reality!!

 

:)

 

Sail On...

 

Pirate

 

 

 

 

It's Been A Busy Week!

 

My lack of updates has been intentional this week. Kathy had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Rome, Italy with her mother to visit her daughter who teaches there. What a generational family affair!

 

And me? I wanted to keep the boat progress a secret so Kathy would be surprised upon her return!

 

Truthfully, I spent MANY hours in the garage/boat barn this week and I can now look back at a very successful week of work.

 

While waiting for the last coat of fiberglass to cure, I started work on the bow sprit. The solid block of Oak I used is very different from the softer woods I've used so far, and was fun to form to the final shape. I've never stained anything before, so I learned many new things here.

 

 

Now that the deck has been fiberglassed, I could begin work on the cabin. I mentioned before my efforts at forming the cabin clamps. I put those to work and up go the cabin sides and front.

 

 

I also learned how to use a router as I had to cut the "rabbits" in the window edges to hold the glass in place.

 

 

...and out into the sunshine we go!

 

It always amazes me how 40 hours of hard work can be summed up in just a couple of pictures! And yes, she was pleasantly surprised at the progress! :)

 

Have a great week!

 

Pirate