"If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving"
Join Date
Sep 2006
Posts
125
Mike,
The detail and thought going into this build is amazing. This would make the Herreshoffs smile for sure. The little things that I can see is for example the standoff steps supporting the headliner so that a) the exposed beam looks correct and b) you have extra space behind it for later installation of wiring or other things that may come along. That collapsing cabin hatch is just over the top. It looks like you borrowed it from one of the J boats, and it is even bowed on top as if you needed to worry about water in the helm! I also didn't get why the runners extended further than the edge until I scrolled down to understand that the door will be pocketed. So I assume that there is more wall left to install which will house the pocketed door(s). In one sense, it will be a shame to see the project completed; the entire build seems to have been as much fun as fishing her.....well almost!! And yeah, that heavy duty catch on the door is sweet. What did you do about a stop mechanism to keep the door from banging the stern?
You're absolutely correct about that headliner. It was installed lower than the deck to accommodate wire runs.
That hatch is bowed to keep water out of the cabin when we do a wash down after being offshore for a couple of days. You're right that the design was a concept borrowed from a sail boat. But I'm not sure if they make them so they collapse in on themselves. I know that they don't collapse so they are totally concealed when opened.
The track is built out over the console in order to fit the strike side of the door jamb to it for a completed look.
We still need to address how we're going to protect the transom from the door striking it when it's open. That hasn't been figured out yet. I know I want to stay away from the conventional transom mounted latch hardware being surface mounted.
I do have mixed emotions about coming to the end of the build. The design and build has been a lot of fun and challenging. The contributions made to the project by everyone associated with it have been a lot of fun. There aren't too many things that we had to settle for and the only thing that I'd do differently if I were to do another one is to start completely from scratch with these guys.
Everyone close to me asks me what I'll do with my time when this is done. I just tell them, fish the heck out of it and start planning the 65' convertible version.
The dry risers and surge tubes are getting installed.
The interior vent box screens have been installed. Something as simple as this is really not so simple. They were custom made as most everything else on this boat. They were made to accept a mesh material similar to a scotch brite pad in order to trap moisture and drip it back into the bottom of the vent box. Although the vent boxes are dorade style boxes, we wanted to keep as much moisture out of the engine room as possible.
Check out the hose coming from the bottom of the vent box. It's the vent box drain that's going to dump directly into the exhaust.
Every battery box on the boat was also hand made. It's not that standard boxes aren't any good; it's that we wanted to utilize space to the maximum. And we also were focusing on keeping weight as low as possible in the boat. Will it make a difference, we may not know but the fact that the center of gravity is as low as we can get it may make a difference so why not practice sound engineering techniques?
They're getting ready for a 545 primer party down below. All surfaces that are scheduled to be painted are getting filled and faired.
This is the settee that will convert into a sleeping berth. There will be a Hilo table installed in the front of this seat. To the left you can see the bulkhead for a cabin that will contain an upper and lower bunk and a nice built in cabinet.
There's some nice storage below the settee seats. The seat top is made and is getting detailed and painted in the paint shed. All other seat tops are getting detailed also.
This is the cabin to the rear of the settee.
Nothing much has changed in the galley. This is the view from the settee area. The doors are being made at another shop. I've been told that they are spectacular raised panel doors with classic arch tops to match all of the doors down below.
They are wrapping up the helm seating area. Seat backs are built on the Port side, Starboard side has been epoxied sealed and it ready for primer. It too has channels molded in at the bottom corners to allow water to drain into the cockpit when we wash her down.
That cutout in the lower right below the seat is there to allow for rod storage. We can get 5 standup outfits in that space. All others are going to be stored in the tower hard top. We're getting a top with built in rod storage that will have 2 bomb bay style doors.
Nice clean detail.
Time for some jewelry....Somebody has been opening up the varnish can and picking up badger hair brush again
Oh yes the struts are in. Just waiting for a couple of new backing plates to show up. The plates that the strut maker supplied didn't fit between the frames as well as we'd like.
But that transom is looking awesome.
The helm pod is getting another cost of varnish.
Man I love those dovetails.
I posted a picture of the sliding cabin hatch in the last batch of photos. Here it is getting varnish.
Wood is a wonderful material to build a boat out of.
That "fiddle" is the finger pull for the cabin hatch.
The sliding door part of the cabin entry is getting constructed now. I should have pictures of that for the next time.
I hope everyone takes a little time to remember our fallen warriors this Memorial Day weekend.
"If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving"
Join Date
Sep 2006
Posts
125
Wonderful work Mike, just wonderful. The first thing through my mind is a couple of mental notes for the canyons: 1) no fishing planers and 2) be sure the pit crew takes care on retreiving the short lines. I would cry to see anything metal come flying in and putting a gouge in that beautiful transom. The thought process has been outstanding to make use of every available storage space. I think too many builders do not take enough time with this aspect of boat building. The bomb bay doors sound very cool, and that will leave you with a very clean looking ride when the day is done and everything is put away. Nice!
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