The custom build continues; A photo update.

[Fortunate One]

dr. More pics will be coming soon there's a lot of little detailing going on at the moment and it's not really worth posting pics at the moment.

Robb, The name change had to do with a few things. As we progressed the boat started taking a life of its own. The fact that she's a wooden vessel and once that transom was laid up I just thought that the original name I picked out wouldn't do her justice.

One day after I talked to the project manager about my perception of a lack of progress he told me that he had a meeting with the crew to tell them to move along that "We're not building a Stradivarius here."

This was about the same time that they brought in another carpenter to do some finish work on the shear line as the deck was about to be installed. The gentleman was from Europe. I believe he was from Italy.

I introduced myself to this guy and started talking to him about his boat building skills. I then learned that he also had a background conducting an orchestra and he was a classical violinist. I thought that's an odd combination. He said his real passion was working with wood. So you have to give a man credit, he was trained in a certain discipline but he decided to pursue his real passion. He said that he still did some conducting work from time to time but he was going through a difficult personal period in his life so he decided to get back into wood working.

One of the other guys overheard us talking and he asked George to tell me what he did for a hobby.

George tells me "I build Violins." I looked back at the guy that prompted the line and told him, apparently we are building a Stradivarius.

In addition to that the transom looks like it's made out of wood that could have been used to build a Stradivarius.

She's a classic even before she hits the water.

I have a feeling that she’s going to play like a Stradivarius.

So what's more fitting than that name?

[Team Temptation]

The magnitude and detail of this build almost pales in comparison to your story telling prowess. Thanks for letting many of us enjoy the excitement along with you.

Stradivarius play on,play on.................



Armando

[Fortunate One]

Thanks for the kind words Armando. Glad to see everyone hasn't gotten bored yet.

If you read some articles or on line writings from builders they explain from time to time having to deal with the owner of the boat and their needs and sometimes impatience.

Well even though I'm so involved with the build I'm not there on a day to day basis as a result of other priorities. So I sometimes get frustrated when I see things aren't moving as fast as I think they should. And there's always underlying factors. But damn it I need to see progress.

There are many weeks that go by and a lot doesn't seem to get done and then all of a sudden during the course of a week or two you look back and say WOW that's progress.

So this week Dave and I have been battling. Battling to the point where the person that was working on something actually put in writing the tasks that it took to get to a certain point. My argument is I don't give a damn about the individual tasks. I can describe in detail my routine on how I get up in the morning and what I do to get to the office.

All I care about is its taken Willy, 4 weeks to get to a certain point and it's still not done. What gives?

CB&T warned me of this just recently on a PM.

So after e-mailing each other back and forth and then playing phone tag on Friday, I decided I wasn't going to go to the shed this weekend. But I got up this morning and decided to head down to see if they've moved along any.

I still have mixed emotions about last weeks progress but there have been some milestones met and it looks like a bunch of work is poised to get done. So for the moment Dave has a reprieve from my criticism. But I'm going down to make a sneak attack late Monday afternoon. That usually prods them to get more done than they expected to get done by Friday or Saturday. It's like one of those things "We'll show him." Although the reverse could happen, "We'll show him" and not much gets done. But then again in this economy and now that it seems like I won't get much use out of it over this canyon season, there is always the possibility of scaling back the crew size and resetting target dates. But that's a last resort. I want it splashed and sea trialed while we have the warm weather.

So for those following along, here's some pictures.

Friday I get a call from Dave to discuss the bug up my ass and he only has a few minutes to talk since he's just finished installing the first strut permanently and is waiting for the guys to prep the next one. Now this is going on a 4PM. I was in a meeting with one of my employees who happened to be headed off for vacation so I told Dave I'd call him back.

I didn't get a chance to call him and I felt nothing good would come of it so why bother getting us both pissed off before the weekend.

So they managed to install the struts in permantly.

This has been a bit of a job since they are backed by some custom made backing plates and there are a few bolts that actually run all the way up and through the top of the stringers and they are beefy stringers. So as Dave always states. "Strong as Bull."



To my surprise the shafts were delivered and inserted also. They'll have to come out slightly since the shaft seals haven't been installed in the engine room but it was a pleasant surprise to see the shafts arrived and are in place.



I knew work had started on the installation of the exhaust tubes earlier in the week so I took a few pictures in from the port side hole to show the "stuff" down below. Some of the pieces, hoses, wire and such need to be put in place and connected to their respective parts, but the picture shows the quality of the structure and how easy it is to access everything in the lazzerette.

Here's the transom with the holes cut in. They still need to be trimmed a little to match the exact oval of the exhaust tubes but someone asked the question where the exhausts were and so here's where they will be.



Here's the shot through the exhaust hole into the lazarette.

There have been 3 lights installed in the lazarette.

Check out the room in there. Plenty of storage for crap. I asked Dave a week or so back to make 2 drop in removable containers to fit into the 2 deck hatches. This way I can keep things neat down there and I can still remove them and install other stuff in the bilge if I want.



The shower pan has found its home in the head. And the floor in the head had been glassed and a boat load of epoxy has been installed on the floor. It’s looking really deep.

Rob did a nice job on that shower pan. It's sloped towards the center where the drain gets install.

Built totally from scratch and plenty big.



The bait freezer just needs the flange cut to fit the box on the port side and then it's off to get wrapped with insulation and copper pipe.



I purchased a very slightly used. I don't believe it was ever used for fishing, Release Marine Ultimate model fighting chair. It was in new condition. It was on a large Viking and the owner never fished the boat (what a waste) so he had it removed and ordered a table so he and his family and friends could sit around and have cocktails. So I picked this thing up for 1/3 the price of new. Thanks again to "Nimrod" for hooking me up with that deal.

Anyway I took the hardware off of the chair because it had a slight blemish in the varnish. I had the guys fix the varnish and make it look deeper. So they did just that. Although the picture certainly doesn't do it justice.

The side padding was removed because we have a bolt of synthetic leather that was ordered from Italy when we ordered the Bessenzoni helm chair and double companion seat. So we're going to have the side pads made from the same material that's on the helm deck "L" seats and Bessenzoni seats. Now that's going to tie all of the seating together. Custom all the way!



One of the issues that's been sticking in my craw has been the time it's taking to get the paint on the helm deck and back cabinets. The amount of detailing required is mind boggling. At least they managed to get the second coat of primer on everything and then sanded so at this point it's ready for finish paint. Finally.



And best of all is the fact that the lumber for the toe rail has found its way from the shop to the boat.

It's still weeks away from being finished but Bill seems to be making good progress and it should be all installed and shaped by weeks end. Then it's a matter of finishing it.

I'm really fighting with whether to keep it in Bright work or paint it. I know the bright work looks great but these things always seem to get the most abuse, therefore require a lot of care.

[clt_capt]

I'm sure that the first time you hear screaming reels, you'll forget (or forgive) the time it has taken

She is truly a work of art and it shows

[canyongear]

Patience Fortunate..It's summer the yard must have other work and your building one big Violin..she's coming along nice, never fast enough tho. My opine she needs a varnished toe rail or varnished cap over the white base of the toe rail..

Your in Newport right? Ask around/about "Herbert" the varnisher from Palm Beach. He's up there in the summer, does great work and reasonable for the quality and fast! We have used him before.

[T2GLC]

Mike, I have enjoyed watching this build as everyone else here. I look forward to the pictures everyweek. Now is not the time to rush the project, as the build gets closer to the end it's time consuming to do all the little details, that will really stand out when completed. As for painting or varnishing the toe rail please don't paint it you will regret it. I have a lot of varnish work on my boat and every year I add two coats. With the build of a cold molded boat you'll always have a rag and paint brush in your back pocket welcome to the club
Paul Reel Pursuit Charters

[Fortunate One]

Thanks Paul,

Nice Blackwell by the way.

A guy I know sent me an e-mail today to put it in perspective.

He wrote:

"However... keep in mind that it took Michelangelo from 1508- to 1512 to repaint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and for the finale, to paint the Last Judgement over the Chapel's altar, between 1535 and 1541,"

Kind of puts in in perspective since we're building a work of art.

[34SILVERTON]

looks great. when will she be in the water

[Fortunate One]

34Silverton

I've given up on counting on anything. We've had set a couple of set backs and at this point I'm done getting my hopes up.

But we're still making good progress and the helm deck is in finish paint so I'm hoping the next round of construction goes a bit faster.

I went to the shed last night to see how the paint came out and although we did have a set back it came out as nice as I expected.

I'm very pleased with the shade of white and the mirror finish that they achieved.

So by the end of next week, the helm pod and the sliding hatch should be installed as well as the Besenzoni seats. The engine room hatch will be installed and the area under the gunnal in the cockpit will be painted and the final teak pieces are scheduled to be installed on the cockpit deck once that's done.

The bowsprit has been installed and the mahogany toe rail is being shaped.





The toe rail is taking shape. Just think these pieces were board lumber just a few short weeks ago.



And with that the decision has been made to finish it in bright work. I could not bury such fine pieces of mahogany under paint.


The average boater would not believe the amount of prep work it takes to get a wood and epoxy boat to look good.

White paint is difficult to photograph but if you look closely you can see reflections all over. The deck has yet to receive a coat of paint but the borders have been painted. The center section will be done in nonskid.

It will look much better in a couple of weeks once all of the finish mahogany bling that's sitting in the carpentry shop on a table is installed.

[Bligh]

looks great. when will she be in the water

It would be a guy with 34 silverton as his name to stir the pot and not understand the frenzy of wanting and the patience of custom