The custom build continues; A photo update.

[John from Madison CT]

Geez Mike. I had no idea she's expected to go that fast.

Throttle her down to a slow 30knots and we'll be at Veatch in no time !!

[Nimrod]

Looking good Mike. Thanks for the nod. I'm glad all the pieces-parts are to your liking.

[Nauti Natured]

Anything happen in the last week or so?

[Fortunate One]

Anything happen in the last week or so?

It's been a very frustrating time. It doens't seem like things are going as quickly as I think they should. It's probably time to make some changes.

The master carpenter is most likely going down to part time hours.


The electrician is still doing a great job and he's been pulling wire in the cabin. The systems guy is down to the last bits. He's insisting on installing another bilge pump behind the generator.

He still has the steering system to go but we're still waiting on the tiller arms. The supplier said that they were off the shelf items but apparently that's not the case and they have to be cast. We could have used the off the shelf units but then instead of having them installed facing aft they would have been installed facing forward and then the arms and connecting bar would have encroached into the lazzerete hatch openings and that would have interfered with the storage bins that will be installed back there.

Most of the varnish work has been done in the cabin. The last locker is being painted out, the sink is installed and plumbed in the head. The helm seat is being relocated a little further aft than the original position it had been in. Another disappointment but that cost will be absorbed by the builder.

We hired a sub-contractor to finish installing the cabinet doors and hardware in the cabin and on the cockpit cabinets. The same guys that built the helm pod and built the galley.

The soft goods are being made. The rest of the deck hatch hardware is being installed, the headliners are getting ready for final paint, the quarter round moldings that hold them in are primed.

I'm waiting for the painting contractor to come back next weeks to apply the finish paint on the bait freezer and to paint the locker doors in the cabin.

The stainless steel freezer plates for the fish box finally arrived.

Everything is either in a prep stage or the final finish stage before install.

I won't bother with any pictures for a few weeks until things get installed and painted.

But the push is on for now.

[MarkP]

Looking fwd to seeing the beast in the water, Mike...

MarkP

[Fortunate One]

Looking fwd to seeing the beast in the water, Mike...

MarkP

You and both Mark,

The final months are killing me to get this over the finish line. Won't be long now.

She's going up the bay in March to get the tower installed.

That should be an exciting time. Sea trials and all.

You'll have to get out with us this season.

I want to point her southeast and hit canyons that not many get to. And ff all goes well and if I get comfortable enough running her then there may be a 3 day Bear Seamount trip in her not to distant future.

That's been a trip I've wanted to make since I began this process.

[Fritz]

The boat looks spectacular. You have done an awesome job managing the project. I understand your feelings about getting to the finish line more than you know. I would love to see her in person some time. Perhaps at one of the South Jersey tournaments.

[Fortunate One]

Firtz,

The reality of it is the project could have been managed better with greater efficiencies and that's the issue I'm dealing with now. I know you're going through a re-fit and I know you know how frustrating it can be.

I was hoping to be 99% there by the end of the year but we're still dicking around with some stuff. But the end is close and after all this time, she'll be floating soon.

You may see us in your area. I'd like to do the Mid Atlantic and other tournaments.

We'll see. I'm just hoping that she's going to be a fish raiser.

[nabeelah]

Mike,
Really hoping to see her on the trailer to the maina!!!
Scania will launch new V8 (EURO 5) marine blocks/Engines-totally new design,bigger swept volume,XPI injectors developed with Cummins etc.I dont know if it will affect Yanmar spares in the future as Scania supplies those engines to Yanmar.Launching of these engines will be in 2012 (13L inline six from next year)

[controlled chaos]

Almost there bro!!! The rig is looking so sick!!! I have been following your project as well as Fritz' and they are just so impressive as they come together. Words really can't describe these boats!!!

Cheers

Dave