Wednesday 22 September

After theory and lunch I set about taking the tape off the repaired longitudinal bulkhead. The join had suffered from hydraulic shift and a gap had appeared whilst drying. I guess this happened because we didn't force the top part down and fasten it in place before clamping down with the timber plank.

I matched the forward edges of THE bulkheads to each other fastening them with lofting pins ( longthin nails) and planed the surface to a relatively even face. I used a no. 5 plane, a block plane, and 60 grit sandpaper to achieve this. With the bulkheads still fastened together I traced the shape of the holes for piping to enter the bulkhead with the pattern made yesterday. The 25mm hole saw cut the rounded corners, and the jigsaw cut the straight lines. (Rounded corners are more structurally sound than sharp edges.) The bulkheads were then fitted into place and the partners added.

From Boat Construction Blog

Now, begins a two week break. And afterward a week of work experiences. I hope to make some calls to firms in Whangarei, as I intend to head up those ways once I am free of obligations. I will also be back dating this blog with information from the previous few weeks work, and researching various topics surrounding the boat building field.

Tuesday 21 September

Yesterdays miscommunication, lead to spending half the day mending the engine box longitudinal girder with a biscuit join. We spindle molded a 4 mm slot in each end to be joined. And sanded down the rough cutting damage the band saw had made. And shaped a 4mm ply insert or biscuit to slot between the two joins. Brushed resin onto the faying surfaces and glued them with a runny glue powder mix. Nailing the base to the table and clamping a taped flat plank of timber to the join. See below.

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This afternoon, I looked at how the pipes would fit through the engine box side under the sole and then rise through the stem into the engine box space. Here is a pic which shows the work in progress.

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Whilst another part of the group worked on the cabin top mold cutting foam for the dryfit and label of the Airex 15mm foam.

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Today, was a relatively productive day, and I went home feeling pretty tired. I look forward to making the most of our practical session in the afternoon so we can have the soles, engine box and pipes all dry fitted to look neat and tidy.

Monday 20 September

I came on time this morning. Having reflected on what I needed to do the night before I was all action. I knew the Engine Box Longitudinal Bulkhead and Partners/Doublers/Kleats dry fitted by the end of the day.

Engine Box Longitudinal Bulkhead - 12 mm Marine 1088 Ply
In the shape of a Big L, to brace from the most aft floor along the hull and then curve to rise up through the sole and sit tight against the transom to it's most aft end. The engine box will be used to add strength to the transom. And also create a barrier between the cockpit and the outboard which might also reduce the noise of the engine too.

The pattern made from 3mm custom wood needed to project upwards from the transom edge by 115mm and out at a right angle inboard to where the box was to drops. Unfortunately, my partner for the past half semester was not aware of this. And cut the second box side to the old pattern shape instead of following the pattern I had meticulously drawn and cut with pencil and jigsaw. I had asked him to find the shape of the transom for the starboard engine side box.

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This picture shows the engine box side having been cut out, and the other side ready to be cut out.

The following photo shows the engine box sides fitting into place quite well. Unfortunately, one side is under cut and I am about to research alternative to repair this problem.

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It took far too long to get to that point. Perhaps two weeks, but the plans for the engine box had changed several times, with only brief sketches and vague ideas (in my head) as to exactly what the final transom shape would be, which also dictated the size of the engine box.

Wednesday 15 September

Finished a new pattern for the Engine Box Longitudinal Bulkhead. Drew outline of final shape on the outboard of the transom. Recorded Jake, Edwin, Mark and Bracey use a neumatic spray paint contraption to coat the cabintop mold with duratec.

From Boat Construction Blog

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From Boat Construction Blog