Adam F

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Day off on Sat for family time, but cracked on today and nearly have the veneers finished now. Trimmed the fridge to match the rest of the appliances, and started to fit the slotted trunking to carry the numerous cables and wires. Finally, I was a bit short of teak trims, but remembered that a big batch of teak came with the boat purchase, all large sections but a few hours with the table saw, planer and router saw all the last trims fabricated and trimmed to size.

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Now have the forward bunk finished and glassed in, nothing fancy here as its all going to be carpeted, bit the two bunks are a good size and comfortable. Rob came over today to lend a hand with the laminate venners, a very productive day, and what a huge difference it has made with the interior finish. Very, very pleased with the colours I picked, they work great together... The only problem now is the boat kitchen looks better than my one at home!

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Finding the laminate veneers testing to work with, very little room for error, fragile and unforgiving. Still, once bonded to the ply, it becomes easy, and looks great. Started to tab the units into the boat today with 1800gsm layup, and veneered the dash tops this evening.

This weekend was one of those when despite spending two whole days on the boat, it doesn't look like I've achieved much! Alas I have, just none of the exciting bits. Sat morning was mainly spent with Bob F, running through the electrical fit out, how to do it and what I need. In the afternoon, I finished making up the panels and supports for the forward bunks. Sunday, lovely and sunny, great day to be outside, but no, today was spent in the foreword bunk, in the dark, with little ventilation, laminating out the bunks with grp. Not a great job to do, but it's done now. I picked up the sheets of laminate this week. I decided to finish off today with a dabble at laminating a panel, to finish on something a little more interesting. I've not worked with formica before. Horrible stuff! The edge is like a razor... My index finger was no match for that..... Then cutting it, not easy. Decided on a stanley, but it needs firm and steady pressure, even then it's liable to split and tear.... Didn't enjoy that bit. However after gluing it trims up a treat with the router and looks superb. Very pleased with this, and looking forward to doing the rest of the wheelhouse. Also pleased with the style of the veneer. It's Zebrano, a tropical, heavily stripped hardwood, so it looks natural, but a little more modern than a cherry or oak veneer.

Been working away again this week so slower progress, but whilst away the hob, sink and oven arrived. Got cracking today, had planned to do much more but as it was, the galley proved fiddley and time consuming, but I was determined to get it right, myself, Ian and many of our regular crew like our food, so a decent galley is essential. I've made the work top bow fronted to match the curve of the top unit and take away from it looking too boxy. We have a 30l Smev Oven and combined grill, and the top unit is a 2 ring hob and sink unit. I'm really pleased with this. Will start on the final bit of carpentry tomorrow, the forward bunk.

Started the galley tonight, now waiting for the oven, hob and sink to arrive so I can build the rest around it.

Thanks for the feedback. Charlie, that isn't the seat I'm using, it's one I have and it's near enough for setting up the boat. The actual one is air suspension and fully adjustable, with 150mm ride height adjustment. Gaffa, it's a balance, I won't want it to fell like driving a car, where the wheel is close enough to drive whilst leaning fully back on the seat, I'm trying to get it so that helming stood up leaning on the seat works too. Also, on long passages, the auto helm will be driving, so not as much need to be too close to the wheel.

Still can't decide on the veneer. Take a look at these, that I've short listed. The top dash veneer I've decided on the dark grey, 2nd from the left. The teak trim is now in place for reference but I can't decide on the timber veneer. I'm tempted by some of the more modern, striped timbers, but the teak and iroko trims I have are beautiful (and expensive!) and I want to show these off, I'm not sure if the louder veneers would mask the trims? What do the PBSBAC members think?

Good progress today. Added the starboard plinth next to the helm seat. This will have the throttle controls, vhf, wiper controls, trim tabs, etc mounted to hand. Once that was done, I then tackled the seat box which houses the fridge. This needs to be built extra strong as it will take a lot of abuse, having the helm seat mounted on top. Once these two were done, I dummy mounted the throttle control and steering wheel, crucial for me, is the ergonomics of the set up. Many of you will know the aches you get from hours sat at the helm if we aren't comfortable and have to stretch or reach for anything. So I'm very nearly there on the wheelhouse carcassing, just the galley to sort this week when the cooker and hob arrive.

Family day today but managed to squeek out for an hour after dinner and have started on the final leg of the wheelhouse carcassing, the helm seat boxing and the galley. Got the half bulkhead trimmed in tonight and hope to finish the rest tomorrow. Need to get the cooker ordered this week so I can fit the galley around it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Shopping trip this morning. A off cut of bendy ply from Pete, and a trip to KJ Howells to sell a kidney for some teak trim. Great little set up they have there and an Aladdin's cave of teak mouldings... I only picked about half of what I need.... And handed over 125 quid! Looks the business though. Had Rob onsite today, with broken finger... I had expected tea and a chat but he was up for light work, so I put him to good use helping fabricate the helm station. Managed to sort the radius edge to match the teak with a section of gutter cut to size. Will give the helm a softer less angular look. Finally after a Rob had left, used the bendy ply to finish the pop up screen section. Quite pleased with progress so far. Just the seat box and galley to do now.

When I've finished Tony, I'd be more than happy to do just that.

Popped the mould this evening and trimmed it up. Still needs a polish but that can be done at a later date. Fits the aperture just as designed and the door is a ideal fit. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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2nd March update... Spring is in the air and getting closer, the end still feels like an eternity away! Working on this project this weekend I have fabricated the port side bunk. Took a while getting the size right, as this was critical in several ways as this needs to be a comfortable seat underway primarily but also a serviceable bunk on occasions. The kids have tested it for size and approve! Also finished the carcass for the heads, and trimmed the aperture to suit. Most of this work involved templating the sheets to the sharpe of the wheelhouse, not easy. In one photo you can see how I've been gridding the sheets at 100mm intervals so I can transfer the measurements across. Also got the door frame mould laid up this evening. I'm now away for a couple of days, so this can cure ready to be popped out and trimmed later in the week. Finally, started looking at veneer trims for the interior today. I want a timber finish but want to break away from a traditional yacht finish, but without going over the top gin palace style. As you can see from the sample swatch I have a few options! Comments and thoughts very welcome. The head linings will be champagne vinyl, the walls light grey coach trim, the floor synthetic teak, the dash top dark grey veneer and the galley top a black fleck. Just leaves the ply covering to be decided......

Laid up the door on Sat morning, and popped it out today. Ran it through the saw to trim to size. Pleased with the result, a quick clean down and a polish and will be ready to go. Then turned the attention the the door frame. As his needs to be circa 5mm bigger all around, I need another new mould, as got that made up today, and finished with a coat of filler. A bit more prep this week and I'll be ready to lay this up next weekend. Turning away from the moulds, I got the heads bulkhead templated up and trimmed in this weekend. Moving forward, ive started the bench seat / cockpit bunk. This will have 3 lockers inside for storage, will seat 4 adults when underway, and have a removable back to convert it to a bunk when required.

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So got the last of the deck glassed in on Sat. Started to install the dash and bulkhead panels, these are now in place and need glassing in. Tonight I've made up the toilet door mould. With quotes north of £700 it pays to make my own. I've templated the wheelhouse door so it's an exact match. Here you can see it with the big corner radius applied, a mix of mdf supports, then expanding foam before finally finishing off with body filler. I've also done the corner fillets and applied the first coat of wax. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A few hours this afternoon saw the deck glassed in around the perimeter, 3 layers of CSM ( chopped strand mat ) giving 1800gsm in total and the layers stepped out to lessen the ridge and improve strength. Then the final layer of mat over the whole lot.... Gutted as ran out of resin again just before I could finish the final piece. Then popped out for 30 mins this eve and started to make up the mould for a new engine box lid... The old one has been hacked about so much, a new one is needed. Finally, looks like I'll be moulding up the toilet frame and door... Quotes back for a purpose made one... Best was £700, worst was £1200!

Sikflex Pete. Nice thick bead and then screwed down with stainless lost head screws. Hopefully ensures no squeeks. Working at home today so should find a few hours to sheath the whole lot in grp. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Back from a long week away, and gifted a full day on the boat by Rach. Big moment today as got the deck bonded and screwed down. A fair bit of prep beforehand as ran a new duct to take the wiring and extended the existing so they both exit the deck with a flush fitting. Also installed the PCU unit and cables back to the engine. Finally fitted the water tank, rails and straps. So basically all the under deck work is done. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk