Tuesday, June 26, 2012

It's all about building walls


I cut out the aft bulkhead from 1/2 inch okoume, fastened the cockpit sole beam to it with glue and screws to hold it, and cut the access port in it.  Then, I glued the bulkhead assembly in place at station 8, using deck screws to hold the bulkhead to the frame while the glue set. After removing the screws, I filled the holes and applied a fillet all around, using thickened epoxy.  I kept the limber holes on either side of the keel open about 3/4 of an inch to allow drainage.

Aft bulkhead glued in place. Temp screws were used where clamps wouldn't fit.
The forward bulkhead, the one at station 6, involved the same process, only more complicated because of the cabin elevation and the companionway.  Nevertheless, I used pieces of cheap 1/4 inch luaun (Philippine "mahogany") scribed to the strakes and hot glued together, to make a pattern.

Port side of cabin bulkhead pattern clamped in position.

 The upper section was lofted from the construction drawings, and once it was put together it looked pretty good, and -- wonder of wonders --fit pretty much perfectly.  I did the port half first.  Even more remarkably, when I flipped the pattern over to try to fit it to the starboard side, the fit was nearly perfect.  A little trimming will be all that is necessary to use it as a pattern for the starboard side.  Next step was rough tracing the pattern onto a sheet of okoume and rough cutting the actual bulkhead half.


A dog and his bulkhead (half)
Before I actually install the bulkhead, I have to decide whether or not to allow for quarterberths, as this would require cutting a port on each side (for one's feet.)  My inclination at this point is to go with forward berths, and have the galley aft, against the bulkhead on the port side, and the head opposite on the starboard side.  Oh, well, that is a decision to be anguished over at 3:00AM some morning soon.  In the meanwhile, I have another bulkhead half to cut out.


 

 

4 comments:

  1. Hi Charles, your progress is fantastic. I admire your continuing perserverance. Have you had any thoughts about a motor? Its winter here and the shed is too cold. Yeah, I know, it only gets down to about 35 F at night here but thats cold enough to think twice about going down the yard. A bloke up in Queensland has started a Welsford Sundowner which is a design I like and he is catching me fast. Heres his blog if you're interested
    http://sundownerbuild.blogspot.com.au/
    I have started a thread about my build on Wooden boat forum.
    Melb, Aus Andrew

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    Replies
    1. Andrew,
      Perseverance it is indeed. Do you all know how to eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Just like building a Grey Seal.

      I am thinking constantly now about the engine. I would like to get a used inboard diesel, about 10 HP. I have been looking on eBay, and have set up an e-mail notification there. The thing is, you need to strike fast when you see one listed, as they seem to be in short supply.

      I need to resolve that pretty quickly, because I can't do the final cockpit sole layout (e.g., stringer locations, engine box height) until I at least identify the make and model.

      I'll definitely have a look at the sundowner and of course at your thread.

      Cheers

      Charles

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  2. The dog is very helpful. I was like, "I wonder how tall that bulkhead is?" And then I was like, "Oh, it's 3 dogs high."

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  3. Alas, Bosco passed over the bar a few years ago, and I still miss his help in the shop. By the time we launched, he was too old to take on board. I still miss him. I'm glad he was useful to you!

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