Friday, August 30, 2013

Construction: Week 36 - Below Deck Accommodations 90% Complete

There are two significant instances of progress this week.  The first is the level of completion of the below deck accommodations.  The second is the flybridge / boat deck assembly, which has been turned right side up.  The re-positioning of that assembly and the fact that the stairwell from the pilothouse to the flybridge is in place strongly suggests that we may see it mounted as early as next week.

1. Port side view.  Stairwell to flybridge visible

2. Aft view of hull.  No change

3. Flybridge / Boat Deck assembly with worker installing the running light and name board

4. Hardtop.  No change

5. VIP awaiting fiddles on shelves, ceiling and satin finish

6. Guest SR. 90% complete

7. Master looking forward. 85% complete

8. Master looking aft with engine room access sealed off to limit dust

9. Pilot house with base for Stidd helm chair installed (behind the worker)

10. Galley.  No change

11. Salon looking forward.  Port settee with storage below the seating

12. Salon looking aft with bullnose installed
The bullnose in the salon and through out the boat is specified for wenge with a flat edge.  The overall design concept is wenge on all flat surfaces with a wenge bullnose.  The desired look is shown in the photo below.  Note the flat faced cabinets and wenge trim on the teak floor.

Unfortunately, there was an error this week related to the bullnose in the salon. Notice in the above photo that the bullnose is teak rather than wenge.  I immediately brought it to Mike's attention this morning and his response can be summarized in four simple words; "oops, we'll fix it!"

Wenge surface and bullnose design concept from Creative Edge

13. Engine Room with equipment protected by covers

14. Engine Room.  The box sitting on the catwalk is an electrical breaker box which will be mounted on the port bulkhead

15. Lazerette looking to starboard

16. Lazerette looking aft.  Progress on the aft cabinetry
Written by Les.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Construction: Week 35 - Major Main Deck Progress

Last week I made an analogy to Friday photos being the equivalent of Christmas morning. Well this Friday morning there were lots of presents under the tree and one amazing surprise.

Let's start with the theme of today's article, the "Major Main Deck Progress."  Then we will focus on the surprise.

The photo below is the view looking aft from the pilot house two week's ago (Week 33).  To starboard (your left) we can see the bulkhead for the GE side-by-side refrigerator.  The open space in the foreground is awaiting the stairwell to the flybridge.  To the center we can see a bulkhead dividing the galley from the salon (which is three steps down).  To port we have what will be the pilothouse settee and another bulkhead separating the pilothouse from the galley. 

Week 33 view of the salon deck looking aft


Week 35 looking to starboard from the pilothouse
Here's where we stand today.  The photo above shows the stairwell from the pilot house to the flybridge.  Under the stairwell, from front to back, is space for a file drawer, a wine cooler and a pantry storage area with drawers and shelves.  Immediately aft of the stairwell is the space for the GE Refrigerator and the second, and larger, galley storage area.

In the center of the photo is the galley island that was installed last week.  To the right and forward you can see the framework for pilot house settee up against a freshly veneered bulkhead separating the galley from the pilothouse.  In the photo below you can see the entire framework for pilothouse settee.
Week 35.  Pilothouse settee seating.
Below are two photos.  The first is the view of the pilothouse looking forward from last week (Week 34).  The second is as of today.  New is the settee to port and the top work surfaces on the control station.  Notice the blue tape and wrapping on the cabinet to the right of what will be the helm.  When the shipyard installs equipment it is immediately covered to protect it from dust.  This means that the DC Main Electrical Panel has been installed.  The work surface immediately above the electrical panel will hold a charts book that can easily be referenced from the helm.  We did not have this luxury of the 48 Sundancer.

Week 34.  View of the pilothouse control station
Week 35.  View of the pilot house.
Week 3.5 View of the galley work area.  No apparent change
Now let's look at the salon photos.  Looking forward we can see that the port settee is now installed.  Last week it was awaiting installation.  To starboard is the newly installed cabinet that functions as a table between the barrel chairs.  The cabinet by the stairwell leading to the galley was installed last week.  The tops of both cabinets along with the ledges and the windows will be finished in black wenge wood with a wenge bullnose.  The wenge trim and flat faced cabinets will give the salon a very contemporary look.

Week 3.  Salon looking forward

Week 35. Salon looking aft
Now to the surprise and it was a BIG ONE.  Background: We had agonized about the stairwell from the pilothouse to the flybridge, which is why I've included the two photos below of the "traditional" version.  Essentially, the open stairwell with its newel post, handrail, balusters and accentuated risers is perfect for the traditional interior.  Unfortunately, our "transitional" interior with flat panels and wenge trim is not entirely compatible.  We attempted to solve the problem with a wenge newel post, a modern handrail and modern balusters but failed to address the open stairwell and accentuated risers .

Traditional open stairwell with traditional newel post

Accentuated risers
Outer Reef, well to be specific, Tania (the shipyard) to the rescue.  They recognized the incompatibility and installed an enclosed stairwell (see photo below).  This is a really big deal.  In combination with the wenge newel post, modern handrail and modern balusters the stairwell will be totally in keeping with the look we are trying to achieve.  Hats off to Outer Reef.

Enclosed stairwell
Enclosed stairwell with wenge newel post, modern handrail and modern balusters
Now let's go below to the accommodations.  Here the changes are hard to spot.


Week 35. VIP - Veneer and wenge trim

Week 35. Guest Stateroom
 
Week 35. Master looking forward
 
Week 35. Master looking aft
Now to the operational areas.  The engines and generators installed several weeks ago are covered to protect them from the dust.
 
Week 35.  Engine room looking forward

Week 35.  Engine room looking aft

Week 35. Lazarette looking forward. 

Week 35.  Lazarette looking aft.
The two photos above of the lazarette show some progress.  Looking forward we can see that the auxiliary tanks are now fully enclosed.  We can also see the laminate finish on the tanks and the bulkheads.

Looking aft we can see that the sub flooring has been installed over the bilges (that were epoxied last week).  The sub floor and catwalk will be finished with a product called Coin Dot. We can also see bulkheads for the two storage lockers on either side of the catwalk with newly installed panels for access to the steering gear.  The storage locker to port (your right) is a hanging locker.  To starboard the locker will have shelves.  On either side will also be lockers.  The one to port will house the Glendenning Cable Master system with 75 foot power cord.  The one to starboard will enclosed storage space.

Below are the views of the exterior:

Week 35.. Port view - No change


Week 35. Aft view - No apparent change


3. Flybridge / Boat Deck - Fiberglass refinishing close to completion 
The fiberglass finish work on the Flybridge / Boat Deck assembly suggest that installation may occur in the next week or two.  Looking at the above photo you can see where the stairwell connects to the flybridge.  Note: To make it "fit" on the house you need lift it (in your mind) from the front and tip it backward.  The area closest to us is the flybridge.  The boat deck will form the roof of the presently uncovered aft deck.  Stay tuned.

Written by Les.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Construction: Week 34 - We Have a Galley

Friday mornings are the equivalent of Christmas morning.  I can't wait to get up and see what is under the tree.  It seems this morning's most significant "present" is a galley clearly taking shape.  That said there is progress, as always, in every area and, as I'm coming to believe (and as Mike continually assures me), and as the evidence this week very clearly indicates, progress is always ongoing elsewhere in the shipyard (i.e., the carpentry shop this week).

Let's start with the galley.  Here's where we were last week.  Note: The fact that they cleaned up the area should have telegraphed big things to come.

Looking into the galley from the pilot house last week (Week 33)
Here we are today:


1. Looking into the galley from the pilothouse

Quite a change.  In the above photo we are looking into the galley from the pilothouse.  To port we can see the galley island and the cabinetry for the AC main electrical panel.  We can also see a new bulkhead just to the left of the bulkhead that was in place last week.  To starboard we can see the bulkhead for the full size GE Monogram side by side refrigerator.  In the lower center of the photo is the cabinet for the DC (direct current) main panel and the entry to the stairs leading to the accommodations.

2. Close up of the galley area
  Looking at photo #2 we can see (moving from left to right and then forward):
  • Trash compactor cabinet
  • Dishwasher cabinet
  • Drawers
  • Under sink cabinet
  • Platform for stove top
  • Oven cabinet
  • Island (with storage to starboard for pots and pans)
Now to the pilot house:

3. Pilothouse looking forward
 There's actually a lot going on.  Moving from starboard to port (right to left):
  • The bulkhead for stairs leading to the accommodations are veneered
  • The AC main panel cabinet
  • Bulkhead for the controls, electronics and instruments
  • Access panel to the black boxes for the  controls, electronics and instruments
  • Teak veneer on the windshield panels
  • Window frames (although they were there last week)
  • Platform for the helm chair.
4.  Pilothouse looking to port.  Window frames installed.
Now to the salon.  Here again is proof that stuff is happening elsewhere in the shipyard.  Below we can see the partially completed port settee assembly including veneered side panels waiting to be installed.  Notice the openings along the port seating.  Under each seat is storage accessible by a hatch that opens and stays up with pneumatic lift.

5.  Salon looking forward.
In the photo below (#6) we can see the salon settee assembly and storage areas along with the TV and AV cabinets.  We can also see teak veneer on the window mullions and aft bulkhead.  The lift assembly for the TV is in place and covered up.
6.  Salon looking aft
Now to the accommodations below deck.

7. VIP with finished lip on berth.  Wenge trim on shelves and lip

8.  Guest stateroom with both bunks installed, cabinet with two drawers and some teak veneer.

9.  Master looking forward.  Teak veneers on all bulkheads

10.  Master SR with lip on berth.  Teak veneer on headboard.
Below are two engine room photos.  The engine room has "sort of" filled up with the installation of the engines and generators.  The most noticeable change is the insulated ceiling is in.  The florescent lights in the photo will be mounted on the ceiling.

11.  Engine room looking forward.

12.  Engine room looking aft.
Stuff is happening in the lazarette.

13. Lazarette looking to port.  Sub-flooring and epoxy in bilges.  Inverter or isolation transformer on bulkhead

14. Lazarette looking aft.  Sub-flooring and epoxy in bilges
Here are the photos of the hull, flybridge / boat deck assembly and hardtop. 

15. Port side view

16. Aft view

17. Flybridge / Boat Deck Assembly

18. Hardtop inner assembly
The work being done on the flybridge and boat deck assembly suggests that it is being readied for installation on the house.  This could happen in the next two to three weeks.

Written by Les