Construction: Week 50 - Back on the Hard

My track record on predictions is getting better.  I predicted last week that the boat would be back on her cradle and that the final bottom paint and boot stripe would be applied. Score one for the home team.  That said, predictions at this stage of construction are not that difficult.

Other news: Diana and I arrived back at our Sarasota rental home last Monday following a two day drive from Chicago.  Noteworthy is that we made the drive in two days, a 500 miler from Chicago to Smyrna TN and a 732 miler from Smyrna to Sarasota.  The 732 mile leg was our longest drive to date.  The combination of light traffic, mostly good weather and a late lunch in GA enabled me to drive the entire distance.  Incidentally, we saw no less that 20 Georgia Highway Patrol cars running speed traps along I 75 and got the same report from a friend who drove through GA on I 95. 

The weather in Sarasota is lovely 80 during the day and 65 at night.  The weather in Chicago is slightly colder.  Well ok, a lot colder. 15 degrees as I write this article.

Still more news: Diana and I spent Thursday and Friday in the Fort Lauderdale area making final decorating decisions.  Stay tuned for a separate article.

Now to the photos.  We are clearly in the home stretch with a confirmed shipping date (December 19) just days away.  Still there is work happening throughout the boat (or maybe Tania is using the boat for storage - just joking).  You will notice as you view this set of photos that the yard is starting to remove some of the protective covering enabling us to see some of the boats structural styling features.  Hooray!

1. Back on her cradle
Port side boot stripe applied
Worker applying the starboard side boot stripe
Final bottom paint\
Hull sparking from newly applied wax

Explanatory Note: Tania established the actual water line with the boat fully loaded (93,160 pounds) before completing the bottom paint. 

2. Overhead view of the starboard side

3. Aft view
Worker waxing the port side
Note: You can still see masking tape  delineating the top edge of the bottom paint

4. Flybridge viewed from the boat deck
Notice that that access panels are still open on the aft hardtop supports

5. Boat deck - No change

6. VIP Stateroom - almost finished

 Explanatory Notes:

1. For the first time we can see the wenge trim on the queen size berth and view the entire use of the wenge to give the boat a more contemporary look.  Wenge trims the berth, the lower shelf above the berth and upper shelving.
2. Notice the placement of the sconces.  Tania located them to high and too far apart.  We pointed out the error to Outer Reef and they said oops, you're right.  No problem we will fix it.  The bottom of sconce fixtures will be moved down so that they align with the base of upper shelf.  They will each be three inches from the shelf or 21" from the center line.  Esthetically they will look better and be more functional.

7. Guest Stateroom - Finished
Notice the wenge bullnose and wenge top on the two drawer cabinet
Notice also the leeboard lying on the bottom bunk
 

 Explanatory Note: The leeboard enables the bottom bunk to be used as a crib.

8. Master Stateroom looking to port
Awaiting shoji screens
Notice the wenge bullnose, wenge headboard and wenge trim on the berth

9. Master Stateroom
I wonder where the doors sitting on the left side of the berth go.

10 Pilot House - Finished
Great view of the pilot house structural styling features including:
Stainless steel helm
Wenge bullnose
Stainless steel rails
Black leather dashboard
Black horizontal surfaces

11. Pilot House looking to starboard - Finished
First view of the wenge newel post and contemporary stairwell
Notice how the wenge newel post times together with the helm wenge trim

12. Pilot House looking to port
Pilothouse table installed and protected
Completed pilothouse settee with storage covers installed
Drawer installed below settee table

13. Galley as viewed from the pilot house
Newly installed galley sink faucet

14. Salon looking forward
Awaiting settee cushions and table

15. Salon looking aft
Wenge styling features uncovered
TV installed in the aft cabinet
Entertainment system cabinet and components

16. Engine Room looking forward
Coin dot catwalk flooring installed and protected
Fire protection system (red cylinder on port bulkhead)

17. Engine Room looking aft
Coin dot catwalk flooring installed and covered

18. Lazarette looking to starboard
Sliding doors on cabinet over auxiliary tanks

19. Lazatette looking to port
Coin dot catwalk flooring installed

20 Lazarette looking aft

At this stage we are awaiting installation of the following:

• Salon settee cushions
• Salon table
• Pilothouse settee cushions
• Aft deck cushions
• Forward deck cushions
• Mattresses

Predictions: New Friday (12/13) we will see all of the above items installed.  The following Friday (12/20), we will see photos of the boat leaving the shipyard on the barge that will transport it to the freighter.

Then comes the blackout period (i.e., while the boat is enroute).  Friday photos will be greatly missed.

Written by Les.