Construction: Week 31 - Salon Framed Out

Progress this week appears to be minimal.  I guess I was spoiled by the last two weeks when lots of stuff happened.  Here's the update.  Note: This is my interpretation of the progress prior to review with Mike.   Expect changes.

1. Aft view - No changes

There is no visible changes to the hull as viewed from the outside.  This was also true with regard to the flybridge/boat deck and hardtop structures so I did not include photos

Progress was most apparent on the interior, specifically in in the VIP, Master and salon.

2. Salon looking forward.  Framing of salon area and windows

3. Salon looking aft.  Aft deck flooring visible through door.

The two photos above shows

• Aft deck flooring (visible through the door)
• Window framing
• Bulkhead for AV cabinet?

4. VIP.  Worker installing shelving with wenge trim

5. Master.  Teak veneer on bulkheads

6. Master.  Teak veneer on bulkhead, wenge veneer on end tables

7. Master looking aft.  Note the cables and wires coming out of the hanging locker to port.

Now to the engine room and lazarette.

8. Engine room looking forward.  Worker installing ceiling installation

9. Engine room looking aft.  The stainless steel engine mounts have a temporary protective cover.  Engine room lighting prior to mounting

10.  Lazarette.  Big mess (as compared to last week).  Something going on but it's hard to tell.

The fact that the stainless steel engine mounts have been protected suggests that engine installation is not imminent.  Further, it is puzzling that the salon flooring and engine room ceiling insulation are installed.  One would think that it would make sense to install the engines before hand.  That said, it is my understanding that the engine will be dropped in through the salon floor.  Stay tuned.

Written by Les.

Construction: Week 30 - Salon Deck Progress, Engine Mounts & Generators Installed

A record number of photos (16) show a record amount of progress since last week literally happening everywhere.  But most notable is the installation of the 16KW and 12KW generators and the long awaited engine mounts, the latter of which suggests that we may see the arrival of the CAT C9 ACERT engines.  That said, I've been incorrectly forecasting imminent engine arrival for months.  So stay tuned.

Here are the photos notated with this week's specific changes:

1. Port side view of pilot house and galley

The photo above shows the following:

1. A worker doing fiberglass work under the forward seating
2. Scupper (oval opening below gunwale just forward of the Portuguese Bridge)
3. Haws hole (round opening just forward of the scupper)
4. Windshield wiper drive shafts (3) along top of windshield
5. Port forward boarding gate
6. Access panel just below and aft of the port pilot house window for fuel fills
7. Bulkhead on starboard wall for galley storage drawers (delineating the salon from the galley)

2. Aft view of transom and aft deck

The photo above shows the following:

1. Rudders (notice also the keel)
2. Hydraulic stern thruster tube on transom (unpainted)
3. Exhaust ports for engines, generators and AC
4. Underwater exhaust (at the "x" cross members on starboard side scaffolding)
5. Engine room entry door frame
6. Stairs leading to the aft deck
7. Door frames for aft deck access gates (port & starboard)
8. Aft haws holes visible on both side of hull (note the recess)
9. Starboard aft deck boarding gate
10. Starboard pilot house boarding gate (opens inward)
11. Access panel for starboard side fuel fill

3. Pilot house area

The pilot house photo above shows the following:

1. Windshield wiper motors
2. Multiple wiring looms
3. Entry to the accommodations stairwell
4. Platform for helm station

4. Galley area

The galley area photo above shows:

1. Wiring for galley appliances
2. Wiring running aft to salon
3. Bulkhead for aft galley counter
4. Galley window frame
5. Plumbing (blue lines)
6. Fuel lines  leading from fuel fill on port side

5. Port side looking aft from pilot house to galley and then salon

The photo above shows the following:

1. Inside view of fuel fill box (white box on bulkhead)
2. Partial bulkhead separating pilot house from galley
3. Wire looms below pilot house settee

6. Salon looking forward

The photo above shows:

1. Workers installing wiring
2. Salon windows framed
3. Starboard side bulkhead separating salon from galley (side of storage drawers)
4. Port side bulkhead separating salon from port side of galley
5. Marine plywood flooring unsecured awaiting engines
6. Air intake boxes on starboard and port sides (trapezoid boxes)

7. Salon looking aft

The photo above shows:

1. Aft door framed
2. All salon windows framed
3. Engine room exhaust fan boxes (adjacent to salon aft bulkhead).  Exhaust heat through grates along the walkway
4. Wiring (all over the place)

8. Engine room looking forward

The photo above shows:

1. Engine mounts for the CAT C9 ACERT engines (503 HP each)
2. Northern Lights 16KW and 12KW generators installed
3. Stainless steel framing over generators
4. Fuel fill and vent hoses attached to tanks both sides

9. Engine room looking forward

The photo above looking forward shows:

1. Northern Lights 16KW and 12KW generators bolted to platforms (enclosed in sound deadening boxes).  Dropped in through the salon floor
2. Equipment trays above each generator
3. Note: The tray above the starboard side will house the Chilled Water AC unit
4. Water (blue) line for Chilled Water AC

10. Lazarette looking aft at steering gear

The photo above shows:

1. Steering gear housing covered with epoxy paint
2. Stern Thruster tube awaiting mechanical system (behind the foam block)
3. Epoxy paint on inside of transom

Now we will look at the below deck accommodations.

11. VIP with worker installing air vents on both sides of the berth (top of photo)

12, Master looking aft.  Hydraulic line visible in port side

There was no apparent progress on the flybridge and hardtop structures.

Recall on Week 28 that I reported very little progress related to Tania shipping two Outer Reefs, an 83 and a 70.  Last week's progress was considerable and this week it appears even more so.  I can't wait for next Friday.

Also recall that I had computer problems last week.  This was due to an attempted scam and my support group updating my operating system after they scanned for threats. Fortunately, no threats were found and I have started SLOWLY to master the new operating system - although I cannot understand why Microsoft moves functionalities around.  Businesses lose billions of dollars while there employees struggle to learn the new system, all of which is unnecessary.

Speaking of scams.  BEWARE of anyone who calls you and tells you that they are calling on behalf of Microsoft and that your computer has a virus.  Microsoft NEVER calls anyone.  These criminals, located overseas, want to you to give them control of your computer using remote access software.  While "fixing" your problem they will install software that allows them to steal your identity, use your credit cards and steal money from your online bank account.  For more information go to www.lab99.com/computer-support-scam-alert.

Written by Les.

Construction: Week 29 - House and Hull Mated

Big news!  The house has been mated to the hull. 

1. House mated to the hull,  anchor ports and through hull fittings

The photo above shows:

1. The house mated to the hull
2. Anchor chutes being cut into the bow by a worker
3. four through hull fittings (just below the blue tape above the water line)  The fittings have been there since Week 26.  I just missed them.
4. Bowthruster tubes

Below is this week's overview showing the house mated to the hull.  In this photo you can see the house windows, pilot house, galley and salon areas and the aft deck.  Notice the framing on the aft deck awaiting the teak decking.

2. Overview of the house mated to the hull with aft deck visible

Explanatory Note: The following is the process for mating fiberglass sections.  This would include the hull to the house, the flybridge to the walk-around deck covers and the hardtop's cover to its support structure.

• Step 1: Sections are glued with 3M 5200 Marine Adhesive
• Step 2: Bolts are inserted
• Step 3. The adhesive is allowed to cure
• Step 4. The seam is fiberglassed, faired and finished

Here are the other photos notated with progress.

3. Flybridge out of mold on floor upside down.  Boat deck not visible

You get a sense of the flybridge's size when you notice the worker on the right.  You can also see the structure that provider the covers for the walk-arounds.  This a separate piece that has been mated to the flybridge structure.   See photo below.

Week 27 view of the walk-around deck in the mold

The yacht profile below shows the hull, house, flybridge with hardtop, boat deck, covered walkways and covered aft deck.

Profile of 63

Here are close-up views of the pilot house/galley and salon areas.  The area to the right of the stairs in the photo below will house (from aft to forward) a storage locker with shelves, GE Monogram side by side refrigerator, another storage locker with drawers, the wine cooler, file drawer and steps leading to the flybridge.

4. Close-up of galley and pilot house areas,  Wall are covered with marine plywood


5. Close-up of salon area.  Bulkhead structure for pilot house work table in foreground and stairwell to accommodation

The next photo shows the lazarette looking aft.  Notice the inner side of transom structure and the workers.  The worker to the right is standing where the stairs will lead from the transom door to the lazarette and then into the engine room.  The two photos below show the open lazarette before the house was mated and the house still in the mold with the transom structure attached.

6. Transom structure  Note the stairs on either side,

Week 28 view of the lazarette before the house was installed

Week 26 view of the transom attached to the house which is still in the mold

The next photo shows the engine room looking aft.  On the port and starboard side you can see a raised platforms for the 12KW & 16KW Northern Lights Generators.  The workers are applying epoxy paint to the bilge areas.  Epoxy is used as opposed to fiberglass as it is non-porous.

7. Engine room looking aft.

Below are photos of the three staterooms.  Progress continues with regard to teak veneer in the staterooms.  In the master you can see frames around the handing & storage lockers and the door to the engine room.

8. VIP berth and structure installed and veneered

9. Guest stateroom.  Lower bunk with two access hatches.  Teak veneer applied

10. Master stateroom looking to port.

11. Master stateroom looking aft.  Door frames visible

Written by Les.

Construction: Week 28 - House Out of The Mold

Reader Note - Article Names:

Over the past weeks I have named each construction article with the Week number and the words "Progress Report."  This is proving problematic when I want to locate a particular item of progress.  Henceforth I will be identifying each article with a title reflecting the most significant event.  For example this week's article is entitle "House out of the mold."  Eventually I plan to revisit all construction articles and update their titles accordingly.

Reader Note - Computer Frustration:

The photos for Week 28 arrived on July 7th.  Hence, this article is now a week late and Week 29 photos were received today.  Why the delay?  For whatever reason Blogger would not let me write articles (which may be related to the next paragraph). 

To add insult to injury, someone tried to scam me by claiming the were from Microsoft Windows and requesting that I link up via the Internet so that they could "fix my problem" (i.e., "steal my identity").  They hung up when I asked for a phone number so that I could call them for verification. I notified my support group and they requested that I bring in the computer so that they could scan for viruses, Trojan horses, etc.  While in the "shop" it received a new operating system and I am now struggling to learn a new system.  Unbelievable.  Please somebody explain why Microsoft moves stuff around every time they rewrite their operating system.  "Who moved my cheese?"

Now to Week 28 progress. 

This will be a very short article as there was very little.  I learned today that Outer Reef shipped an 83 and 70 last week and that may well have accounted for the limited progress.  The good news is that having shipped the boats they focused on my 63 and the Week 29 photo showed considerable progress.

Here's the big news.  The photo below shows the "house" removed from the mold and sitting on tall pylons.   Last week we saw the house in the mold with lifting straps attached.

1. House removed from the mold

Moving from stem to stern you can see the anchor chain hatches, forward deck, hatch over the VIP stateroom, forward seating, Portuguese Bridge, entrance to the walk-a-rounds, pilot house windows, pilot house area, galley area and salon area, aft door, aft window and aft deck.  What you cannot see is the transom.  Below is the house in the mold with the transom attached for reference.

Week 25. House in the mold with transom attached

The next big news involves the flybridge and boat deck.  The photo below shows the underside of this structure on a frame.  Note the rollers on the corners.  Also notice the "stiffeners" (which look like stringers).  The stiffeners enable the structure to hold the weight of equipment and people occupying the flybridge and boat deck.  The boat deck will be holding the davit and a 13 foot AB DLX13 tender with a 60 HP Yamaha engine that weighs in at 1,000 lbs.  Below is a photo showing  the structure in the mold

2. Underside of the boat deck on a frame ready to flipped over

Week 27 showing the flybridge and boat deck in the mold

Stay tuned for Week 29 and the big changes that occurred last week.

Written by Les.

Construction: Week 27 - Hydraulics

The photos arrived while I was giving a talk on fiberglass boat construction to a group of 14 eight year olds who were attending a one week camp on sailboat construction.  When my talk ended, I showed the photos to my friend, Becky, and my first reaction was - - not much happened last week.  Well turns out I was wrong. 

As mentioned several articles ago the Friday photos are like a treasure hunt where the question is always did I find the treasure?  Not this week.  I needed my friend Mike at Outer Reef to put the pieces together.  So here we go.

1. View of the hull - No change.  Just let's us know the boat's still here.

2. House with two lifting straps attach to the port side

This portends a significant development.  I hope to see either the house mated with the hull or the house flipped over in preparation for mating.

3. Hardtop layup completed

Week 26.  Hardtop mold for comparison

4. VIP showing steps on port side of berth along with teak veneer

5. VIP showing wenge veneer on horizontal surfaces

The teak and wenge (a dark wood) will have a satin finish applied once the all the veneer is in place and the "dust has settled."  Then it will look pretty.

6. guest stateroom showing lower bunk with drawer and storage locker

7. Lower bunk with newly cut cover hatch with finger hole and chilled water lines (top right)

At the top right of the photo you can see two black flexible pipes.  These come from the engine room and go to the air handler in the 3rd stateroom hanging locker.  The boat, as mentioned in earlier articles, will have a central HVAC system called a chilled water AC system.  The air handlers allow us to control the temperature in each room.

8. Master SR showing new shelves in the storage locker and teak veneer on the headboard

Now to the engine room.

9. Hydraulic system mounted on the forward bulkhead starboard side

If you expand the photo you will notice two significant pieces of equipment related to the hydraulic system.  The larger item is the ABT TRAC hydraulic reservoir.  Note the filter on the right-hand side.  The smaller item is the hydraulic system's directional control valves.  This system controls the bow thruster, stern thruster, stabilizers and windless.  The pumps for the system will be mounted on the engines.

Also in this photo are the newly installed through hull fittings for the raw water that will cool the engine.  These are located on either side of the door adjacent to the stringers along the catwalk.

Explanatory Note: Diesel engines are water cooled with an internal closed system containing antifreeze.  Mounted on each engine is a heat exchanger.  Sea water is pumped into the heat exchanger by a raw water pump on the engine.  The raw water passes through the heat exchanger cooling the antifreeze and then out through the exhaust. 

10. Engine Room looking aft.

Photo 10 shows:

• Generator exhaust uplift water separators on mounted on either side of the aft bulkhead.  You can see a white pipe coming off the one on the starboard side and running toward the hull.
• Permanent mounts for the Northern Lights 16KW & 12 KW generators. (Note the vacuum cleaner sitting on the starboard mount)
• Driveshaft mounts fiberglassed

  

  12. Lazarette looking forward.  Auxiliary tanks partially enclosed

13. Overview showing teak veneer in the VIP and auxiliary tanks enclose

Last week we were visited by my daughter, Lesley, who celebrated here 30th birthday and my just turned 8 month old granddaughter, Amelia Myrna.

Amelia Myrna at 8 months

During the week the question arose as to where Amelia would sleep when she visits the boat next January.  We quickly determined that the lovely Pack-n-Play that we used in Sarasota and now in Chicago will not fit in the accommodations (as the footprint is too big).

Amelia Myrna in her Pack-n-Play

Outer Reef to the rescue.  They proposed a nifty solution which the call a "leeboard with mesh" to enclose the lower bunk in the guest stateroom.  This is a hinged board that sits under the mattress.  One half pulls out and creates a 6" barrier between the hanging locker bulkhead and the counter.  (Note: See photos 6-7.  The hanging locker bulkhead and counter create a natural enclosure)  A mesh screen locks into pad eyes on the frame of the top bunk preventing "escape."  Absolutely elegant.

Final note: It's taken five days to post last weeks photos.  The only excuse is I seem to be busy all of the time.  Diana constantly asks how did I find time for work.  At this point I honestly do not know.  Good news.  Friday photos (i.e., week 28) are 1 day away.  Stay tuned.

Written by Les.