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.