new project

Garry, most impressive! I'm curious-are you going to put in a side window closer to the front of the cabin-seems like a blind spot there?
Thanks for the terrific updates-best of luck!

 

Doug,

Easy to miss as Garry is a prolific (or terrific) poster...

The answer was back in post #207 (see below), Garry also made a wheelhouse for a customer if you look earlier in the thread which had the additional windows which 'seem' to be missing.

I second your vote of thanks, Garry has created an awesome thread and it's a great roadmap for anyone building a fibreglass boat, the craftsmanship and attention is indeed impressive, but it also shows just how much work is required to build a boat from scratch.

Well said Doug, and Thank You Garry

 

If you can't source a good cap, there are castable flexible urethane rubbers available - someone of your skillset could knock out a production ready mould in no time.

Classic car guys use it a lot - try getting a new brake pedal rubber for a car which went out of production 40+ years ago...

 

yes mate.

in a previous post i said that i left it blank for now as i will be fitting an alloy sliding window in either side of the wheelhouse.

all other windows are recessed and bonded in.

no blind spot on this boat mate.

 

i have thought about that but to be honest ive never used it before so wouldn't really know where to start with it.

 

the deck is now bonded down on paste in the wheelhouse.

just needs a quick sand down and its ready for glassing over.

 

Watch your LCG. I assume you have enough weight aft to counteract the cabin weight - (and its contents).
Also watch your boat's total weight.

 

ive got the outboard pod to be fitted to the transom yet and its quite a chunky moulding so will add a bit of weight to the stern to balance it all out and with 2 engines fitted it should be ok.

theres not a great deal of weight going up the front as all bulkheads and deck are made from nidaplast sheets so a lot lighter than using plywood.

id hate to think how heavy the boat would be if the bulkheads and deck where made from 18mm marine ply.

an 8x4 sheet of ply weighs around 28kg and a 8x4 sheet of nidaplast weighs about 16kg with 2 layers of 1.5oz mat on either side so saving quite a bit of weight.

the only ply in the boat is in the transom and fixing points for bow roller , bollards , cleats and fairleads.

fuel tanks are mounted just rear of the wheelhouse bulkhead under the big hatches.

main engine batteries will be mounted either side in the rear compartments.

im trying to spread the weight about as i build the boat.

the last boat i built was too light on the nose and needed ballast added to it as it was a bit bouncy when under way.

the ballast sorted that out a treat.

 

not been on much lately as been busy with lots of other grp jobs.

i have managed to get a little bit done on the boat.

main wheelhouse bulkhead is in along with 2 cupboards , 2 shelves , seat pod(needs fitting) and dash upright which needs finishing off.

also started making the door and frame.

the cupboards will have hatches in them and the large cupboard has got a shelf glassed up inside.

the smaller cupboard will have a sliding section on top which will have the camping stove on.















i have also extended the dash out side ways and where i have glassed that it will house some speakers for a fm radio.









not a great deal of glass work left to do really apart from a few small jobs and the outboard pod which i'll be starting in couple weeks.

 

looking great as always, can't wait to see a full pic of her.

 

won't be long mate.

just got a few weeks work to get out of the way then i can get back in to the build properly.

once all the glass work is done then i can start thinking about fitting it out.

exciting but very expensive.

 

have now got the wheelhouse door and frame made.

just need to give it a bit of a polish and it can be fitted.

i will bolt the door to the frame and then bond the frame in place so that it stays flat.

door and frame moulds ready for gelling



both gelled



frame built up to thickness



door having the nidaplast and ply pads bonded in



final layer of mat on door ready for flowcoating



flowcoated out and popped out of the mould



trimmed up







door trial fitted in frame for size





hinge sat in place ready for drilling

 

have been busy working on another boat but have got the door polished up and frame bonded in to bulkhead.

just need the glass and door mortice lock.







also started laying up the rear pod for the engines.

 

Love the way she is looking!!

 

thanks mate.

very slow going at the moment due to funds running low.