Catch up part 4 - fuel tank

One of the main things I was waiting on was sorting out my fuel tank and exhaust before I stick down the cockpit.  I ended up with a 60l Vetus diesel tank, I was guided by the dimensions of the space I had.

Below is the space between fr#7 and fr#8 (waterproof bulkhead for aft third of the hull) from above:

I needed something for the tank to sit on, looked around and saw the sink cut out.  I couldn't be that lucky that it would fit.  Some minor modification of a cut out and slight trim of the solid wood underneath (the screw lines) and it went in on the supports (horizontal pine on the bottom of the first picture above):

Cut a groove in the doubler on the fwd side of fr#8 (the pine running up and down) so the seam of the tank would not be pushed in) and it slid in fairly securely.  From above:

And the side looking from the quarter berth on the stb side.  I will make the end piece of the bunk and the vertical piece that covers this area removable for access.:

Next thought was how to secure it in place.  I went through a few options then decided to use two ratchet straps which are rated for 250kg each.  I attached shade cover stainless anchor points to the hardwood cross piece on the aft side of fr #7, each rated for 275kg.

On the back I could not use similar attachment as the ratchet piece was two large.  I used two eye bolts which went through the mounting wood piece rather than just the ply base.  I wanted the tank firmly attached to the hull.  Through these I looped the tape back up to the top:

And a final shot in place.  I tied a loop in the tape just above the fwd anchor points long enough to just clear the forward side of the tank.  Into this I put the hook of the ratchet and fed the other end from the aft loop back up the side onto the top where it is fed into the ratchet.  Allows you to tighten it all up on top and check it easily.  On the left of the tank is the fuel inlet, the black middle inspection port and the right side are the fuel intake and return fittings.

During this time my supervisor returned from holidays so we melted down all the filings from when I routed the top of the lead keel:

Each ingot is about 1.5kgs.  I have around 120kg left for trimming ballast or later sale.  Below shows what some look like when cool.

Of course, once we finished with the fire it was time for a beer and a camp oven roast.  Hard work this boat building.

Here is what was holding me up partly, port holes and hoses:

One of the Vetus hatches, worth the wait because through a mate of a mate I got a good price.

So ends the update, hope you enjoy it and thanks to Rik for the hurry up!

Catch up part 3 - galley and head door

Ever since I decided to put in a cassette toilet I was thinking of a  door for the space to cover view from the main cabin.  I don't know why, but a bi fold one was what I came up with, intending that most of the time it would be hidden.

Below is the first section screwed in place:

And the second.  There will be a barrel bolt inside to hold the two pieces together to form the door:

And shut:

I cut a removable piece to fill in above the door.  Removable so you can use the hand hold as you move into the forward cabin when the head is not in use and also as behind it you can see one of the deck vent openings.  I didn't want to stop the airflow.

Then I got inspired and tried to hide it when closed.  I had decided to use the space on the bulkhead for a cabinet.  Below shows how the door will normally be stored:

With the over strip removed (it clicks into catches -  two at the top, one down the bottom):

Cabinet door opened, you can see the catch for it on the top right of the door and the other piece on the frame on the bulkhead:

With the door closed.  I will have a spot for the removable ply piece above the door (lighter piece) on the inside of the cabinet door for hidden storage when not needed:

I also glued in the galley top from 6mm ply with 9mm ply (left over hull pieces) over the top.  I then marked out the outline for my galley sink, and cut it out:

Below is the cut out bit, see next post!:

Next - fuel tank.

Catch up part 2 - head and desk

Inside I moved onto the area where the head would be located and the small sitting desk.  This is between the main and forward cabins.

First I covered in the front of the space, there are two ply pieces with the bottom attached permanently and the next removable.  You can see the cut out for the cassette toilet into the galley space on the left painted white: 

With the head in place.  You can see it pivots around, so if you are alone or the other person is in the forward cabin with the sliding door closed you can have more space with your legs into the main cabin.  Otherwise it points as normal and you make do.  No reading a large newspaper in there!

I then built a seat top which is removable.  You can see the second front cover piece in place.  There will be cushions on top (fixed) and a removable backrest:

Between the galley and the hull is a space I decided to have as a small desk (as per the plans).  This is before, with the fr#4 on the left (fwd end of galley and rear wall of forward cabin) and frame#5 (aft end galley):

Below is with the shelf and inside of the desktop in place, these will be removable for access/fitting of chain-plates:

And the desktop down:

Stored closed which will be hinged.  There will be a front on the top shelf to hold in things as well which I have not cut yet:

Next is the galley and rear door for the head......

Catch up part 1 cockpit - Mea Culpa

Hello all, it's been a while.  I apologise for the break in transmission, back to our regular programming....  School holidays, shift work and waiting on some parts slowed me down.  I also felt like I had nothing to show, but as usual when I went to copy the photos realised that I had done something, just didn't look too different.

The cockpit:

I had previously cut the supports for the seat front/top and put them under the boat.  I'd forgotten just how much prep I had done.   Nice surprise, simple bit of notching the they were in!  Below is the starboard side:

And a short from aft looking forward:

Felt like progress, got out the ply I had previously got (cut roughly to size) and dry fit them all.  The aft end will be closed off at frame 9 and will contain the cockpit drains.  It forms the locker for anything you don't want coming into the cabin (eg gas bottle and small camp cooker):

I then wrestled the ply sheets into place for the seat tops.  These were notched to go over the frames and cut on a curve to meet the hull.  This took a lot of time, blood and curses but they are fairly close. They will have small support pieces screwed into the hull underneath, and strips of wood on top to seal them up.  Starboard side first, should have trimmed it back a bit where it overlaps the cockpit:

Port side, trimmed a bit closer but not exact.  These will overlap the fronts of the seats by about 40mm and have a piece of wood underneath for a doubler to strengthen them:

I was on a roll, why not see what the transom would look like?  Grabbed the  curved beam and notched it into the tops of the transom frame (#10).  Below is the stb side:

And a wider shot, Mr Welsford draws nice curves.............

I got the other curved deck beam for the forward edge of the quarterdeck, positioned it and notched it into the gunwale.  Looking aft from the cabin:

And a closer shot from aft:

Then I pulled everything out again, marking underneath the cockpit floor pieces so I could epoxy seal and paint them.  Below shows the epoxy drying:

And a close up of the cockpit floor with one of the seat tops to the left.  I have since under-coated and top-coated them with paint ready to install.  The raw wood is where it screws to the underfloor supports:

Everything was removed from the cockpit, hence my feeling that I had not really moved forward. BUT, stand by for some rapid visual progress (I hope).  On to the next catch up!