Motivation

[FParth]

After spending weeks and months fighting keel bolts, broken planking screws, and other deteriorated items I was getting discouraged. Not so much as to give up, mind you, but I wasn't seeing real progress towards my dream.

So I got the bright idea to actually build something. Not anything complex to start with, but something to look at when I need motivation. I settled on building the hatch. T'ain't much, I know, but I feel better when I look at it.

http://www.fparth.com/H28/2002/Repairs/NewHatch.html

and compared to what's left of the old one:

http://www.fparth.com/H28/2002/Repairs/NewOldHatch.html

OK. Back to replacing planking screws.

[Concordia..41]

I'd say that's a great improvement smile.gif

[Dave Fleming]

Frank, ya duplicate the camber in the new one or are you leaving it 'full' till you do some more deck work? Hard to see from either photo.
Jes' wondering.

[ 07-07-2002, 06:37 PM: Message edited by: Dave Fleming ]

[FParth]

Dave,
I duplicated the camber. I kept the old hatch cover to use as a model and measured everything carefully, then replicated it as faithfully as I could.

I'll admit it's hard to see, even in the original hatch cover.

[RGM]

Sometimes you have to do things like this in order to reward yourself and keep up the momentum. Good luck.

[NormMessinger]

Whoaaa! And a mighty fine hatch it is. All ya gotta do is imagine, from time to time, the whole boat matching up to it's beauty one day and "cares will drop off like autumn leaves."

Best to ya.

--Norm

[Matt J.]

Frank, you're right on the money. I've managed to cut a couple of the larger timbers for our restoration project, and have been frustrated with trying to get them installed (timber fastening ain't a cheap hobby). I found that when I took some time out to refinish the boom crutch, or cut a new companionway step, or refinish some of the other pieces, there's a huge rush of optimism...

OTOH, I'm deathly afraid of going too far into a sub-project that may need to get changed later on or get me too diffused throughout the overall project; so I chose carefully what to get sidetracked on.

The rewards are great. Nice hatch.

[FParth]

Matt,
You got that right, it's a struggle to find things that can be built now, because they won't change, and avoid things that will change later on. I spent a few hours duplicating part of the framework holding the v-berth in the bow before I decided that when I rebuild the interior it'll probably change. So I dropped that and built the hatch.

My next building project (after I meet my goal of replacing all planking screws that need replacing) will be to rebuild the bowsprit. I'm pretty certain that won't change! :rolleyes:

[Paul Griffin]

Frank

What did you use in the seams? I thinking of rebuilding the hatch for my boat, and I have no idea what to use in the seams.

Paul

[FParth]

Paul,
I used the teak-colored Boatlife caulk between the boards. Got it from Jamestown Distributors as I recall.

It contracts quite a bit while drying so when you push it out of the tube make sure it has a good crown on it. After it dries cut off anything still standing proud and then sand it down flush before finishing.

I also used this as the bedding compound while seating the boards on the frame.

[ 07-10-2002, 01:44 PM: Message edited by: FParth ]

[Victorious]

I too was getting disheartened by the seemingly endless and big frames beams and planks, so I took a few days off that and got carried away with the smallest of the two coachroofs.
Its very nice to make something pretty once in a while and has boosted morale a lot! :D http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid25/pd8206bbb84937ceb750de10cfb073e63/fd8d1edd.jpg

I will soon take another few days and do the big coachroof and the sliding hatches

[FParth]

Wow, Russell. Those are really pretty. Creating something like that would keep me motivated for a long time.