Redwing update

[GaryK]

Trying to make sense of your latest pics. Are you having an engine access hatch protruding from the cockpit sole? Wouldn't you be tripping over it?

[rbgarr]

A different Red Wing

[WX]

Gary, yes it is raised and yes it does make the cockpit sole a bit complex. I really don't want to rip out the whole cockpit and do it again...though it may well happen sometime down the track. I realised that for anyone shorter than me they were going to have trouble bracing themselves while steering and the quickest way around it was to raise the height of the hatch.
I've been working on this boat for too many years now to go back and do stuff again, I just want to get it in the water. Once I've sailed a bit and seen what works and what doesn't I probably won't mind doing a few changes and mostly likely will as I'm not happy with the size of the cockpit. It's too deep. The small rectangular opening will hold the fuel tank.

[GaryK]

Fair 'nough. Just remember to have it dogged down tight, in case a wave floods your cockpit, you dont want it flowing into your bilge.

[WX]

I'm still thinking about how I'm going to do that.

[paladin]

A set of hinges on one face of the hatch that will allow the cover to come off when rotated beyong 90 degrees, with a soft refrigerator door seal all around, and cam lock fasteners on the opposite side....will allow a screwdriver to twist a few turns to release, then lift for inspection, or continue to lift and then remove the lid as required.

[GaryK]

..or for a quick and easy solution, just fasten it with 4 big stainless wood screws, not as if you will be using the hatch often.

[WX]

Gary I have been thinking more along your lines but using captive bolts. I had thought about hinges and clasps but then i would have to have padlocks for when I'm not there as well.
Chuck what do you mean by camlock fasteners?

[WX]

It's okay I know what you mean.

[WX]

Well here's a few photos of what I have been up to. Not a lot of apparent change but that's what you get with 4 layers of paint

Okay the galley, the pump and sink haven't been fastened in yet as the varnish work isn't finished with.


This is the WC door catch I've made. Bit out of focus.


Another view with the door open

[P.L.Lenihan]

Nice to get alot of the painting behind you WX...good boost for the moral.Speaking of boost, are you anticipating getting suddenly and rapidly boosted off the thunderbox anytime soon,thus the beefy wc door catch?

Looking all around good!!


Cheers!


Peter

[WX]

Well, I sorta didn't want it to break

[rufustr]

I understand Gary.

You are very shy and need absolute privacy.

[WX]

An enclosed head was always a given for me. Now I know I could have put a very nice nav station in the space occupied by my glorified bucket and I know the French have been known to have molded a dunny seat into the stern of some of their plastic yachts but for me....I'll have a dunny with a door thank you very much

[PeterSibley]

Lookin' good mate !

[Duncan Gibbs]

'Tis a new form of monk's cell!!

"Yea verily though we sit in shadow of the valley of the farts...."

I hope that's not FLOODED GUM!!

Good stuff mate!!

[WX]

Red Cedar Duncan, only the best for my dunny.
Wots wrong with Flooded Gum? I framed the hull with it.

[chill]

I love the door latch

[WX]

Thank you chill, I copied the idea from a toilet door catch at our local pub. Saves buying one eh.

[JimJ]

WX

I copied the idea from a toilet door catch at our local pub. Saves buying one eh.

More likely you copied that from Boggo Road jail

[WX]

JimJ, you ever hear the wheelie bin joke?

[WX]

The mast begins.



Length 9 metres, diameter at partners 212mm, made up from 8 staves @ 83mm x 40mm...birdsmouth construction. Yesterday was my second day working on it and I have to say I achieved very little. I forgot my planer and had to use Peter's, unfortunately his blades were blunt and needed changing but I kept getting one cutter out of alignment...eventually I threw up my hands in dispair and then Peter pointed out there was a little metal jig for setting up the cutters...UGH.
Anyway, next week will be different

[GaryK]

Thats a lovely head door, WX.

[Larks]

Looking forward to seeing the progress photos on the mast Gary to see how it's done. Here's a photo of Bintang Tengah's boom for inspiration, its been built out of durian using birdsmouth joins

[WX]

Thats a lovely head door, WX.

Thanks Gary

[WX]

No photos just yet but some time ago Peter delivered my mast staves and I stacked them on the shed floor...which made walking around cumbersome.
yesterday I scrounged 4 44 gallon drums and set them up in the shed as my mast bench, I already had one drum and I need one more which I will get today. I've squared off one end of each stave and written the length measurement on them so I can work out which sections of stave will go with which. The next job is to make my scarfing jig and I figure I'll design that around using my power saw. One other job I have to do before I can get into assembling the staves is to build a 2 metre extension onto one end of the shed...my mast is 9 metres and my shed is 7 metres and I want the whole thing under cover. Luckily the required footings and steel posts are in place and all I have to do is add the structure.

[WX]

While we are waiting for the new photos here's some old photos I just scanned.


The timber arrives.



The Stempiece is made of 8 pieces in 4 layers.

After a few weeks of frenzied activity the first frame stands proud.



Frames 1 to 6 now in place. A much younger and trimmer me.

[WX]

Keelson, Stempiece, Chines and Gunwales fitted.


Stringers and the first Transom layer goes on.



The Planking is progressing. The easy ones first. The bottom bow sheets took some real effort to fit the compound curve.

[WX]

The hull is finished and sealed with a TPA based epoxy


The big day arrives! Woohoo!

[WX]

And over she goes.



And that is where we have to leave her till I scan some more. The date of the turnover by the way was 21 December !986...Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be many years before I would see the launch day....still waiting.

[Larks]

Gary those photos are just fantastic! Keep them coming mate, these are definately well worth scanning and posting!

[Candyfloss]

Now that's what I call boatbuilding! 1986? What went wrong mate?

[WX]

What went wrong mate?

I met a woman that said she wanted me and my boat but actually wanted a house to live in.....I mean, how do you do both?!
Anyway it took a while to sort things out and get back on track.

[JimD]

...I mean, how do you do both?!
.

Funny how they don't understand. Glad to see you have your priorities settled.

[Candyfloss]

Ahh, women.