Hey Honey, what happened to those storage containers I just bought?

Hey, what can I say, they were just the right size! I think they are intended for a sandwich, but now they are the under deck "boxes" for the hexarachet blocks for the spinnaker sheets, or rather they were the mold to make those boxes. One lasts for two moldings and the others? Well, they did make nice mixing tubs. The next picture shows one of them mounted and the thin wall PVC pipe laid in place as a rope channel. All of this to put the sheets under deck so the crew doesn't end up sitting on them.

We are also zeroing in on that cockpit. The ply has all been covered with 6 oz. biaxial on the underside and is ready to be installed. We now need to get that keel done and the keel box in so the ply can be permanently installed.

The mast is also being readied and the custom designed and built rudder pintles and gundeons are being fabricated. Bob Patison of Neil Pryde has the sails in final design and I have to tell you, I am impressed at the amount of attention they have given our little project. They are worth considering for your next set of sails.

The holidays are traditionally a slow work time so we should get lots of work done on the boat over the next couple of weeks. Meanwhile, I hope all of you have a great and cheerful Holiday Season!

Plastered Cabin?

Time for a quick update. Assuming the photos load the way I think they will, the first one is the keel. The first (notched) fairing coat has been sanded and the thing is surprisingly fair.

Next is the cabin coming into focus. The white is the plaster (OK, it's really 20 minute drywall mud). It's cheap, stiff, sands easily and will take a finish so it can become the plug for a mold. We also learned that if you want that "WWI airplane" look, you need to go build an airplane...didn't look so hot in reality. Smooth curves seem to be the way to go.

The last one is the new rounded corner for that cockpit side. The actual corner was molded over 4 inch PVC and is being inserted under the plywood top and sides. A core material and more glass will be added to bring the curved molding up to the thickness of the plywood.

I wish things were moving faster, but work keeps getting in the way. It normally slows down about now but a job that needs done in time for Christmas has me running. The welding shop is also busy and our welder just got jury duty.

A couple of the new guys are going to start working on the boat yet this week so perhaps the deck will get done soon.