Boat Plans Aluminium | Today is the good ole days

Boat Plans Aluminium

Ive  had a good life. My mom and dad brought me up in a camping , hiking, pack mule traveling and eventually sailing cruising lifestyle. I was brought up with the adittude of if you wanted something you could not afford than build it yourself. Want to travel long distances on a Bycycle with an open time frame ..then do it on your own and not wait for a group to hang out with. This simple mind thought has  enabled me to just get things done and keep moving ahead. 

Looking back in time its nice to have all these memories of places seen, things done and felt. Like the time when bycyling through the Grand Tetons in Wyoming at the age of 19 .I awoke in the fall morning haveing just slept in my down sleeping bag on top of a picnick table that night. The morning air was so crisp when poking my head out of this cacoon. My sleeping bag was completely frozen solid from my perspiration during the night. I was a popsicle outside with a warm inside.

I have been lucky many times in my adventures, from close calls from vehicles during my bycycle touring days, my hitchhiking adventures, hiking and backpacking trips to my singlehanded ,and offshore sailing trips. Ive cheated death a couple times or as I like to put it I was not ready to die. So I never gave up and Iam still out here looking around the next bend to see whats there.

 

Today finds me in the Leeward island of Dutch St. Martin waiting for Rachel and our dog to fly in. This is a hectic place for a guy like me, but its very dog fly in friendly so here I wait doing boat chores, some design commissions and ponder the present , the past and what the future holds in my sailing lifestyle.

The past is fun to think back on but it can never be recaptured. I still look back and forth to the present. We first sailed to St. Martin on the Hogfish 24 years ago with rachel and our young daughter Kalessin who was not yet one year old. We spent Christmas in Phillipsburg bay at anchor eating a can of smoked oysters and an avocado . We had sailed here to buy a duty free am radio. Life was so simple then. No email, Internet, GPS , engine, and not very many boats. We had just sailed from St. Barts where we had splurged on a French pizza for $23.00 ! Yes its always been very expensive there. A lot of miles have passed under our keels since then. lots of hard work getting ahead and staying ahead. This we have done as a simple couple not wanting more than we could afford making our kids a part of our rolling stone- vagabond life style. We just have kept on going with the many different opportunities that have come up and have delt with our daughters along the way finding entertainment when young and shore side schooling when older to get them involved in the locals lifes. Both girls have excelled in  schooling both having won collage scholarships based on merit and grades. Growing up with a boat bum like me has not held them back. That was the good ole days.

Christmas Day 24 years go in St. Martin. Looking at a second main Id made from Jim Melchors old Alerts mainsail.

The present brings me to having moved out of the Simpson Bay Lagoon to re anchor off the beach in cleaner water and not so much harbor traffic. I had anchored in a small shallow part of the lagoon to get away from all the mega yachts, and just yachts in general as I keep thinking what would happen if the Hogfish Maximus where to get loose and drift down on a half a billion in yachts. In the Bahamas and other farther flung anchorages Iam used to putting out 2-3 anchors with lots of scope. I call my big fishermans my breaks. Then I feel good about going out on adventures in the skiff. Here there are so many yachts , sailboats ,wrecks and just stuff about there is simply not enough room today.

Right now Iam anchored off the beach in what looks to be shallow water but is about 8 which is shallow for most boats here. Its very rolly and bumpy but I can see the bottom kinda and I could get underway under sail if need be so I feel better here. 

Since arriving here Ive met up with some old sailing mates of ours . Some have gone around the world 

 for the third time since last talking. Our talk now is mostly about whats up with finding work, local crime, the rising costs of clearing in and out of ports and how many f#%king boats are anchored through out the worlds anchorages today. Work is still easy to find if you have skills and work ethic . Local crime is always there , just lock stuff up. The costs of clearing in seems to be a racket now as all these islands are within sight of each other with the locals running their boats back and forth with no hassles but for us and all the day tourists what a racket. 

I realize Iam an old fart cruiser because the growing number of fiberglass huge 55-70 sailboats being run by retired couples that have had no previous sailing experience is overwhelming . These boats are new and are worth from $ 350,000.00  to  a million upwards . By my count I have seen since sailing in here the past two weeks at least 500 + and counting and trying to avoid. Thats just sailboats not power boats .What amazes me , boats dont appreciate like land can so where did all this wealth come from? Wow. 

Now I realize Iam an old fart under achiever. Ha Ill stay simple and keep my freedom.

The wind here is ever present with rain squalls lasting only a minute or two. The locals are still nice and fun to talk to. Eating a huge meal where the locals eat costs  $5.00 with a beer. At the water front bars the food goes up but alchole is still the cheapest thing around. I like to go in the evenings to the St. Martin yacht club bar and watch the yachts go through the bridge at 5:30 opening.

From my observations in life I have noticed that if you really want to show the world how much money you have to spend then you buy a MEGA yacht. A trophy wife are a dime a dozen, a huge house nobody ever sees, the jet you flew in on is parked with the 60 other look alikes at the airport.

 BUT in  a big ole mega yacht every one can see and when it squeezes through the Simpson bay bridge your captain will sweat but you can look down on all the minions waving up at you.

Thats why I like taking my yacht through the bridge .

Milling about waiting for the bridge opening. How would you like to drag down on that yacht ? Ah... Sir I can fix that.

If I anchor 100 away in the same anchoage as these yachts and eat at the same places, er maybe and see the same sights and breath the same air.. Should I consider myself a one percenter?

My skiff is the third one ... No its the white one... No ... What was its name again?

Theyre everywhere! 

Cueing up to get through, I went last... Safer

Going through. I have a friends condom boat on deck. They will be here soon to get it.

Now thats my kind of yacht ! Life is good , three big box wines, grocerys, and the whole crew in a 6 rubber condom boat.

 

Its a bit more hectic here now  but I have some change in my pocket and time to explore the new realitys of the present. 

I do have to confess, I have a trophy wife , and very nice house, a yacht and I do get high once in awhile so no jet ,who cares,

TODAY IS THE GOOD OLE DAYS !

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Wood Boat Plans And Kits | Why are Chris Petterson Flip Pallot and the advertising crew at Hells Bay Boatworks re writing the history of Hells Bay Boatworks The true story behind who is the real founder of Hells Bay Boatworks and why

Wood Boat Plans And Kits

 I feel I have to tell my side of this story to set the record straight. To record in print and pictures what the owner and president of Hells Bay Boatworks, Chris Petterson, Todd Fuller and other employees in advertising with his companys representative, Flip Pallot have not done to date.

Why do I feel I need to do this? Bring up the past and muck around in the present.

I feel I owe it to Hal Chittum for offering me an opportunity to excel in my chosen craft. 

Because it is my story as much as it is Hals and Flips.

 The above mentioned have written and produced 3 videos on the history of the Hells Bay skiff #1 and how it came about and how they, along with it, changed the course of flats boat thinking and history. At least that is what they are trying to make you believe.This is a great advertising agenda because there is a new generation of buyers out there that were young adults when HB started. Building a company image around a fishing legend and the origin of a skiff with the way it was built is a great strategy. But changing the story to suit your agenda is not. Not in todays instant access to information. 

The general story lines start out as true in that Flip was one of the four founding partners in a boat building company called Hells Bay Boatworks. From there it gets very losely told and edited around Flip Pallot with barely an acknowledgment of Hal and Jammie Chittum. I get allocades from Flip for some of my alleged skills and get the association of being the skiffs designer only on Hells Bays Home internet page written up as Hells Bays " Visonary boats designer" yet on this same page there is no mention of Hall Chittum. Here is the old picture of the three of us that my wife Rachel took with Flips camera in Mimms one early morning. Today Its just me and Flip "the founders of Hells Bay." Baloney!

These videos contain many of what I will call miss truths. Calling it lies is too strong of a word for here. I feel that Chris Petterson, Todd Fuller and the other people that work for the Pettersons are just turning a blind eye and dont really want to know the truth. I can say this because they have never followed up on offers of giving them all the written history of HB that I have. 

When selling out my shares of Hells Bay to my Partners the Chittums and Flip Pallot I signed a document that said I would agree to a lifetime of never sueing them over HB and not saying anything that could be construed as derogatory to the three partners. An old southern friend of mine would say "Chris, you will have to couch your words very carefully here". I will do my best.

This is my keep my mouth shut document.

Yesterday I got an email from Hells Bay with its latest news. I didnt know that I was on their email list untill now. Flip Pallot was being lauded for being "THE" founder of HBBWs by them and getting inducted into the Fishing Hall of Fame. Well done Flip. Except you were not "THE" founder of Hells Bay Boatworks.

What I hope to explain and describe in these following words, pictures and facts is how the history of a simple skiffs oringins can be retold in such a misleading way that the true story could be lost forever. By printing one misleading word out of context, leaving out a persons name, and producing advertising to suit your agenda while possibly trying to create a new Brand Name by discarding the original story line and people along the way.

I wont let that happen for several reasons.

The first reason is that I am part of Hells Bays history from before day one. I have a wife and kids that were there from day one watching the company grow with my involvement and commitment to it.

We feel that the story should be told true and straight.

 Second is the simple fact that it was Hal Chittum that got me into the flats boat world back in 1983. 

He also hired me to design and build hull # 1. This skiff became the " Whipray" that started Hells Bay Boatworks.

Hal Chittum brought his friend Flip Pallot into the company as a salesman, company representative and  as a friend and mentor. Hal and his wife Jammie Chittum put up all the money to start HB.

The Chittums are a team. When I say Hal from here on assume both the Chittums.

I want to explain why Hal Chittum should be known as "THE" founder of Hells Bay and not Flip Pallot and surely not me. We all played our different roles that made this simple skiff into a great company.

The last is simple. I feel that you the consumers, the people that feed the industry at all levels should not be mislead. You are all buying into a products history. If the current owners cant tell the story straight now then what are they doing in misleading advertising about how they are building their boats?

This blog will start out with a story of how one word can change the perception of a product and how a very good magazine got into a bunch of trouble with its advertisers for sloppy editorial work....or maybe they just for once wanted to tell the truth.

 

I love reading magazines while my wife does the grocery shopping. I know from past experience when trying to get our Hells Bay skiff written up in a fishing magazine that it was impossible to get into one unless you bought advertising first. So with this past knowledge I read everything with a prejudiced  eye towards the truth. Ever notice why all the boats or products that buy full page adds get all the attention in that magazine? 

It took until we built and had the "Guide Skiff" selling well along side the " Whipray" and the early "Waterman" skiffs that we had spent enough advertising space and money in Fly Fishing in Salt Waters that with Flip and Hals connections they lined up the writer Dean Travis Clarke to stop by our shop to go for a test ride in our skiffs and write up a New Boats article about Hells Bay and our skiffs.

1999 add in Florida Sportsman Magazine. Flip took the photo and did the add copy signing all our names because he did it at home. Thats his wife Diane on the bow with I belive Ted Jurasick poling.

I wish I could write my name that neat.

Hal and Flip had a days events planned for Mr. Clarke. He was a big guy so they were worried about how he would do in our light weight skiffs. They were not sure if he could get up on the tower to pole the skiff. 

They started his days out by a brief visit to the shop meeting me and talking for a couple sentences and then they were off to go airboating and bird shooting. After being out with Flip in his custom airboat and all the great skills he has in running it shooting a bunch of birds and seeing the St Johns river like never before they stopped for lunch in Mimms best Bar-B-Que restaurant.

From here they went down to the Mosquito Lagoon in a back area ramp and show cased our two skiffs.

Afterwords when Hal came back to the shop he said it went so well and that Dean was very happy.

The boat test article that came out is a builders dream revue. I did not get mentioned in it but my designs did. That was enough for me. BUT when the publishers edited it they missed out in not changing one simple word from "THE" to "ONE OF".

By Dean Travis Clarke saying that he had fished "THE" best in the world and the Magazines editor not changing it to quell all the other skiff builders that were advertising in their magazine they were bombarded by Hewes , Maverick, Action Craft and the others demanding equal billing or they would drop their full page adds and leave.

If you have old copies of Fly Fishing in Salt Waters look at the issue right after this review. Sheesh so much grandstanding and full page adds.

Thats why when FFSW published the article by Jan Vogt on the new flats fishing boats all of the advertising manufacturers had to be mentioned along side the Hells Bays new Whipray skiff and the new market of emerging technical skiffs. At that point the other builders were just trying to figure out what we were up to. The only one that has is Scott Deal and his Maverick HPX. Action Craft has always been doing fine in their own market niche.

Ive passed on this tale of Hells Bays history to show how one word can be used to convey a thought. So maybe Chris Peterson and Flip Pallot believe that Flip really is "THE" founder of Hells Bay.

I dissagree.

In todays instant world of Internet news and information anything you say or do in print or pictures that is in social media is pretty much for all to see. By just writing this blog post today with prominent peoples names they will show up online pretty close to their home Google page sites within hours.

This is why I try to "couch" my words carefully when talking of others. 

 The fact that Chris Petterson, and Flip Pallot have decided to erase the name of Hal Chittum from the companys home page on its internet site have confused me. By leaving bits and pieces of old Hells Bay Boatworks past advertizing jargon text in its home page and then editing out Hal Chittums name in this and the photo of the three of us standing behind our Whipray skiff to me is embarrassing for Chris Peterrson and quite naive.

By going back 10-12 pages when Googling any of the three founders names its the three of us being talked about in others blog pages, group sites, magazine and newspaper articals.

Today its now just me and Flip on Hells Bay Google, no Hal Chittum. Its gotten so that all kinds of people that are new to Hells Bay on the Internet just think of the old Hells Bay as just Flip and I. All journalist, blog writers and Magazines shame on you for not researching this better. It is bad for your reputation to just copy from the letterhead.

Let me tell you its very far from the truth.

See.. It was Hal Chittum, Chris Morejohn and Flip Pallot. Originally.

 

After I sold my shares of HBBWs to the Chittums they sold HB. The new owner of HB , Brian Brodrick dropped my name from the companys history too!

Heres the HBs new company brochure after I sold out. Its just Hal and Flip now.

When you do this kind of editing for leaving the fold or not being part of the team anymore I feel it just shows your past customers and future ones what kind of people you really are.

I observed this kind of behavior with my daughters during their teenage years amongst other young girls. Very mean and vicious behavior against my girls for not wanting to be like rest.

Sad to see this going on today with adult men. 

When Hal Chittum hired me to start and run HBBWs he paid me a wage of $20.00 an hour for my labour to be kept track of by me along with the Chittums offering me a 24% share in the company. It took them over a year to get me the share stock but I did get it and thats what I sold back to them when I left. I kept track of all the companys employees times and all expenses. This information I faxed back and forth for the first year daily to Jammie Chittum in the Florida Keys. Jammie wrote all the checks. I have all the faxes and info today.

The Chittums paid my salary and all expenses when on the road during boat shows or when smoozing clients. I felt they were my bosses and clients at the same time. I had to build the boats and get things done to make sure their money was well spent.

I always looked at the relationship between the Chittums and I as they owned the majority stock so held the cards, I had the knowledge, skill and drive to build and run the shop, and that Flip was always to be looked at as Hals buddy that had the TV show and the following that would bring the people to OUR HOUSE  to buy. I have borrowed Flips term. I like it. 

Hal and I had in past years talked tons so we had a very good rapore together. Flip I barely knew.

When we went to boat shows I drove the skiff out by myself to Texas and set up the pool and booth on my own. Hal and Flip flew in and never lifted a finger. This I expected as Hal was running the show, I was the worker bee and Flip was the honey along side our skiff to lure the customers to our booth. This went on for my entire time I was at HB.

In the early stages of HBs advertising Flip wrote some of our copy. I was busy building the skiffs to make payroll and keep things flowing. The Chittums were living in the Florida Keys building other HTCHITTUM stores.  The first HB brochure was written by Hal in the Florada keys and sent up to me to mail out to anyone that called for a brochure or came by. We brought this brochure to our first boat show in Huston.

Hal goes on to talk about our new company and the three of us. He is listed as the founder of Hells Bay in the first line. I wish this could be shown clearer. The Whipray is listed for a bare hull ready to rig for $9,600.00 . Hal goes on to describe our companys goals and what we were all about. All the skiff drawings are by me with my ideas at that point for what was to become the Waterman line of skiffs. Hall does a whole page on his mothership idea plans. The date is October 3rd 1997.

Just after I had finished building the Guide and its molds with the HB crew Flip sent this phamplet by to be sent out to all the people who were on our mailing list. By then a few hundred. When my wife Rachel read this she flipped out. She was pissed. I was disappointed. For me it was sad to see a man who had almost nothing to do with a design and the day to day process of engineering and building of our skiffs to say "Chris we need a big Whipray for the guides to use" and then claim to have designed it and the Whipray too.

In this brochure it goes on to contradict what Hal says in our first brochure to say "that we had met  quite by accident to build two skiffs that he had designed"! This story line trend continues to this day in The Hells Bay videos. The most significant thing that Flip says in the #1 hull skiff story video is that he wishes that skiff could not tell the stories it has heard. If it could it would have flipped the three of them out of it for so many fish tales. If you have one of these brochures they should be very rare.

I felt at the time to just keep quiet and keep things rolling. I had a family to feed, a new boat to build as our future home and wanted to just get on with it. I said no more of Flip thinking hes going to say he designed the skiffs to Hal. When someone claims to have helped design and develop the original Maverick skiff with its deep vee. What does it mean. The hull was a knock off of someone elses design and labour. The deck is pretty simple. So what actually was the involvement? What type of carpet to use, to make the hatch channels drain in to lockers.

Lets get real here. When I say Ive been involved in a boats design and build it means Ive got drawings on paper, dust on my pants and I am itchy.

Over the years Flip has told the story of how Hells Bay started by using the under a tree we got together and decided to build three skiffs for our shelves story line. Well Flip does have big trees in his backyard drive way. But it all started in his garage with he and Hal asking me to design and build an interior for an ultimate john boat. Im the guy that talked them into the Whipray. Flip was there because he and Hal were friends, they had always talked boats and Hal thought of me as the go to guy. Thats why he called me, not Flip.

I at the time wanted a good job, a bigger sailboat to be built by me and an escape time to get me and my family back out on the sea. Hal Chittum provided me with this opportunity, not Flip Pallot.

This thing that Flip keeps bringing up about the three of us wanting a skiff for each of us is so out there. I had two young girls and a simple sailboat that we lived in and no car. What in the world would I want with a flats fly fishing skiff in my life. Plus I can build what I want on my own, especially a 16 375 lb skiff.

Please somebody at HB edit and research Flips stories.

Selling my shares of Hells Bay back to the Chittums took almost a year of back and forth. It was not a fun process for me. During my time at Hells Bay on many occasions I asked my partners to just let me give back my shares and let me go on my way. For me the behind the scenes dynamics, working hours and dealing with employees was too much for me at times. They always insited that I not do this and tried to find a ways to help me in my work load. 

By keeping my shares and eventually selling them back to the Chittums I made a bit of money which enabled me to buy my land in the Bahamas and get ahead. I will always be thankful to all three of them for this.

 But I did earn my shares.

The first video of Flip talking to Chris Peterson about How Hells Bay came about is painful for me or any of my family to watch. Mostly for Flip as its plain to us he looks very uncomfortable in it trying to please his boss. But he does mention Hal Chittum briefly. I have already gone over all the miss truths and discrepancies In a past post. Basically embarrassing to me, Chris Petterson and crew for producing this video with no back ground check or veting. 

The #1 skiff story video is part fun to watch for me and painful again to see the bad editing and Flip so uncomfortable trying to remember the past. Here again he just barely mentions Hal Chittum again.

I loved seeing my old skiff build flying along. Iam dismayed when Flip says it was all broken to pieces when being towed across the Gulf Stream. Sure looks good to me. Show me where all the pieces were put back together. Again he talks about us and the three skiffs. Sheesh ... Move on Flip. He talks about my Americas cup boat knowledge. That reference came from 50 boats on when we were trying to build the platinum skiff using Vacume bagging for the first time. An Americas cup designer gave us the materials and layup schedule for these three skiffs. It was a total failure. Flip got way ahead of the story line there.

The drawings shown in the video were all drawn by me. I gave them to Chris Petterson as a thank you for putting my name back on the Hells Bay Letterhead. The pictures too of building the skiff under the tarps.

Flip uses his standard two hands together veeing down to try and describe how he was part of the Whiprays design process using the word cleaving again as he did in the first video. What he really was looking for when the three of us met in his garage leaning over his aluminum john boat was a really nice water tight interior for his flat bottom aluminum banger of a skiff. 

If you dont believe me ask my wife or Hal Chittum, they were there.

The third video out called " Uncharted" is a wonderful picture. It brought tears to my eyes seeing my old skiff, listening to Flips narration and the images shown of south Florida. Its a great story that Flip tells in his classic way. I loved it. And to think that a skiff I designed on the table in my 32 yawl and built under a tree and plastic tarp could change an industry, my life and my familys for the Better and have touched so many lives. Bravo Chris Petterson, the cinematographers and Flip Pallot for such a good feel good picture.

This picture is about Flip and his lifes story. Its produced by the company he represents and they get his good will and vibes by being associated with him and it. Good business there.

Hal and I get our two seconds in as being Flips partners in his search for the quest of freedom.

You have to know that we were as we are not named, only by assumed knowledge.

This is the kind of advertising that you can do to create a great name brand. Fishing legend, and a product that started out as a game changer. All bought and paid for after all the hard work was done.

When My name was dropped by Hells Bay when I left I was off sailing the Atlantic with my family. At the time I thought it was immature. I knew that the new owners were going to have their hands full without me being around for the basic simple advice and knowledge that I have of building boats.

The rest is history.

What Chris Petterson and all of you should know is that what made HB work was that the three off us brought three different qualitys and skills to the table when starting Hells Bay.

Hal Chittum brought good buisness knowledge, lots of contacts in the industry, a drive and quest to build the best and the cash backing to make it work as long as I could do my job.

Hal brought Flip Pallot into the fold as his friend, with the savy knowledge that Flip would legitimize our little boat with his name once I got the final molds built and skiffs going out the door. 

Flips job was to be the sales man. As it turns out Flip still is the sales man. Hes one of the draws that gets people in the door. But I still feel its the way the skiffs are built and how they performed that really made it all work. It just needed all three of us to get the word out there.

My job was to make it all happen on the shop floor. As it turned out I became the salesman too along with a lot of other things that drove me nuts at times. Anyone that bought the first 320 boats that were built look at your bill of sale... Most likely 2/3 rds  of the skiffs were sold by me. 

 After sailing about the Atlantic I ended up years ago in St. Augustine Florida. Hal Chittum was Abuilding his latest skiff down the road from where I was to be building a large racing multihull. We had not talked since I left HB and I got my lawyer to talk to his so we could settle out and we could move on. 

I like to move on, forgive and start over if possible. Hal did not know I was in town. I walked into his shop and tapped him on the back. He turned around and gave me a huge hug lifting me off my feet.

All was as before, we spent hours going over his new boat design. He told me I was the smart one to get out clean. We have since then talked via emails now and then. 

I have not talked to Flip personally since my last year at HB. 

It would be great if the three of us could all sit down together and tell stories of the early years. But Iam afraid that it will never happen. Iam willing.In the mean time I will be correcting Chris Pettersons redirection of his vision of what really came about as he goes along in this blog.

Flip Pallot was there at the beginning but not as the single founder of Hells Bay Boatworks.

Chris Petterson, be a stand up guy and put Hal Chittums name back on Hells Bay Boatworks company letter head history and lets all move along.

And get a better editor. Its " ONE " of the founders of Hells Bay.

 

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Wood Boat Plans And Kits | COMANCHE FIRST SAILING VIDEO OF WHAT IS SUPPOSEDLY THE FASTEST MONOHULL

Wood Boat Plans And Kits

I confess that I have mixed feelings about Comanche, the new Maxi designed by Van Peteghem Lauriot Prévost (VPLP) and Guillaume Verdier: It looks enormous, not only a big sailboat but a huge sailboat, incredibly beamy and needing a very numerous crew. Anything but elegant to my eyes. I like monohulls but I have to admit that if Comanche is the way to go in what regards race monohulls, I find much more elegant the maxi trimarans, that are even faster.

On the video we can see how fast the boat goes downwind but also how surprisingly wet is and not even on big seas. I would have expected a 100ft racer to be less wet.

I cant wait for the next Sydney Hobart where Comanche will measure forces, in a race that is not predominantly a downwind race, with some of the fastest Maxis. I have no doubt that the Comanche is the fastest monohull downwind, but in what regards racing upwind in nasty seas, I have some doubts. Thats why I think the next Sydney Hobart will be so interesting

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Wooden Boat Plans Australia | Super structure metal work is finished

Wooden Boat Plans Australia

Tomorrow morning, before I take off for work, Im going to spend an hour or two so I can clean and organize the shop now that the metal work is completed. Im ready to prep the super structure for paint so I need to put away all the tools Ive been using to do battle.

Im a little blown away with how long it took to get the metal work completed. I did have a major set back in that the rough openings for the windows were cut for a four inch radius, and the windows are built using a six inch radius. There are 17 windows in the super structure and the repair consisted of me using my plasma cutter to cut out the 68 corners out of the existing rough openings. I then cut 68 new radius corners and welded them back in to the openings. The windows in the salon were easy as they were all square. The windows in the pilot house were a bit more of a challenges as they are all parallelograms, and required a little bit of noggin work to get the angles along with the radiuss correct. But, the window openings are now correct and all the widows fit the way theyre supposed to. Along with repairing the window openings, I added 60 or 70 more tabs to the window openings to bolt framing lumber to. 

 

 

 

 

 

Another job I got finished was fabricating the Tabernacle for the mast. After some indecision and talking with some other builders, I decided to go with a six inch mast. The primary function of the mast is going to be used to hoist my skiff to the roof of the salon. I am also going to have my radar mounted on the mast, and some lights and antennas. My long term plan regarding the mast is to be able to use it for a future para vane rig, and at a minimum, a flopper stopper rig. The Tabernacle is built out of 1/2" stainless steel. The pins used to hold the mast to the tabernacle are 1.25". The tabernacle is centered on frame #13. The tabernacle also has a doubler plate that it sits on and by doing some additional framing and reinforcing, I am spreading the load of the tabernacle to two additional frames, #14 @ # 12 . The bracket that will hold the para vane pole is also connected to frame #13 with solid 1/2" plates. I increased the flange thickness on # 13 to 5/16, and all is a continuous weld  were the reinforcing occurs. Two frames aft of the main para vane bracket, sits another bracket for another pole that will act as a brace for the main pole. The bracket for the brace is also connected to the frame with 1/2" plates. To connect the stays and shrouds, I welded 1/2" stainless pad eyes to frames.  I have two shrouds on each side, and one fore stay. I dont know if Ill ever use a para vane rig, but I do know Ill use flopper stoppers while at anchor. I had an engineering friend of mine give me some advice with beefing up the structure, and I feel good that I have things beefy enough. A fair amount of time and fabricating went in to this part of the boat. Because I will have electric winches for the mast/boom, radar, and some lights, I welded a 1.5" stainless nipple next to the tabernacle to run the mechanicals. I positioned the nipple so that  I can bolt a 6"x6" splice box to the tabernacle gusset, and use a grommet to make a water tight seal to the nipple. Ill use good quality cord grips to bring the various feeds out of the splice box.

The other job I  did was increase the width of the door at the salon to 32". Ill be fabricating the aluminum door, so I feel OK with the increased size. I plan on  having at least two dogs in the door to help hold it fast. Along with being weather tight, I want a door that will keep the thieves out.

Im using composting toilets on board and each one of those requires an 1.5" vent. I made those vents out of sch. 40 stainless. One is welded in to the soffit above the salon, and the below deck vent is welded in to the front of the wheel house.  Ill use PVC to connect the toilets to the stainless stubs I welded in the hull.

We have a shower for the cabins below deck, but due to the size of my posse, I felt it best if we had another shower on board. The easiest place to do this was on the aft deck in the port side corner of deck on the salon bulkhead. This will be a hot/cold shower. I fabricated a stainless shelf with a lip on it to retain soap, and a bar for wash rags and to hold back shampoo bottles.

I installed a 4" stainless vent for our 230volt clothes dryer.

On the aft salon bulkhead on the aft deck the fuel fills and vents reside. There is a two inch fill on both the port and starboard side. Next to each fill are the vents for the two port side tanks and two starboard tanks. The fill and vent pipes are welded in place. I really need a box around each set of pipes, similar to what Peter did on Koala ( now Kame Hele... not sure of the spelling). I have a little bit of time left where I can fabricated these boxs, and I might try braking them over the work bench. If not, my neighbor will do it on his press brake.

Outboard of the fill and vents are the two three inch vents for the lazzarette. These are weld in place.

I welded the six inch vent intakes for the master cabin. These vents are in the foreword wall of the wheel house.

To get up on the the roof of the salon, Im going to gain access via the wheel house side deck. Because of the raised pilot house, a five foot tall ladder is all that is needed to get on to the roof. I fabricated and welded some brackets to the salon wall to pin the removable ladder to. Its hard to describe it now, but because of the bulwark, and how I plan on working the salon roof hand rail, this will be a safe, secure way to get up on to the roof. I was going to get fancy and use a torsion spring to have the ladder self stow up on the roof, but my short time frame killed that idea and I decide to stow the ladder on  stainless post welded to the front of the wheel house. The forward  rake of the wheel house windows along with the almost 5 distance to the Portuguese bridge will allow all to pass by this area without bumping the ladder. It will make more sense once the super structure is welded to the hull.

Because I moved the aft salon wall, I had to cut the panel that extends down the salon line towards the aft deck. One of the boarding doors conflicts with this panel, so I cut it to fit. I gave this cut a nice looking radius where it meets the aft deck roof. It was important to me to keep some protection of the aft salon wall at this area, so we still have an inside corner where I cut the panel to accommodate the boarding door. Because both the port and starboard side panel are 3/16 material, I decided to treat each edge with a 1/2" stainless round bar. The round bar treatment should come in handy on the side where the boarding door is as this area will get some abuse. Hopefully, the stainless round bar helps with decreasing my  maintenance painting. Every exposed, exterior edge on board, has a 1/2" stainless round bar welded to it.  

I used 70 lbs of .035 welding wire to build the super structure. Im not for sure, but I think I drilled darn near 500 5/16 holes for bolting framing lumber to the steel frames. I might have drilled more holes, but Im going to order 500 2"x1/4" carriage bolts, nylock nuts and washers and see how that works out. 

As of today, my paint schedule is going to be blast the metal followed by two coats of epoxy primer. The inside of the super structure will get two more coats of Alkyd Enamel, then the framing lumber gets bolted on followed by spray foam. The roof of the super structure will get blasted followed by two coats of epoxy primer then three or four coats of Acrylic Urethane. Ill probably put a non skid on the roof, but that wont happen until after launch. The outside of the super structure will get blasted, two coats of primer, two coats of high build primer, fair ed, more primer to seal the high build, then top coat with three or four coats of Acrylic Urethane.

The last job I did to get the super structure ready to begin paint prep was to have my daughter and her friend Olivia walk around on the roof so I could fix the six or seven areas that were "oil canning". All that was required of that job was to find the offending areas, then weld a 1.5" flat bar between the longs and pull the roof sheathing down and weld it to the flat bar. Pretty easy job, but it still took us about three hours to wrap it up.

As anyone can imagine, Im glad to have this part of the job behind me. Paint and paint prep is going to be nasty, but I can now see the bitter end. Maybe by early October, Ill be able to post some sort of smiley face as I should be starting to take the front of the barn off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Boat Plans Arch Davis | Ive started painting the super structure

Boat Plans Arch Davis

The interior of the super structure is painted and once again Ive discovered the hard way just how big a boat this is.

To begin, I am changing the paint schedule. After speaking with a commercial boat yard, they have me convinced to  only prime the interior of the super structure. The interior metal will get covered with closed cell spray foam then the liner will go over that. There is nothing such as UV or physical abuse that is going to break the primer down, so a top coat of paint is really not needed. I gave the interior a thorough blasting and applied three coats of epoxy primer.

Because I  have to weld the super structure to the hull, I taped off the the bottom edge of the metal so I will not have to grind away the primer later. Having the prime being burnt off by the welding is not only nasty, it can lead to the  primer gas mixing with the weld shielding gas and cause a defect in the weld. Porosity of the weld would be one example of a defect of this nature. Taping the joint is a heck of a lot faster and easier vs grinding.

Because paint over spray is not an issue with the interior, I decided to do this area first. Acting on the advice of some experienced paint people, I have taken a different approach to painting this part of the boat vs the hull. When I painted the hull, I blasted then primed, then started doing my fairing and filler work. The paint guys talked me into blasting the joints I want to do filler work, applying the filler, then blasting the rest of the metal then priming. Doing the work in this order will save me time as I will avoid some scuffing. This order of work will save me the most time on the roof. I  have a few areas I want to do some filler work on so I blasted those areas clean, and applied some filler. The filler work Im doing on the roof is more for function than for aesthetics. Ill sand those areas smooth, blast the rest of the roof, apply two coats of primer, and within the 72 hour chemical bond able time limit, Ill top coat the roof. No scuffing will be needed, and the more reliable chemical connection between primer and top coat is achieved.

The sides of the super structure is the area that everyone is going to see. For the sides, Im blasting all the joints and welds I want to fill over, then Im applying filler. Ill sand the filler smooth, blast the rest of the sides clean, and two coats of epoxy primer. While the primer is still hot, Ill apply two coats of sand able high build primer and long board that coat smooth. I know Ill be doing some more filler work on top of the high build, but thats  to be expected to get a nice finish. Once Im good with the high build surface ( my version of good is different than a professional body mans version). Ill spray another coat of primer to seal the high build, then top coat with my off white Acrylic Urethane. At this point the paint will be finished, and the list will be that much smaller.

Ill be posting updates as I work through the roof and sides.

The move to the launch site continues to get pushed back further. October seems doable, but early November seems more realistic. Once the paint work is finished, there is still work to be done here in the shop that will make the launch site assembly go faster. There is really no reason to slow things down by getting in a hurry. This is a big ass ed job, for one man to do by himself, and the time it takes is going to be the time it takes. I can only hope that the crap weather holds off until I have her dried in at the launch site, but Ive worked my whole life out in crap weather, so Im not to worried about me. I just dont want to compromises any work on the boat nor cost myself extra money.

Ill have the roof blasted and primed this weekend, and if all goes well, well have a off white roof to look at come Monday evening or Tuesday morning.

 

Cheers

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Boat Plans Canada | Fuel system is complete

Boat Plans Canada

The fuel delivery end of the job is complete with the main engine and generator connected to the day tank. It was kind of anti climatic as I screwed down the last hose clamp, and realized I have no more work to do on the fuel system.

I installed check valves after the manifold. I was worried that one engine might try to pull fuel out of the other engine. I spoke with a few diesel mechanics, and all agreed that check valves would not hurt and were probably needed.

The line supplying the main engine after the manifold is 3/8" coast guard rated rubber fuel line. The return line from the main engine is the same rubber line only in 1/4". I had JIC fittings crimped on the fuel supply line for the main engine and used push on connectors for the returns.

I routed the supply and return for the main engine through the engine bed. I used a hole saw to create the bores, and then used 1 1/2" rubber grommets to pretty up the bore and prevent any chaffing of the lines. I used the same detail on the generator supply and return

The line feeding the generator is 5/16 coast guard rubber fuel line,and the return line is the same 1/4". I had to bush the return line up from 3/16 @ the generator return port. The fuel supply line on the generator is a push on connector as the generator manufacturer uses the Banjo style fitting at the fuel inlet.

The 1/2" electric priming pump looks as if it is not going to work. I got the pump to prime with a 5 piece of brake line and a bucket of fuel. However, in the real world, the pump will not pick up the fuel once I have it installed and it has to lift through the fuel filter, pipe network, valves and four feet of lift. I have to re visit the electric priming pump and get a model pump that can handle the lift and friction loss Im placing upon it.

All the return fuel lines enter the tank at return manifold.

While both engines could be fired now, Im really not ready as I want to get the exhaust systems completed for both engines. Im working on the generator wet exhaust first, then Ill attack the dry exhaust for the main engine. Since Im going to be doing the generator wet exhaust, I need to finalize the wiring in the lazzerette and finish sheathing that room. Once the lazzerete is sheathed, I can make the wet exhaust connections and check another item off the list. Im at the point now that I want to be able to scratch these jobs off of the list and not have to re visit them. This order of work is logical as I wont be able to start the steering system until the lazzerete is completed, and the bulky wet exhaust gear is installed.

Since I am now working on the wet exhaust system for the generator, I might as well install the sea chest as the generator will be needing its cooling water. I even hung a spare gasket for the flange connector, and the wrench for the strainer housing. Once the wet exhaust is completed, I can fire the generator. The numbers you see in the last picture is how I labeled the fuel tanks. #2 is the 200 gallon day tank, and #1 is one of the 500 gallon storage tanks.

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Boat Building Plans And Kits | The focus is changing

Boat Building Plans And Kits

By the first of May, I had wanted to be able to call a wrap on the salon wood work, and for the most part, it is complete enough. Doors have to be built, as do shelves for some cabinets and the bookcase, but those items are not going to slow down my progress.

All the water supply and waste line plumbing is complete for the day head and the galley sink.  Im ready for the galley counter tops, which will happen as funds improve this Spring. For all practical purposes, Im ready for finish flooring and appliances in the salon and wheel house. The flooring will be installed  closer to launch as I dont want to have to protect it.

I got a little more precise on sizing the air conditioner for the wheel house and salon, and feel comfortable that one unit will do the job. This marine air conditioner will reside in the lazzarette, and one six inch, insulated duct, will feed both rooms. The duct runs under the Settee, behind the notched range cabinet, through another cabinet, then under the wheel house Settee. Believing that return air was important to making the system work better, I  managed to squeeze in a six inch return air duct ( non insulated silver pipe). In a perfect world, I would have preferred to have the return air inlet as high as possible and further away from the air register. The best place I could make work for the return air inlet was the back rest in the settee bench seat.

The salon settee was more or less assembling parts I had fabricated when the wheel house was in the barn. The dimensions changed a bit on the salon between my mock up and the real world. Because of this the salon table does not fit down within the bench seats any more as I lost one and a half inch. My original plan was to have the table collapse flush with the bench seats to  make the mattress more comfortable. This set up still makes for a queen size bed for guests, and as of right now, Im leaving it as is. A few strategic cushions along with a queen size air mattress will work fine and our guests will not know the difference.

Little things make a big difference regarding tables and seats, and in the case of the salon settee table, the misplaced 1.5" makes the table more comfortable to sit at. My curves by design in the table had made the table feel a fuzz to far away from the bench, but with the change in dimensions, it now feels good.

The propane range is installed, and I did fire it up as all the gas connections are made. I am making one change to the gas line by doing away with the manual valve I have in the cabin and installing a solenoid valve. To close the cabin valve, one must now lift off the top of the range to access the valve.

A solenoid valve with a switch above the range will make life easier. The valve is normally closed, and it need 12 volts to open it.

Another small detail thats complete and makes a big difference is having the valance installed at the wall/ceiling wire chase. Having all the visible aspects of construction hidden behind finish material is puts a smile on my face.

The half bath sink vanity is built along with the cabinet above the sink and another cabinet above the toilet. Doors still have to be built, but again those will not slow me down or take up space with waiting to be used lumber. All the doors left to be built will be built at the barn where I have a joiner, shaper and a high quality table saw ( the barn saw has zero run out along with a super flat, heavy cast iron bed).

 For sure, I would have like to be at this stage last February, but when I step back and look at what Ive gotten finished since landing the super structure last November, Im feeling pretty good.

Cheers

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