Hi ya'll,
Wow, you just reminded me of how long I've been bashing away at this. Not much progress on the quarter berth. Got tied up with other projects: cabin sole hatches (now have 9 hatches to the bilge), head sole remodel to get better access to bilge, secure anchor stowage down below (all five anchors can be securely stowed below), bilge compartmentalization for more efficient storage, transom reinforcement for backstay, basic reinforcement and reinforcement for not-yet-selected wind vane, vertical grab rails down below (stripper poles, at chart table and fwd inboard corner of galley), design/build gravity tank for diesel heater and incorporate into the on-going design of the fuel delivery/polish system (designed, not built out), design and build a shoreline/anchoring system for hurricanes (here in US Gulf Coast, it's an annual problem, this system independent of normal anchoring system, dedicated system), install deck hatch in head to make it look like it is part of the hull ( found a good deal on a cast aluminum Bomar hatch and couldn't pass it up, redesign anchor platform, redesign masthead and some of the standing rigging fittings on the mast, splash guards/dams around the two deck hatches forward of the mast to prevent water and sheets from disturbing the hatch seal, recored the cockpit sole around the binacle (about 2' x 3' patch), water heater bracket (new isotemp water heater came with brackets that are inadequate, so I made my own. Several other tasks/projects. Had to get some problems solved or moved out of the way, to make way for the quarter berth.
1. Opening through the stbd locker hatch had to be sealed off from the quarter berth, but be removable. Don't want water to dump into the berth when hatch is opened. I built up the sides of the cockpit locker openings so all there cockpit locker lids will seal shut with gaskets. Starboard locker now has a shallow tray that is sealed from below; it's removable for access.
2. Engine exhaust hose rerouted up under the quarter berth to under the cockpit coaming, then slopes down/at to the transom. Difficulty there was finding brackets that secured the exhaust hose, did not chafe the hose, and was easy to release the exhaust hose. Couldn't find any, so I made my own. I also had to make my own elbows and sweeps for this hose routing.
3. Mock up of the fore/aft chart table in place to get a feel for max dimensions without restricting the ingress/egress of quarter berth.
4. Move the stbd, aft-most deck scupper to get it away from the quarter berth. I ended up removing that scupper and its thru hull completely. I cut a hole in the toe rail and faired glass so water just drains straight out. Now don't have to worry about hoses leaking on the quarter berth.
Most of the interior fiberglass work is out of the way. I removed propane lockers (port and starboard of the cockpit) and will replace with 10" hatches i designed and build out of fiberglass. I didn't like the plastic deck hatches on the market and didn't want to spend $800/ hatch for stainless/aluminum hatches. That is what I am working at the moment. Prototype worked and am now testing the the first set. Just pulled them out of the mold today.
I know y'all want pictures and I'll take some this weekend and upload them. Until then, I moved all the pictures previously posted to . . .
http://www.bodylens.com/galleryLast upload was back in July and does not include most of what I touched on in this post.
The most frustrating part of all this is that the part I want to incorporate into the boat does not exist or is remarkably expensive for what it is. At that point I decide to get the inferior part or make my own. The 10" access hatch is a great example. I wanted a water proof, durable 10" hatch to access areas of the boat from the exterior. Water tank access hatches were the same. And all this has to be done on weekends and evenings after work. (sigh!)
