I must like punishing myself

[billythekid]

I put a level across the back of the boat and made sure it was level so I could keep everything square and plumb. A 1' square is your friend here. from here it was just a matter of keeping things even square and balanced on the back of the boat.

Once I had the bulkhead in I had to shape the gunnel cap cut square for the topsides. I kept the top panels 1/8" lower than the rear part of the gunnel cap to give myself some room to glass and fair.

[billythekid]

once I felt comfortable with everything, I ground down through the primer on the floor give the fiberglass a good bond to the floor. FYI I absolutely hate fiberglassing upside down inside a box. I used some luan to hold some of the panels in place while I filled and fiberglass things into place.

[billythekid]

Once I left the back of the boat to dry it was time to grind in the anchor locker which I was really dreading to do. once I got it dry fitted I layed some mat down to seal it up then I bed it down in potter putty.

[billythekid]

did some little things this week while waiting for some more stuff, started mocking up for the engine shroud, this was the first run. Don't like it, to wide and stupid looking. next run will look better, I already started messing with it again to get it right.

I got the hatch cutouts marked out and want to look at them a little bit before I go chopping holes.

I started working on the console a little and got the access door to fit.

[billythekid]

one more pic

[wattaway2]

Consol is looking great

[Seacraft84]

Boat is lookin great

[strick]

I see you have been busy. Great work as usual. Love the engine shroud idea!

strick

[billythekid]

seacraft thank you



well I decided to take a brake from the console and make the engine cowling.

after the third mock up with some 1/2" mdf I finally had something that I liked.

I transferred from the mdf to the 1/2" divinycell panel to cut the pieces. the front panels were easy to cut. it was the side panels that had angles going 2 ways which became a little tricky.

once I had them cut I stuck them in place and use the hot glue gun and 1/8" luan to hold everything in place.

one important thing that I have learned over the years is to make sure the boat is level side to side. it makes measuring and balancing things a lot easier.


once I got the everything stuck in place I loaded up an empty caulk tube and squirted some dynaglass into the joints and stuck a layer of mat and tape to the joints.

[billythekid]

I decided to cut the anchor locker door in bow.


one tool that I haven't really talked about is the air saw. it is amazing tool to cut tight holes in awkward places. drill a 1/4" hole and let it rip. I have seen them used in a lot of boat manufactures and I see why.