Second Year
Week 4
Christmas is over and with Tom here this was a very productive week. It started with making a shelf for the hot water heater behind where the cook stove will be. This soaks up a previously totally unused space. As nature abhors a vacuum, cruising boat owners abhor empty space, not that there is very much on the Columbia 38.
Heater shelf behind stove
And the heater in its place but not fastened or plumbed
Heater on shelf
How it looks with bulkhead in place behind the stove, which you have to imagine is there instead of sitting in storage awaiting its time on center stage.
Bulkhead Behind Stove
The grab rails on the cabin top will have matching grab rails below through bolted. The grab rails had arrived in the mail, the interior ones are shown here varnished. I use Daly's Aquaspar waterbased varnish satin finish for all the interior varnish. I find I have very good results with this finish, three coats using a foam brush with a light sanding with 220 grit in between coats. Daly's is based in Seattle and will ship.
Varnished Grab Rails
I set up my lamination table again, lamination not Lamentations, I have no regrets . It is just a plywood panel with a piece of 10 mil Mylar that is both waxed and has mold release brushed on. I used this to make the baffles for the fuel tank. The actual cutting out of the baffles happened a week later but I show it all here for continuity.
Lamination table
I laminated up several layers of roving and mat the approximate size and shape of the baffle. I then used a pattern to mark the exact shape and cut it out.
Cutting out baffles
Here are the cut out baffles in place but not tabbed in yet.
Baffles in place
The mount for the electrical panel was built, all of this still needs to be painted but it is neat to see the panel there. No wires to it but that will come.
Electrical Panel
I have sort of an outside cabinet shop. I couldn't get away with this in a normal year even in California. With the drought and record warm weather it has been easy.
Woodworking shop
And the set up from another angle
Woodworking shop with palm trees
And we have a new year. I did not get to watch any bowl games, they were all on ESPN which I don't get.