Archive for December 2023

I have been frustrated with my attempts to create posts on this site. The issues in no particular order have been the terrible internet availability in my suburb. The upload speeds for the photos posted in the blog has been so slow that the attempts time out. By using my mobile phone as an internet hot spot I have been able to work around that problem but for the times when the phone also does not have internet access. The next issue was Telstra blocking my access to the site. I guess the word “passion” in the title is too much for them. Finally I have been pretty exhausted after days of working on the new build and have not needed much of an obstacle to stop me in my tracks.
You would think that in the month since my last post there would be some exciting progress but alas it is just lots of little jobs that need to be completed before the deck can be painted.

At the same time as progressing glassing the deck I have had to find less taxing jobs to add to the mix as I cannot weild the big sander all day of hand plane all day of hand sand all day. It is quite rewarding to have a mix of jobs that both challenge the body and the mind while progressing the construction towards the end.

My friends at Gosford Sailing Club will know sailing has been cancelled tomorrow due to the 43 degrees C forecast. That is 109.4 in the old F scale so a very wise decision. It may be too hot for boatbuilding but I am sure there will be some quiet and tedious task than needs to be completed.

Winch bases bonded on top with carbon and on the bottom with glass epoxy
Winch bases glassed to the 24 mm thick ply on the angled coamings


Glassing all the deck and over the gunwale capping to the top of the masking tape



Cockpit coamings installed over glassed deck so the inside of the lockers is watertight
Keel well under way
Coamings and aft raised seats completed
Filleting the bulkheads to the deck with epoxy bog coloured with hardwood dust
V berth locker bonded to the hull and a floor cleat added so this section is finished but for the decorative painting
The shelves needed bog on the top side, the front has to be bogged to the hull and floor cleat added so again this is finished bar the painting
The engine compartment panels and cleats are temporarily screwed until the engine install is completed. Fridge front tacked in place getting ready for the foam.
Deck sanding is well under way, me and the Makita sander will be worn out when it is finished. Temporary non skid on the port side as a precaution. Very slippery when wet. Those raindrops on the foredeck stopped work for the day as we had a violent downpour soon after.