Spencer Rendezvous 2011

To all who gather for the Spencer Rendezvous 2011 .... I'm there is spirit.  I'll see at the next one.  I look forward to chatting with you Saturday evening.

Look through my blog.  Make comment and suggetions.  I'll check frequently between the 1st and the 4th.

Me and Violet, my First Mate

Here's what it currently looks like: (the plastic on top is to keep the sun of the insulation board I have on the cabin roof to keep the heat down.  Eventually it will go on the inside)

Main salon looking fwd from as far aft as I can get

One of the two SS diesel tanks.
I got them from a friend for really cheap.

Looking in the above picture, Stbd aft will be the chart station, fwd will be a settee, which converts to a 4th berth.

Port side lower left corner, including where the tank is, will by the galley.  I have a diesel stove all ready to be set in place as soon as I get the cabinetry in place.  Fwd of the tank is the dinette.

Visitors to my Blog

Looking at the stats I have noticed that many people are viewing my blog.  I hope you're following my progress.  I know there's no guest book to sign, but if you could leave a little note in the comment section I'd appriciate it.  I'm not trying to build an email list so don't leave that unless you have questions.  Suggestions from other cruisers or boatbuilders are most welcome.
Thanks

Diesel tank finished .... finally

Today I put the final layer of glass repairing the section I removed for modifying the bottom of the tank.  It's been a long process but it will be nice to have a common bilge flow fore and aft.  Now, only one pump set needed.  With the addition of the fwd sanitary holding tank the fwd bilge area was really to small to be and affective seawater holding area anyway.  Water from the fwd hatch or chain locker can flow over the fwd water tank, drain down and run aft to the pump station. .... Wow, why didn't Spencer think of that !!!

Diesel Tank

Well, I know it looks like just a deck with the center missing but it's more than that.  The shiny spot near the top is on the lid for the sanitary tank I finished a couple days ago.  Also, installed the forward two floor supports.  If any Spencer owners follow my blog you know that Spencer liked to put in bilge tanks.  They used the sides and bottom for the tank and just added ends and a top.  This ment if you got any water in the bilge, like .... da .... it's a boat .... , you would have to pump both fore and aft of the tank.  When I installed the sanitary tank I have it a double bottom so the bilge could drain aft.  Today, I cut the top of the diesel tank and spent the day with my head in the tank cutting out the bottom 3" of the fore and aft ends.  Tomorrow I'll glass in a double bottom for that tank as well.  Now my can flow from the chain locker drains all the way aft to the engine bilge.  One common bilge, one pump .... will probably two or three .... you know, multiple back up pumps.  .... electric, and 2 Gusher pumps

06/17 -- I finished the tank bottom.  Layed 5 layers of glass: 3 matte, 2 roving.  I've done cleaner lay-ups, but then, I wasn't doing it up side down with my head in the bottom of a tank breathing vapors.  It got a little hot and set up quicker than I expected.  There are a few wrinkes, but who's going to see it anyway?  Now I have to grind the lid I cut out and get it put back in place.

Fwd holding tank

08/11 -- Finished all the edge support for setting on the tank lid tomorrow. That will be the last time I can stand in the bottom of the tank. Of course, who'd want to after that. It's a black water tank. It has a double bottom so the bilge water can flow under it. The bilge is common from bow to stern.  --   9 yards of 18 oz roving cloth, 18 yards of 2 oz mat, and 4 gallons of resin.  Would have taken more if I had to build the sides.  They are the hull curve.

08/10 --- Completed the final lay-up of glass on the front and back wall. Cut and layed-up the lid on the work bench. It's a flat surface that I can cover with mold release. It should be hard enough to put in place tomorrow.

This week I'm working on completing the fwd bilge holding tank. This way I can fininsh the main salon floor supports and fasten down the cabin sole. Once the floor is fastened I can start with the cabin interior: galley, settees, dinette, nav station, aft berthing compartment