Stantion bases installed

Here are all the stantion bases installed.  Safety tubing to follow.  The safety rails will be continuous fore and aft on either side 6 inches above the cabin roof.  You can see the line of the old teak rail, which was removed.  I may install a toe rail just like along deck edge.  Either side of the entrance hatch there's room on the cabin top for a 100 watt solar panel.  Also, 2 winches for sheet a storm jib, or anything else you want to sheet close in.

Stantion bases are coming right along

August 31,20011 ..... Well, it's only taking me a month, but after many hours of cutting, grinding, drilling, countersinking, welding, more grinding, polishing .... the bender finally came in the mail yesterday and I could make the loop .... only to find out that the bender wouldn't bend 5/16 S/S rod .... OOPS, I broke my brand new bender !!!!!!  ....  using the hook part of the bender, heating it glowing red, and my hydraulic press I finally, after two attempts, got a good bend.  I repolished it, welded it into place.  .....  Not bad looking, if I do say so myself.   ....  Now only 15 more to do.   .....  Oh, ya, I still have all the stantion bases to fabricate around the deck.  These, remember, are for the cabin top rail.

My tubing arrived today.  I cut off one length for a sample.  Turned out excellent.  I still have to finish welding the top,  cut in the countersink bolts, and make the re-enforcement loop.  ... and polish the whole thing.  Hey, those welds don't look half bad for an amature.

Stantion Base

I'm making my own stainless-steel stantion base & backing plate, which will be fiberglass embedded on the inside.  No leaks here.  S/S grab rails on the cabin top.  Toe boards will be, as per Hal Roth in "After 50,000 miles" attached to the stantions.  Jib tracks will also be backed with nutted s/s strap and glassed on the inside to prevent leaks.  Finally, I'll at least be able to close in the cabin overhead.
The right tools for the right job.  Thanks to craigslist I was able to purchase extremely cheap an old radial arm saw for cutting the 3" x 3/16" s/s strap.  I first tried using my chop saw.  Took forever even on the 1/8" and the edges were not straight.  Couldn't find a slide/chop saw and got the idea for the radial arm.  This this, if one knows how to use it properly will do almost everything possible.  Boy, Raymond DeWalt sure had a great idea when he invented it in 1922.  http://www.gallawayb2b.com/The-History-of-DeWalt
Then I quickly realized that drilling thick stainless with a battery drill was futile and very time consuming .... so, again CL came through with a never used drill press at half price.  Both of which I can re-sell when I'm finished.  I'll probably use them extensively when I get to the interior cabinet work.  Between the radial arm and the table saw I can have nice clean cuts.
I'm still waiting on the metal for the stantion base tube.  It was actually less to order it from Speedy Metals in Wisconson then to drive and pick it up locally.
http://www.speedymetals.com/p-4482-1-14-od-x-120-wall-tube-304-stainless-steel-annealed.aspx

Companionway hatch opening

Well ... had to take a part time job to make ends meet and keep working on the boat.  I officially dislike work.  It really cuts in on my boat time.
Last several days I've been working on the companionway hatch.  You know, the big opening where you go in and out and hope water doesn't do the same.  I raised the opening of the deck by 4-1/2 inches.  This way if I take water on the deck it at least has to get that deep before coming aboard.  This also strengthened the deck by laying the glass around the corner.  I also narrowed and strengthened the side panels with a corner as well. (see the picture below - you'll probably get the idea.)
Next, because I'm out of resin until payday, going to continue to cut and laminate overhead beams.  I already have the plywood and glue.  I can make one double wide beam per day in one glue-up and cut them separate the next day.



Honoring My Country ... The United States of America

This weekend I honor and celebrate my country's birthday.  I'm a proud American.  I served in it's military and was a proud submariner.

However, there's more to this weekend.  How 'bout relaxing on my boat.  Ya, I know, it's not in the water yet.  But I get really nice cool breezes off the ocean.

Violet sure knows how to relax on deck and keep cool.  I think I'll lose this camera and join her for a sail.

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