Cabin Top Sneak Peek

Today Iworked on the bulkhead that will support the mast and cabin top. In order to determine the shape of the bulkhead, I used temporary stringers to give me the outline of the cabin. The actual cabin top will be built using plywood and the stitch and glue method. It is multi-facted like the hull which will look nice and give added strength and rigidity. I was able to take the measurements, and then add onto the top of the frame (I'm getting pretty good at scarf joints) and cut it out. (picture on the right)

So you may be wondering if it's the camera lens that makes the shop look like a disaster with stuff everywhere. It's not. For some reason, when I have time to work in the shop, I go straight for the boat. I just have a hard time spending precious time cleaning when I could be building. But it's getting pretty bad. I'm starting to lose tools under debri. I kind of liked the whole mad scientist/ evil genius thing at first but it's probably time to clean it all up and make it a ship shape ship building operation. Maybe next week..now where's my tape measure...

Fitting the Forward Bulkheads

I continue on with the internal framing. To get the shape of the bulkheads, I first make a template. By using cardboard strips and a glue gun, I can make a very accurate pattern in a short time. I then trace the pattern onto the plywood. I then use my circular saw to cut out the basic shape, and then my jigsaw to do any radius work. I now need to fix my circular saw as I somehow managed to run across my own power cord (It was pretty spectacular with a brilliant flash and pretty sparks) I will get the basics shapes fitted and then work on doing the cutout work.

More Bulkhead Pics

Starting to look kinda sporty!

More Scarffing

Since the main cabin bulkhead is more than 4 feet tall, I had to scarf another part of a sheet on. I used the same method I had done a month before when I made the strips for the freeboard extension. It just took a bit longer to sand the bigger area but it turned out really nice. I glued it up and soon had a nice scarf jointed sheet.

Main Cabin Bulkhead

Here's a couple pics of the cabin bulkhead being dry fit into position. The cardboard strips are just there to give a very rough mock-up of the cabin top shape. (Yes, I know the strips are crooked--even Denise pointed that out to me--it's a ROUGH mock up!)

A Handsome Transom

Hey check it out, it looks like a boat now! I think it looks pretty sweet raked back like that. Right now it's just tacked and taped into position.

Missing In Action?

Yeah, Yeah, I know... It's been a long time since I've updated this blog. Life has been pretty busy lately. Besides the usual (kids, little league, wife, yardwork, home projects...) I've been racing "Magic Juan" on Wednesdays which takes up quite a bit of my free "sailboat" time. I also hauled MJ out and re-did the bottom and got her ready for the big 'Round Whidbey race.

The racing has been going quite well. We usually end up placing near the top or losing in a most spectacular fashion (death rolls and spectacular spinakker episodes) The problem with the San Juan 24's is the narrow stern--which means no form stability. As the wind builds, the boat doesn't plane but starts to dig in and roll back and forth. Usually, we can keep it going in the direction we want but sometimes, if the wind really gets blowing, it can get pretty ugly! So this is one reason I'm so excited about Vertigo. She should be much more stable with the wide transom and the hard chines. When the wind builds, I look forward to taking off on a plane, rather than starting to roll as we push more and more water. On MJ, it seems we are hauling when we hit 7 knots, I can hardly wait to see what a downwind run in the double digits looks like!
These are the things I daydream about! So, all these excuses and daydreams...Have I gotten anywhere on Vertigo? Yep. Slow but steady progress will see this project through. Check out the next posts....