Last day of the year!

31st December 2007

Being the last day of the year, I wanted it to go out with a bang...
A rainy day with showers and mist all day, however something big had to happen.
I managed to drag this side piece along the side of the boat and positioned the stands.








Lined up fine and sitting on the spray rail

Ready for welding in place

This next piece for the other side had to be dragged out with a truck



Then dragged forward using a pulley systen and a van!



Up it went easier with out the mud bath.


Span sets are to secure it in place till I weld it



Both sides are positioned and secured,
I will power wash them before welding as they are covered in mud.
Not bad for 1 person in the rain..
A good year end, considering it was only started November 9th.
Happy New Year!

29th Dec 07

With the lower sides on its not possible to get into the boat other than over the transom.



During darkness, I decided to finish the stiffening of the frames, there were 5 on the port side on over the engine room, and 6 on the first 3 frames in the aft cabin.


5 frames finished


clamping up on the aft frames.

All the frames are now finished.

Boat bending....

29th December 07

The 28th was cancelled due to extreme rain and wind, Today a small lake surrounded the boat.
We managed to raise the 4th side piece on the 27th, now to fit it.
The opposite side fitted better than this one. Looking at the initial offering up, it looked like it would never fit, too high in places and too low in others. Nothing lined up... (to other potential builders.. a word of advise... dont panic and relax, let the boat build its self. The kits are extremely accurate but on this side the boat its self wasn't the right shape to have this part fitted, its that simple. So on my own and with a lot of 5000kg span sets I went about lowering the centre of the boat by over 12mm.. as its only tack welded it will move.



Below: These parts were out of align by nearly 10 mm. I used 3 x 5ton straps to the RSJ frame and a 6 ton jack to rise the lower of the 2 bits.. and yes, the boat came into shape. its really mind over matter.


Bottom lined up, and later the top came into line,


All the straps pulling the floor of the boat to suit the side sheet. Remember the side sheet will not bend, but the boat will.




All the internal lines, markings for the frames lined up 100% inside. if you look closely, frame 10( ST10C-2) will have to come up 5-7 mm.. and once I have the next piece offered up it will..

27th Dec 2007

Cam Update:
It seems that you have to allow the webcam page be a trusted site before the applet will load in XP.
Most who have tried this got it to work after a reboot. (we don't know why.. )!!

Today I lifted and fitted the opposite aft side piece. Same as the other side it went ok as its only 7 feet long. The next bit would be more difficult as I hadn't a hope of lifting on my own..







Enter Paul, saves the day with the necessary strength to move and place the pieces

Right hand side lining up ok.


LHS getting enticed into position by Paul

Ready for daylight welding.

Welcome Disco3.co.uk

Big welcome to all viewers from a post Christyler, a friend of mine for 21 years.
Chris will be involved in the teching out of this boat. Can you imagine what won't be in it... won't be much!..
I would have met some of you as I was co-driver on the lakes run in February. (builder of Mr Snowy)...

As you can see I like the wetter off roading.....

Enjoy

26th December 2007


CAM problems,
The cam is working, however some computers don't load the ActiveX thingy properly and not show the image.
We are trying to address this. It works fine on most pc's but I also have a pc that it won't work on.

Back to the boat today, decided to put in the Supports for the back of the cockpit, its mounted between frames at the rear of the first bulkhead.



All clamped level to the bulkhead


All done and the first side sheet waiting to get fitted.


Opposite side being lifted on 2 x 150KG 5mtr lighting stands.



Sorry for the wobble, ready for welding in daylight.
better pic to follow.

Christmas Day

Lovely Day!

Great day, Santa came to the boys, however.... I still can't find the DTA 67 Engine I asked for..

Steaming Boat.

Beautiful frosty morning.


Picture of new Camera and wireless kit. 9 metres high.


Centre floor Girders fitted yesterday

Daylight Pic

Merry Christmas to all..

24th December 2007.

Today as you can see, Chris & Paul called down and we mounted the Boatcam, its an outdoor cam with a web server built in. It also acts as an alarm as it monitors movement and sends the pictures to me by email. Rather funky piece of kit.

We also managed to fit a new antenna to my wireless so I have better coverage in the whole yard.

Earlier today I fitted the centre floor girders in the engine room.
I also got some other bits and pieces done.
Pictures to follow

HELP!!!!!!! on December 27th I need to move some heavy sheets. I need 5 people for 2 hours, please let me know if you can come.. Tea & Coffee served....

To all the many (700+hits in the last 7 weeks) people looking at this blog, I wish you all a good Christmas. Dont be shy, have a chat can I get some names for the many watching.

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Christmas Looms....

22-12-07


As Christmas approaches the guys are off on holidays. This means that any heavy lifting like the side sheets is out of the question. However, I did keep lots to do for this period.
Today I managed to fit the frame stiffeners to 5 frames for the roof of the saloon (floor of flybridge)



Bending here is simply bent over the knee, scientific NO accurate YES!


After that I also managed to work late and get the 3 frames of the engine room floor fitted with their backing strip. As these are in 3 pieces each they were time consuming but not too hard.
These are finished welded and cleaned.


Fantastic workshop. Mercedes Atego 7.5 ton lorry.
Its dry, level floor and can park right beside the boat as the welder lives under covers at night.
Good working height and easy to clamp to.

Yes to those that know!! and were about to say .. the batteries are disconnected...


As such I am still hoping to get the side sheets on over the holidays. I couldn't get a front loader over the holidays, I am hoping for a load of friends to come some day.

In other news.... soon we will have live streaming courtesy of my friend Chris.
We have Cablesurf Broadband so it will be really good.
once we have it working I will put a link at the top.

20th December 07

Work continues as the driest weather I have seen in ages.
Below a daylight pic of the transom deck. This will be also extended outside the transom another 500mm.




All engine room frame stiffeners and girders in place.


Friday Morning we managed to get all the lower spray rail in position. its only barley tacked for now.


Bow section with the last piece of the centre beam installed.
Note: some grinding and swearing was used in this process.
end result with a good fit.

18th Dec 07

Good progress in 2 days. On monday we got the forward stringers in place. All the frames up to no 14 are now vertical and level, The top strip proved the frames are level.




Also fitted the Girder tops and stiffeners to side and bottom frames in the engine room.


Today, fitted more frame stiffeners and the front bulkhead angle stiffeners.


Aft swim platform supports in place


Better pics with some day light soon.

McGuiver goes boat building!!!!

Sunday 16th december 07

Today, I went mad..... In my wisdom I decided FR 14 was going in whether it liked it or now.
No crane, nobody else but the boys. so the gentle art of "McGuiver" came into play.


Step 1. Load heavy Frame onto truck tail lift.



Angle it upwards and drag it onto the scaffold tower


Roll tower to bow and shove it onto the tops of the hull.

Now, this piece has to be fitted by dropping it straight down onto the centre piece to support it.


Build the above contraption form whatever is to hand. and attach a 250kg wire winch to make a crane (we use these for lifting lighting gear. )


Add a 5yr old boy to press the buttons.. explaining the dangers and how much is "a little bit" ....


Voilla... Dara does a great job.



Fitted like a glove.