our project

[piquet95971]

Thanks for that idea,
Originally it looks as though it was just 6-8 mm holes drilled through the timber.

The steering is all internal on this boat. Meaning an arm through the transom, with two Pulleys screwed to the inside of the transom. The cables then ran through the holes drilled in the deck beams to another two pulleys screwed to the fwd side of the instrument panel and onto the steering drum.
From memory the cable wasn't even stainless, I think it was just like galvanised clothes line wire!!
Before I go much further I will have to measure off the old deck beams to get original dimensions and mounting points. Glad I haven't thrown out the old transom or some of the old deck beams yet. They are only good for firewood and won't burn for long as they are really rotten.
I have changed so much because it was pretty poorly done in all the mods over the years I'm not likely to know what was original from what was butchered.

Thanks again
Peter

[piquet95971]

Temporary progress

Last week I decided that I needed to see some progress to keep the enthusiasm level up.
I had bought an extra sheet of 6 mm ply which I am using as the base for the strip planked decking. I already had cut out and trial fitted plywood panels for the foredeck, the after deck and the engine cover.

So I dragged the already made centre cockpit section,which has been made to suit, glued and screwed together and then removed in one piece and suspended in the rafters of the carport, down and fitted it into the boat.

I was pleasantly surprised that it fitted as well as what it I'd since I have done quite a bit that possibly changed the shape of the boat. A few minor adjustments and it was OK.

So I cut out and fitted all the plywood deck panels. These have been screwed in place with screw in each corner of each panel. They all sit down on the deck beams and cockpit framework reasonably well.

There will probably need to be some minor fairing to get them sit properly before they are permanantly fixed in place. But that's a way off. It looks really good and makes it seem as though the journey is nearing the end.

We have also bought a big capacity wall paper steamer that I will use for steaming the ribs. I will be building it like a couple that I have seen on the WWW. I will start with a couple of the short half ribs that butt up against the shaft log. I can probably steam,bend into place and fit these by myself or with the help of the wife.

I will keep you informed.

Cheers
Peter Sneddon

[screwit]

Peter you can make a steamer with an earn and a length of round round steel down pipe that is caped at the end with a small hol to let the steam get out slowly. the pipe can sit on the top of thr earn with lid sitting on it and wrap the lid with a towl to seal it and wrap the pipe all so with an old blanket and slide the timber in side the tube and bring it up to the boil and wait 20 min it should bend ok.
Ross

[piquet95971]

Saturday 11Feb

Today was a day that happens to all of us. After getting the boat to a stage where it was looking like it was nearing a completion point, it all changed.

Today I unscrewed all the deck plywood, then unscrewed all the centre cockpit sections and removed them ready for replacing the ribs that were damaged when the boat caught on fire sometime in its past. Oh the joy of it all!!!
So we are back to an open boat with only the foredeck deck beams, stringers and the aft deck beam holding it all together.

Tomorrow after finishing tiling part of the kitchen I will flash up the steam box and see how it goes on one of the short ribs. So wish me luck.

Peter

[NPeth]

Good luck Peter. And thanks for keeping us updated on your progress. I share some of your frustration. Every time I go out and work on Grumpy it looks less like a boat than when I started. I can't wait for the time when I screw somthing ON
Keep at it
Nick

[piquet95971]

You're right although mine has always started to look better every day as I started with what looked like a prospective pile of firewood to start with.

I will learn how to post pictures and post some more progress photos.

[piquet95971]

well best laid plans sometimes don't happen.

No boat work done today. Had a lovely day at Box Hill Hospital after a frantic call fom my mum before 0600 this morning. All is well but she is getting on a bit; just 1 month short of 89 years.
I told her that she couldn't leave us just yet as I was too young (at 61) to be an orphan, at least that made her smile.
A bit nerve wracking though.

[piquet95971]

Well ribs are starting to be installed.
Fist thing was to make the steam box (yesterdays job) and it was reasonably sucsessful. Plastic pipe bends a bit with steam!!!!
Steamer turned on new ribs cut to size and put in box soaked for 15 mins. 1st rib bent into place, crack, bugger, start again!
2nd rib steamed for 20 mins put in place bend, crack, double bugger. repeat previous episode 4 times
First thought I could run out of Spotted gum at this rate.!!!!!

Check grain yes its OK. Look at existing ribs, double check thickness 8mm. check new ones 10 mm. so theres a difference.
Get out thicknesser run ribs through and machine to 8mm
Clean everything down.
Restart steamer put new ribs in, soak for 20 mins, by geez they get hot, glad I bought the leather gloves.
Put in place bend , EUREKA, no cracking clamp in place bash with Ashley (mallet) on end of rib to get it to seat properly/nice.
repaet the exercise 3 more times. we now have 4 half ribs installed.

Looks really good. Will take some photos to prove my success.

These were short ones: will have to bribe a mate to come round on weekend and have a go at a couple of longer ones.
So progress on another point is being made

[screwit]

Peter, its a good when you find the problem, I need to make a new stem finishing trim for the front of the little skiff as it was never put on.
I dont know if I should steam it or lamanate it but if thikness counts, the later night be the go.
Keep up the good work sounds like it is coming on nicely.
Ross

[piquet95971]

Thickness is a factor but the radius of the bend is more of a factor.
The radius of the line of the stem is a large radius curve in relation to the radius on the inside of the boat for the ribs.

I would think that the stem trim piece would be able to be fitted fairly easily with it steamed, probably even be able to bend it around that sort of radius without even steaming.

I'd try with a bit of scrap timber or a piece of hardwood moulding to roughly the right dimensions first. It is amazing how much some timbers will bend without steaming
Cheers
Peter