Ceiling, cabin sole, sum log and new table
I got used to shity weather during weekends. This one was no exception: rain, fog but luckily warm: 5 degrees.
After painstakingly adjusting all pieces of new cabin sole I could finally start assembling. I’ve decided to use temporary screws as indexing points for epoxy gluing. Since there are so many components and alignment is crucial for fitting between frames the floor must be possible to be assembled back to its original shape as measured on the boat.
Temporary screws will be removed after the glue sets in. Normally I would plug the holes with mahogany plugs but I’ve decided to do differently here. The sole will be epoxied and varnished so it might be slippery when wet. I will install brass tubes in each screw hole - this way shoes will get better grip and bilge will get some more ventilation.
Brass tubes for this project are extracted from chucks which we normally throw out at my factory. Originally they were made to spin blood but since we don’t do that - they land in a container and the machine is modified to our purpose. To make a story short: I get them for free and they have nice, pressed collar. Ideal for my purpose.
Each chuck contains 18 pieces, so far we bought 7 machines. Simple math.
It takes a bit of effort to remove them without damaging soft metal.
Each screw hole will be re-drilled to match a tube. I had to be careful in placing screws in positions which will be then beneficial for ventilation and will not weaken the sole.
It took some time to find a pattern both pleasing to the eye and suited to purpose. In the end I have two rows of screws, spaced evenly along the whole floor.
Some screws were left proud so I have something to grab and lift the floor. After gluing I will drill finger holes for brass rings, with simple catch mounted below, holding sole to the floors.
Crawling on the floor with pencil and rulers took me long time so after drilling and driving all screws home I headed to mine.
The work continued on Sunday - I removed all plates and took them to my workshop for disassembly and preparation of all surfaces for glue. Abrading with 80 grid paper revealed beautiful mahogany colour - not visible so far under weathered surface.
After sanding and dust removal all pieces were assembled back and taken home for acetone cleaning and coming epoxy work.
Top surface will be plained and sanded after gluing - I keep my pencil marks as aid for assembling.
To be able to finish the sole I had to unmount the log. It does not work properly so I need to repair it or remove entirely form the hull. Thanks to the Internet I found good description of possible problems and how to take the thing apart. Old bicycle multi-wrench became handy for thin, wide screw holding the propeller.
Most probably it is the steel wire running in thick housing which causes the problem. I’ll see to it after finishing the cabin sole.
While I still had a floor in the cabin I solved the puzzle of cabin ceiling. I removed the mahogany ceiling 2 years ago when cleaning thoroughly the boat. Seeing thick layer of dust and dirt under the ceiling I decided then that these planks do not come back into the cabin. I kept them in my workshop as a material for future projects and was happy with “naked” boat inside. I still like the look of exposed frames and planks but we noticed during sailing that it would be more cosy with these planks around berths.
I took all wood back onto the boat and tried fitting them into old places. Not easy as each plank is spilled to fit exactly into certain position and matches only specific planks around. In the end I had the puzzle solved, with ceiling sitting temporary in its position.
Well, I noticed that my enthusiasm in cutting wood has reached one of these planks, on port side, so half of it is missing. Lesson learned: wait at least 3 years before you cut any wood!
I will have to spill a new plank in place - or maybe I’ll leave this opening as a reminder to myself to not be an idiot again!
These planks need refreshing - they have blobs of cured linseed oil and many scratches. I suspect that they were stained to this dark colour so removing it will lighten the cabin considerably. I plan to finish then with Owatrol D1 only. It will give them satin, soft finish and while protecting wood it will also be pleasant to occupants and easy to re-apply when the time comes.
At the end of the day I re-circulated oil and headed home. In the evening I started designing new cabin table. The one which came with the boat is wobbly and not comfortable. I tried fixing it last year, with new screws mounting legs to floors, but it is the construction which is wobbly. Besides - even though this table is made to swing aside when not in use - it is always in the way when we move inside the cabin. Especially annoying when 3 persons are about to go to sleep.
We need a table which is big and stable for 3 persons but which folds aside when not in use and leaves the middle of the cabin open.
Sounds like mission impossible but I think I have a solution.
Tze donated her huge teak table (which buckled in Swedish dry climate) under condition that I make her two small, bed-side tables. The remaining wood will be for boat table.
I know that cutting such thick teak will make my heart-rate peak. Before any sawing I’ll make a mock-up table from foam, to check if all fits nicely in Meritaten’s tiny cabin. Only then I will butcher this teak!