Life intruded the past week or so and I haven't gotten to work on the boat much. That is one of the more frustrating parts of boatbuilding as a hobby... when you are ready to work, sometimes you can't. Weather, lack of materials and most often (for me, at least) lack of time keeps you from it. But I did have a chance to try my rubrail mounting method.

Snow in June?

Snow in June (on a 90 degree day)??? Well, not really, it's PVC plastic. More on that later.

Since our window hanging activities, we have moved on to doors and tables.

After much figuring and scheming, I think I came up with a table/bed design that will work out well.

After getting the routing finished (see my previous entry), I was able to start getting the forward windows put together. This finishes up all the "normal" full size windows.

Windows

Working on the forward window frames tonight, I used my "new to me" router table (with attached old router) for the first time.

Let me assure you, when using power tools isn't really the best time to get a surprise by said tool.

Blue walls

Well, we have blue walls... at least the first coat.

Since our last update, I've been busy making smaller pieces of plexiglas out of larger sheets. I had never tried to cut that stuff before, but a metal cutting blade (fine teeth with little set) in a jigsaw does a great job. One note is that this stuff can really scratch pretty easily. Be careful of getting "sawdust" under the jigsaw skid plate.

I've gotten the 6 side windows cut, more painting and trimming on the frames done, and the "glass" mounted. Came out fairly well on most of them.

Well, as fitting for a Mother's Day, yesterday was is the two year anniversary of the start of my build, and we're still going.

May 10th, 2007 I ordered the plans with a bit (well, maybe more than a bit) of trepidation. A few days later they arrived and I started figuring out how this thing would go together.

Many home boatbuilders seem to be master scroungers. They can find cheap and free materials all over the place.

Well, I guess its not really in my nature, although I'm getting a little better.

In the last couple of weeks, I've managed a couple of good scores. In one instance, I happened to be at Lowes for something else and wandered down to find their plexiglas/lexan display. Was checking out prices and stuff to try to figure out how I was ever going to afford something to put in those window frames I've been working on.

Sorry about the dry spell... things have been busy.

Since last time, the exterior changes have mostly been sanding and filling, painting around windows, and the big one, the installation of the sampson post. This is the forward "bollard" to use with the anchor or whatever you need to tie off.

After the grass side deck fiasco, I've spent a while sanding that off. Then we used the truck bedliner material and coated both side decks pretty well. This looks good I think, and is tough as nails.

I have moved on to more window work. Got the frames routed to allow for the insert of the glass (actually Lexan or plexiglas).  Don't look perfect, but I think with some epoxy filler, we'll be ok with them.