Pete McCrary Posted January 27, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 My sailing friend and neighbor, Henry, and I installed the cockpit seat back this afternoon. Outside temps in the sixties. Our last chance for epoxy work before a week or so of cold weather. These seat backs (also inboard support for the coamings) are the last structural members required in building the boat !!!! A major milestone. A very good feeling. Here are a few pixs: Dry-fitting the seat backs. Blocking under the coaming caps for easier attachment of deck fittings. The blocking only extends about 2/3rds the way forward from the transom. The final glueing of the seatbacks to the coamings. Now, all must be trimmed, filleted, and prepped for the trip to the paint shop for two primer coats of AWLGRIP 545. Maybe by the end of next week. Then fitting out, maiden voyage, et cetera. So far, it's been 21 months of construction. If Frank is viewing: How do I edit before posting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hirilonde Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 1 minute ago, Pete Mc said: Outside temps in the sixties. Our last chance for epoxy work before a week or so of cold weather..............................If Frank is viewing: How do I edit before posting? Looking good. You can epoxy in any temperature, just that it takes longer cure as temp goes down. If you have to wait for weather to work, I do, so I am familiar with this, you can wait for the epoxy to cure at the same time. When in doubt, I leave a little of the epoxy I used on a piece of cardboard or such next to the boat so I can check on the cure before removing clamps. Edit before posting? You can add, subtract, erase at any time until you like what you got. But I just noticed there is no way to see what your post will look like before posting. Is that what you meant? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete McCrary Posted January 27, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Yes, sir. But it's a small thing. I'd like to know how to move pixs around. QUESTION re cold weather curling. Are there any other effect than extended cure time? What about below freezing temps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Silsbe Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Check with the manufacturer of your epoxy. MAS wants temps above 50. System Three says they can go down to 30. Makes you wonder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Pete, that looks awesome. Your pictures have been quite a help. I'm sort of in uncharted territory sorting out my cabin construction. I decided to stay productive so I'm working on the hatches this weekend. I took advice and taped them together and went "aha". I did lay down on my newly installed bunk tops and decided the width was a bit small. I made a filler board and added cleats so I could sleep head forward. It's luxury now. I plan on doing the same for the space between the rowing seat and the mizzen mast thwart so I can sleep under the stars in the spring and fall or sleep more than two and I'll also have a place for my dog Josie to ride. She's a good passenger when she can see, but a pain when she can't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete McCrary Posted January 27, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Steve,... I, too, plan to bunk "head forward." But with 3" cushions that are beveled to the hull sides, I think the top surface will be wide enough for comfort. But tomorrow three of my four kids (the youngest is now 53) and the in-laws will be here to help their old man celebrate his 83rd -- and I'll recruit the tallest (6' 4") to try out the bunk spaces in various configurations. Photo recording it all. If it seems advisable, I'll fabricate a temperary filler board to see how that works. I definitely need a comfortable space for rest and sleep when cruising. The last structural elements for "Chessie" (the cockpit seatbacks) are now inplace and trimmed. Looks like a real boat. Just in time to show off to the kids. I still need to roundover the edges to a 3/8" radius. Next week I'll be getting her ready for the paint shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick Ludwig Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Maybe you just haven't done it yet, but what keeps water from running off of the sides of your companionway hatch and into the cabin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete McCrary Posted January 27, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Chick,... There's a channel on each side outboard of the companionway coamings (not yet installed) -- which channels drain forward to P & S limber holes. If the boat is tilted bow up, there is also drainage into the cockpit. I won't install the companionway framing and coamings until after the primer coats are on. These surfaces will be masked off from the primer so the framing may be glued to surfaces just having epoxy [on them]. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick Ludwig Posted January 28, 2017 Report Share Posted January 28, 2017 Thanks, Pete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete McCrary Posted January 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2017 Steve added a filler plank at the forward end of the cabin sole to increase the width of the cs20.3 bunks. I was inclined not to ... but decided to have son, James, stretch out on the bunk to actually see if it would be OK for his 6' 3" size. He said for "camping out" it was OK, but suggested a trapezoidal box between the bunks. So, that's what I'll do. The box will be light-weight and serve double duty as a convenient (portable) container for toiletries. Here are a few pixs: The sitting-headroom is close, but I think this cabin will be comfortable with some compromises for a solo crew. A crew of two would have to like each other a whole lot. With a boom tent and filler boards aft of the bridge deck -- sleeping in the cockpit would be [for me] preferable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick Ludwig Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 I added a removable filler to give a bit more shoulder room. It,along with it's cushion, can rest against the hull side to provide a seat back when sitting up below. My cushions are made up of a 2'' layer of a stiff foam, bonded to a 1" layer of regular urethane foam. I didn't taper the sides to meet the slope of the hull. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hirilonde Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 I used 4" firm foam on my Renegade. It was great for seats, but too firm for sleeping. I like the laminated idea Chick. Bevelling the outboard edge where applicable adds surface making it very desirable in small boats, heck, even big ones. Nice work there Chick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 Chick, I'm going to steal your design! I'm also thinking of making that tray attach someway to either my tiller or Mizzen for the "sammiches" when it's not in use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAR Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 Chick's work really needs to be seen in person to appreciate the level of craftsmanship. This isn't his first rodeo, and it plainly shows. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick Ludwig Posted January 31, 2017 Report Share Posted January 31, 2017 Gosh, thanks y'all. I like the tray-attach-to-the-tiller idea, Steve. Gotta do double and triple duty on small boats. I thought about beveling the cushion, but the added cost for my cushion guy wasn't worth it. Besides, my cushions are designed to turn over if they ever get "messed up" on the top. The zippers are all on an edge to allow flipping. Ya don't lay all the way to the inside edge, anyway. Unless your body has "square corners"... I still haven't decided how I want to finish the sole. I kinda like plain old piece of fuzzy carpet. it feels good on my tired old footsies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hirilonde Posted January 31, 2017 Report Share Posted January 31, 2017 9 minutes ago, Chick Ludwig said: Gotta do double and triple duty on small boatI thought about beveling the cushion, but the added cost for my cushion guy wasn't worth it. Besides, my cushions are designed to turn over if they ever get "messed up" on the top. I cut all the foam for my cushions on my Renegade with an electric carving knife and sent them out for covers. At $10 I bought it as a one use tool I can't argue with the flipping logic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAR Posted January 31, 2017 Report Share Posted January 31, 2017 One advantage to not beveling cushions is, they can be flipped side to side if the seating is symmetrical (as mentioned). I use to have a small cruiser where all the cushions were beveled and fitted to their spaces. It use to drive me nuts putting them in their exact locations, as some were nearly the same shape and size, making figuring it out where they lived, without some sort of tag, a pain in the butt. As far as soles are concerned, I dislike carpet of any kind, just a moisture trap. I prefer wooden slats, but some of the "anti-fatigue" mats, like the ones I have on the shop floor look to make nice, inert, soft sole padding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russell Posted February 1, 2017 Report Share Posted February 1, 2017 Is there different types of foam for boat cushions? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Silsbe Posted February 1, 2017 Report Share Posted February 1, 2017 A long time ago, I had some cockpit cushions made for my Catalina 27. They were done by a professional. He told me that he used "marine foam" for them. The feel was different than average foam. I didn't ask for details, but I wish I would have. Those were the best cushions I've ever had. Ask around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W Posted February 1, 2017 Report Share Posted February 1, 2017 They definitely make foam that is mildew resistant for boats and campers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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