I've been working on reinforcing the cockpit, installing hatches, filleting the frame, building/installing scuppers, doing end pours, etc. Very slow progress! Below you'll see what I've been up to as well as a few questions for all.
1. Cockpit finished with three hatches installed, pad eyes installed for seats, foot braces installed, and all reinforcing.
2. While I thought Mick's side scupper idea was great, I chickened out and went with the standard under-deck version. It's my first build and I'm not as handy as Mick at recovering from mistakes. So I decided to take the standard route...mostly. I decided to do round scuppers. I had some 2 inch fiberglass tubes on hand that I could use.
The end of the tube to be attached to the hull is cut at an angle to match the hull. The other end (for the deck) is a straight cut. It's attached to three pieces of ply. The top 2 have round holes drilled that are slightly larger than the tube. The tube fits in them. The bottom one is slightly smaller than the tube. The tube rests on it. All are attached with epoxy/woodflour.
The three pieces of ply on the hull side are glued to the hull. Same deal, two holes bigger, one slightly smaller. The hole in the hull itself is slightly larger that the tube.
The tube is then placed in the ply which is already glued to the hull and attached with epoxy/woodflour. Just like filleting.
I'll use epoxy/woodflour to attach the ply on top of the tubes to the cockpit when I install it. That'll fill in the any space between them.
What do you guys think about this technique? Do you think I should use fiberglass in anyway or is what I've done with the epxoy/woodflour enough?
Here are a couple of photos of the frame and scuppers in place:
The scupper in the bow on the right is a bit low. I'll fill the space with epoxy/woodflour when installing the cockpit.
3. I thought all this talk comparing who had the most clamps was just male machismo. I know better now. You guys are right, you can never have enough clamps!
I don't have enough and have to wait overnight until they free up for use. What a pain!
4. Here's a dry run of the deck pieces put in place. It cheered me up when all the niggly stuff was getting me down! The large hole in the stern deck is for a hatch. This area will be for storing the Striped Bass and Bluefish we catch. It'll have a sealed bulkhead to keep the fish stuff from leaking into the rest of the boat and a drain plug in the stern for washing it out (Matt's ideas
).
Still lots to do before I can hit the water. But, the end is in sight!!! I'm hoping to do a trial run in the water in 1 week.
