My after my two times tangle with the surgeon last year, having my left (dominant) wrist fused to stabilise it and manage pain, he promised me my right will need some attention sometime. He was right. It may have deteriorated in sympathy, been a hereditary feature or from overuse as my left was recovering, but late last year it was rattling like a bag of dice.
Regardless, I wasted no time on this one as the success of the left’s procedure has inspired me to get the right sorted.
The other key driver was the sweet smell of a finished boat… Not to say I am close, but I feel I can reach for it. Especially with two strong, pain free wrists.
Not since I spread out the plans have I felt so close to having a boat.
Looking at the below photos, you may not feel as I do, but having the Troy factor on side changes the odds .
Troy and I decided to embellish the coach roof headliner with longitudinal grooves. It’s a look I’ve always admired. I realise that we are imitating tongue-and-groove paneling and I don’t want a ‘twee’ look, but it creates a pleasant, embracing traditional feel.
Troy developed the technique, but apart from using actual timber strips, had no idea how to execute. He used a router on 5mm ply and it turned out a treat.
This first layer of 5mm will be added to with two layers of 4mm x 200mm diagonal ply strips laminated on top. The shell can then be popped off for finishing, and reattached when the decks and cabin sides are ready.
I’ve been chewing over the door to the head. It began when Troy suggested the head was a bit large for the size of boat. That got me thinking as I’m very receptive to opinions from those I respect. Four counter arguments sit with me on this:
- I have two daughters and a wife, all fans of comfort.
- I am not getting younger and a comfortable loo is a thing.
- There is the potential to have a shower in the head.
- Bruce designed it that way.
Troy understood these points, but he is worried about movement around the galley. Specifically, the end of the centreboard case is a perfect perch for the chef. Also when nosing through the galley, your bum juts into the head area.
The solution I am working on is a bi-fold door that can leave most of that head area open, and in combination with a cased-in ‘porta potty’ should make the space more usable.
What do I mean when I write “cased-in porta potty”? I am contemplating a box that contains the porta potty toilet that can be closed over it, keeping it out of sight, and possibly venting it to the outside. This will allow for the head door to remain mostly open without the loo featuring in the view and possibly allowing the scent to escape the ‘tent’. More on this as I think it through.
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