The current and most immediate project is the replacement of the cabin sole. When purchased, carpeting covered the plywood sole. The cabin sole and its supporting stucture have now been removed.
Plans are to use 3/8" x 2 1/4 Cherry tongue & grove for ceiling from cabin sole to berth fronts and and cabinetry. 5/8" x 1" fir strips have been bonded to hull to act as "ribs." Cabin sole will also be of the same tongue & groove over fir marine plywood up to a 10" wide removable center section which will have first 3/4" Ash faced marine plywood. Over the plywood will be fitted a teak grating which will bring the center section to same height as the Cherry to either side. The new floor support structure is of 1" fir secured with West System epoxy over the integral water tank.
The Cherry will be varnished and the teak grating will be oiled. The designer, Alan Buchanan, sent me copies of the accomoadtion plans for the Mark 2 version (full keel!) of the Nantucket Clipper which has a very different layout, but does show the cabin sole aft in the galley raised 3 inches. I have done the same with a teak riser. This gives much needed foot space, and because it will be under the hatch 6 foot plus head room will be maintained. This arrangement will also allow for the 10" grating assembly in the galley as well. My idea with this grating is to provide a nonskid area, that will trap dirt and sand to preserve the overall finish and help keep it out of the bilge. We will see...
The whole thing is complicated by the supports for the cabin table which fit into 5 inch deep tubes glassed into the water tank and ballast keel. I am thinking of installing 1 1/4" brass pipe from foor to ceiling that would go through the table, with hinged supports for the leaf. The supports are 18" apart and the folded table is 3 feet by 1 foot. Table is off center to starboard and the supports are 3 inches inboard from the table edge. Hmm....a trawler lamp hanging between?
In this series, most of the old floor structure has been removed. It was quite a mess and the workmanship here did not match that of the rest of the vessel. Pieces of wood which supported the plywood cabin sole were simply held in place by great gobs of resin which was chiseled out. I probably removed 20 pounds of the stuff!
Here the basic stuctural components are in place. One inch by 2 1/2 inch fir floors are epoxied to the integral water tanks an the hull, and 3/4 by 1 1/2 inch fir stringers are in place. Note the teak riser and the companion piece forward bonded to the bulkhead. I am feeling much better, and thinking this will all probably work.
Things are moving along now. The 3/4" marine plywood has been epoxied in place. The plywood is epoxied to the sides of the hull as well as to the fir floors. A few stainless steel screws were used to hold the assembly in place while the epoxy cured. This is a very strong structure which will strenthen the already strong hull structure. Also shown are the 5/8 inch by 1 inch fir strips epoxied to the hull above the cabin sole. These will support the Cherry tongue and groove ceiling.
Fitting of the 3/8" cherry tongue and grove is underway. New teak molding has been installed around the bulkhead passageway replacing the 25 year old vinyl edging, and the first coat of varnish applied. I am beginning to like this! The vessel documentation number engraved in brass has been mounted in to the new teak below the newly trimmed out passageway. What a difference!!
The cherry is installed,and needs to be bunged (need to cut 100 cherry plugs!). 1 1/4" diameter brass tubing (with 1/8"wall) is on order. A change in plans on the gratings - teak no more- they will be made from cherry!
The new 7" bronze porthole has been received from Maritime Bronze and has been mounted. This required moving the Autohelm instuments to the top of the cabin bullhead. They will be at a better viewing angle at this new location. I think we need to hide the wires and refinish the teak! Notice the West System epoxy and various other containers, and kerosene lamp and barometer. Probably should clean up the counter top as well ....
