Fitting Out. Part 1.

Over the past few weeks I've been working on getting some of the hardware on the boat.  I purchased the "Hull Hardware Package" from CLC so I've been working mostly on getting the stuff that they provided me installed on my hull.  The majority of my time has been spent getting screws and bolts cut down and then marking the location of them.  I'm pretty careful about making sure I've got things exactly where they need to be before putting a drill bit to the boat.

Here you can see the eyebolts for the rudder.  Installation on this went smoothly.  Installed just like the manual instructs.

In this picture you can see the bushing for the centerboard pendant.  This was a little of a problem and outlined a shortcoming/mistake in the construction manual from CLC.  If you're interested you can find the explanation at the Pocketship Forum.  If you look down at the lower corners of the photo you can see the access hatches for the lazarettes.

The dorade vents went in easy.

The anchor fairleads are held to the rail with 1 1/2 wood screws.

The most time consuming task was installing the portlight lenses.

I chose to differ from the manual in that I used the decorative washers and chose not to countersink the screw heads.  This eliminated the worry of cracking the acrylic lens during tightening.  Instead of using marine calking compound to bed the lenses I chose to use butyl tape as a bedding compound.  It's easily shapable with your hands and stays where you put it.  The dark edge around the portlight above is the butyl tape.  The uneven edges are the squeeze out.  This was easy to clean up by running a plastic knife around the inside and simply pulling off the squeeze out.

I clear painted and mounted the companion way hatch and its spray cover.  I chose to epoxy mine down.  All the planning on it must have been right.  It slides easily and without any play.

Attached the two cleats and drilled holes for the boom gallows.  I still need to line these with epoxy to prevent rot.

The mount for the boom gallows was an awkward install.  Hard to get in there and drill.  I used a dremel tool with a shaft extension to create the holes.  Used the same tool to cut off the outboard edge of the support.  You can see the squeeze out of the butyl tape that I used for bedding.  Aside from the U-Bolt on the front which I used 5200 on, the rest of the bedding has been done with butyl tape.  It's just way too easy to use and it also make future maintenance and cleanup much easier.

Here you can see my nifty outboard mount.  Pull the cotter pin on the center leg and the hold thing lifts off easily leaving behind only the three small mounting brackets.  I still need to fabricate a wooded plate to bolt to it.

I've ordered the sails and the "Sailing Hardware Package" from CLC (that was a fast 3K).  I'm getting close enough now to smell the ocean.  Need to build the mast, gaff, boom, and bowsprit, take care of the electrical, buy a trailer and I'll be on the water!

Hours this session: 12

Hours total: 651