Update on progress at the workshop and down at the yard

Last Monday my new apprentice started working for my company and he has fitted in well to the way we work and is a quick learner when it comes to making new panels to go into the yacht. After a morning of showing him around the yard and the workshop and showing him where all the equipment and tools are stored and put away everyday.

It was down to work, the first job was to clean up the workshop so that he could see that in order to work effectively and in a safe manner the workshop has to be kept clean and tidy and clear of any hazards. One of the major rules of any workshop, keep the work area clean and tidy.

After that job was done the apprentice was given a bulkhead panel to replace which is a simple job for an experienced boat builder is a daunting job for s new apprentice. However with the correct instructions the apprentice can and did get on with the job well and by the end of the day was ready to mark the template out and cut the new bulkhead panel the next morning.

However, that did not happen as I was admitted into hospital for a week with cellulitis. This has taken me off my feet and will continue to keep me off my feet for the next week, however with my new apprentice doing most of the heavy work and I can direct him to do most of work I would otherwise do. So although the work will be done it will be done at a slower rate, but it will be done.

So Monday the team will start again and will be interviewing a second apprentice to help get the work done and to be able to quote for more work over the coming months.

The decks are now ready to have radius put on the outside edge and then glass over the deck to make them watertight

The outside edges of the main cabin deck is now planed flush with the cabin sides and just the radius to be put on with a router when the team are back in the workshop.

The new door trims are getting made so the when the repairs are done to the main cabin bulkhead at the base of the door way these new trims can be fixed and glued into position

Marking out the door threshold piece to fit on top of the repaired cabin bulkhead  

The masking tape now removed from the hull and now re-masked and covered to protect hull

The masking tape from the hull has been removed and the hull is re-masked up with brown spraying paper to protect the painted hull from any excess glue that comes off the deck sheathing

Well masked up, now  have to router the edge of the deck with a radius bit to put a radius on the edge of the deck so that the sheathing material lays over the edge of the deck

The same treatment across the transom to protect that beautiful varnished transom   

Once the cabin roof/deck as been trimmed the same treatment will be done to the cabin sides 

The second layer glued and screwed down and the screw holes being filled and sanded back

The complete second layer glued and screwed down

The screw holes starting to be filled ready to be sanded down ready for the whole area being sanded before the plywood is covered with sheathing material

The edges have to be trimmed back and then a radius put on the edge so the material will laid over the edge.

Starting to mark off the second layer of marine plywood after trimming the first layer's edge level with the cabin sides and hatchway

Dry fitting the second layer over the first layer and marking the beam positions on the cabin sides before transferring them to the second layer of plywood 

The second layer is laid over the first only after the first layer as been trimmed with a router and then planed at the correct angle to the cabin sides 

The first two sections of plywood being clamped down into position so that the marks for the position of the beams can be transferred to the top layer of plywood so that the screw holes can be drilled through the plywood before fixing the plywood down on the first layer with epoxy glue.