Osram VII


Oct 25 1998 6 hour: Stitch out rest of cockpit beams and weldout interior seam of aft cockpit bulkhead. Weld out bulkhead to hull sides. Weldup interior knuckle in another 6 feet of stb hull.

A couple of views of the cockpit to date.

Oct 29 1998 2 hour: Bit of welding and split 10' of 9" pipe.

Nov 1 1998 3 hour: Finish weldout of bits on cockpit beams.

Nov 7 1998 7 hour: Apply 2" square caprail to aft cockpit bulkhead. Weldout rest of cockpit sole seam. Rough trim stb cockpit locker. Rig xmas tree lights in interior for light and condensation control.

Nov 8 1998 7 hour: Weldout rest of cockpit sole seam and last two cockpit beams. Close fit cockpit lockers and mess with bending channel for locker drip channel... will have to do some other way.

Nov 9 1998 8 hour: Fit and install cockpit lockers ( without internal framing ) now interior is watertight. Weldout backchiped seams on underbridge forward parts.

Nov 14 1998 2 hour: Layout tapers on 9" split pipes and tidy up and move workarea under the bridge deck ( for the winter ) Finally got the @$&%* meat axe blade off the grinder. The grinder is going back under warranty as the on switch disconnects from the vibration of grinding now that it is worn. Took the grinder to pieces as the blade is worth twice as much and I was ready to sacrifice the grinder if need be but its all ok. Will get the teeth on the meataxe fixed up and have it sharpened as there is a fair pit of overhead chipping to do. Got the word from the surveyor 30.5 tons gross 29 tons net registered tonnage. Thats about 4 tons less than my figuring but thats what happens when surveyors use rules of thumb.

The carving board.

See it dosent rain all winter here.

Rumour has it that the 110lb Claw anchor I order in April may arrive in the next couple of weeks. As well have finally sourced some Moeler water tanks at a reasonable price.

Jan 31 1999 3.5 hour: Well it was good to take a break... Dont want to burn out on the boat. Bent up a bunch of hatch frames 6 in total. Never got the anchor from Trotac, Got it from their supplier in Vancouver... about $90 more but they have stock. Just got to wait and see what Trotac can do with my water tanks ordered in December.

The hatch frames

This anchor should make for longer stays in each anchorage.

Feb 4 1999 .75 hour: Try bending 1" sch 40 pipe in my jig. It crimps to much. Will take to Lifetimer Boats in Duncan.

Feb 9 1999 2.5 hour: Cut stanchions from sch 80 1" pipe at 15 degree bevel and welded 16 of em to 1/4: plate pads. Did a bit of preheat with the tiger torch as it was a bit cold. Used 22v 8 feed .30 wire and they came out quite nice.

Feb 13 1999 3.5 hour: Did a couple of more stanchions and cut and tapered the 9" 1/2 tubes for the bridge support. Drilled drain holes in front of cockpit stiffeners. Put temp name markings on boat to finish up the registration process. Just the carving board to weld on. Got reminided to wear leather jacket after shirt caught on fire ( twice ).

Mar 1 1999 1.75 hour: Rough out main shroud chainplate. Work on fitup of bridge deck stiffners.

Mar 3 1999 .75 hour: Drill and bush main shroud chainplate.

Mar 6 1999 3.0 hour: Tack 9" split stringer to bridge and cut 4 additional hull stiffner section for bridge stiffners.

Mar 7 1999 2 hour: Tack stringers to bridge to stb.

Mar 10 1999 .5 hour: Trim interior bits.

Mar 13 1999 1.5 hour: Cut out lower chainplates and chunkout most other 3/4" plate bits for drilling.

Mar 14 1999 5 hour: Weld up 6 hatch frames and put up on deck. Weld up springy bits in stb deck with help from wife. Tack last 9" 1/2 pipe bridge stringer and another hull stiffner section.

1159.75 hours to date.

Mar 15 1999 1.25 hour: Drill 3/4" Plate bits, chainplates and tangs and parts for mast.

Mar 16 1999 2 hour: Cut out more 3/4 bits for boom and goosneck and couple of ratchet dogs. Weldout bunch of deckhed in stb hull.

Mar 20 1999 8 hour: Weld bunch of frames to stringers in stb hull. Weld in hatch frame over stateroom, moved it a few inches further from frame.

Mar 21 1999 .5 hour: Fit and weld chainplate support in frame 5 in stb hull.

Mar 22 1999 .5 hour: Cut SS bushings for chain plates etc.

Mar 23 1999 3.5 hour: Weld out stb bridge deck stringers.

Mar 27 1999 8 hour: Cut and fit last of bridge deck stringers. Start stiching dow stringers and weldout stb bridge to hull joint. Cut and weldon mooring post tops. Trim and bevel cockpit stringers.

April 2 1999 7 hour: Press in SS bushings into main shroud chainplate using vice and big ball bearings.. Will need hydraulic jack for 3/4 and 1 1/4" pipe. Weldup lifeline toprail to stb stanchions. Changed to constant 30" height from design.

April 3 1999 3.5 hour: Cut up 3/4" SS pipe bushings with abrasive blade. Trim and fit 9 more stanchions for port railing. Cut out and trim to final shape 3/4" bits, mast step, base, goosneck bits. Start on jig for pressing bushings in.

April 4 1999 8 hour: Weld stanchions to top rail for port side. Weldout prot bridge deck stringers. Weld up tool for pressing SS bushings. Test bend of 1/4" 2x2 angle for corners of hatches. Press 1 1/4" eye into bow bridal tangs.


Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999 Tony Bigras.