Hatches & Which Rig

Next the question of the companionway hatch. The drawing stated that it should be in the center of the forward cockpit bulkhead but Ann and I had not decided which type of rig we would have. To explain, in her book “Voyaging on a small income” Annie Hills had raved about Junk Rig and how […]

“Quick” Fabrication Jobs

Steel tube was purchased and fabricated into stanchions and railings. Lazarette lockers and chain locker was were finished bulwark capping was bent into shape which took ages at it was 50mm by 5mm flat bar which was hard to work. The next question was were we going to have a doghouse or not? A week […]

Welding

Ruffles Spray was beginning to take shape although the plated hull was only tack welded it looked like a boat. Next came the question of welding up the hull. There was no way I could use the generator I bought to do this as it was a petrol one and used more than three litres […]

Deck & Superstructure Plating

Next on the list was the deck plating and the superstructure. This was started in February 1999 and the first problem to solve was how to get the deck plates up 14 feet to the deck. Again no sky hooks available so muscle power had to do.Steel Kit were tasked to design the size of […]

Round Bilge Section

Next came the round bilge section and what a nightmare it was to be.Steel Kit had an ambitious design plan.They had spaced the frames at 750mm the frames were made from 8mm flat bar.Their plan was for me to hold up a 1500mm x 500mm plate section to the round bilge area, angle it to […]

Hull Plating

Next came the bottom plating. These plates went on without any problems both sides were tacked in place within three weeks. Top side plates next and these proved to be more difficult as no sky hooks were available. I considered making a gantry so that I could attach a block and tackle but this proved […]