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[steve mahoney]

Good things take time.

[steve mahoney]

The reason this build is taking so long is simple – I just haven't been working on it. I tried a few little builds to get me back up to steam but they only distracted me even more. I can't really focus on 2 projects at once, I'm a one track kind of guy. Can't walk and chew gum at the same time.

I've had a few sessions back on the Maui and there has been a little progress. Not as much as I'd like but still progress. You can only eat an elephant one bite at a time, and this build feels like I've still got most of the elephant left in front of me.

At least I've finished the stern fender roll. At last!

The fender has been held on by various methods over the years – wire ropes when I visited years ago. I decided to use a combination of wire and chain. The chain feeds through the hull and is fixed so that it can be released and replaced easily.

Wasn't as easy for me as I had hoped but worked out in the end. Now, more elephant Vicar?

[steve mahoney]

Back to the elephant buffet...

I usually approach a big build like this as a series of projects. That way I can focus on one particular aspect of the build at a time, get something done and feel a sense of achievement. It breaks up long builds into bite sized chunks, and near the end of a project I can just assemble all of the completed components. I’m pretty sure everyone else does it this way. The trick for me is to figure out some sort of order that things need to be done in.

The hull is at a stage where I can set it aside for awhile. Still plenty of deck details like vents, pipes, bollards, etc, to do but they can wait. Next task is the funnel.

Maui’s funnel is quite a pleasing 1960's shape but it has had lots of equipment added on over the years: nav lights, aerials, radar, fire-fighting equipment, horn, rails, vents, drains, etc. There are bits and pieces poking out all over it. Some items need to be dealt with first as they will be difficult to attach later. Some of them will need to be pretty robust as I tend to knock things off on a regular basis.

Relax – I’ve had years to think this through.

[Martin (Admin)]

 Long, slow build Steve, a proper build  ... long and slow! 

[steve mahoney]

Don't rub it in. Good things take time!

[steve mahoney]

I had made the funnel base way back in 2021 and on closer inspection it needed re-shaping. The rear curve of the ‘as built’ funnel was significantly different from the drawings I had. My version was close but not close enough. Easily sanded down to the correct profile.

The rear edge of the funnel top section has a rolled lip all around it. 1mm stryrene rod did the trick. At the top it curves up and under the Y shaped stalks.

There’s a large air intake on the starboard side only. The louvres came from the spares box and were pretty much spot on width wise. Easily trimmed down and slanted.

The exhuast bases go in now as they’ll be too difficult to access later.

The collar is where the mast top section is bolted onto the lower section. So far, so good. Looks a bit like a giraffe at the moment.