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[T888]

Hi David,


Nice and tidy work. Question will you be using “T” section conduit fittings for power cable take offs to say lights etc ?

[DJW]

Hi David


I could indeed make some T pieces, next on my list is to start getting the wiring sorted out, cut to length and so on as I've realised some of it may be best to be built in.  I'm also busy making templates of each of the frames, I need to check that they're symmetrical before planking up the sides of the hull.  I'm also giving thought as to when to bond in the prop tubes...  I know they usually go in pretty early in a build, I've made the cut outs for them in the first ply skin, but I'm thinking the mahogany planking would be neater if I just run whole planks, then drill / file the holes afterwards.


All just plans at the moment as the Wife has other plans at the moment involving the garden...   


Best regards
David.

[DJW]

Evening All

Not checked in here for a while, but have been making progress with the build.

Interior has been given a coat or two of thinned z-poxy finishing resin, sealing and I hope adding some strength.  Conduits for cabling are also epoxied in.

I've started on the first layer of planking up the sides of the hull, beginning with a plank on the chine rails as a start point:



Then alternating sides and working up the hull:





And this is the current state:



Pleasing to see the shape of the Aquarama coming through..!

I've 3D printed some clips to help with the alignment of the planks between the frames, they're downloaded from Thingiverse and modified to have a 2mm 'grip' face, like this:






They can be pushed on as much as required, so all the way on where the planks are one above the other, partially on when there is a curve on the hull.

It's a bit laborious as I only get to add a pair of planks a day at the moment....



Little notch in the planking at the bow on the chine rail is to accommodate the eventual bow protector strip.

Best regards to all.
David.

[Martin (Admin)]

Nice!    What wood are you using for the Planking?

[DJW]

Hi Martin


This layer is bass wood, 1.9m lengths of 9mm x 2mm.  And the mahogany layer planks are 1.9m x 8mm x 1.5mm.  80 lengths of the bass and 100 of the mahogany for the build. The hull is just over 1.7m, I asked a couple of companies to quote for 1.8m lengths, I then worked with John at Jotika to supply the wood when he had a suitable length of mahogany to cut the planks from at that length.  On his advice I went for 1.9m lengths to accommodate hull curves and ensure no need for any joints.


Have to say this is one of my favourite if nerve wracking parts of the build.


Best regards
David.

[Mark T]

Absolutely astounding David     WOW

[DJW]

Afternoon All

Thanks Mark..!  Putting everything into this one...

More planks on...



And from the bow:



Short (stealers..?) planks starting to be needed now at the bow to avoid excessive conforming of the full length planks.

And forgot to mention that I've used some 40mm Aluminium extrusion to make a build support for this part of the build.  It used some 3D printed supports with foam rubber to fully support the hull but give reasonable access too.



Best regards to all.
David.

[DJW]

Afternoon All


Almost there now with the first layer of side planking.  I've made up some 3D printed clips to help keep the planks aligned between frames, the space available is limited to get normal clamps in.  The clips just are sized to just hold at the point of contact, and a couple of mm either side.  On the Aquarama the top of the hull sides really flares at the bow, the 'side' planking goes from vertical to almost horizontal.





(I have shaped the actual planks to butt up, above is just show where the grip is.)


Also a little notch at the top / middle of the clip so it stays aligned with the plank being attached, seems to work..!





Planks starting to shape around the transom too:





Current profile (with the bow of the 1/10th in the foreground...):





And the bow:





I've added just one plank each side since these were taken, hope to get the sides complete over the weekend or early next week.


Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine..!
David.

[DJW]

Morning All


Work been progressing to plank up the hull sides:








Pretty much there at the stern:





And finally I have the first layer of planks on.  No filling / sanding or sealing yet, but nice to see the Aquarama shape:











I'm leaving plenty of planking proud so I can fill the lip with epoxy, then shape with a sander:





So next will be to seal the inside of the new planks, then fill and sand the outside. 


Best regards to all.
David.

[SailorGreg]

That's a really neat job you have there before any sanding is done.  Your little clamps obviously did a very good job - as did you!

Greg

[DJW]

Afternoon All

@Greg, thanks..!  The clamps did indeed do a good job, having said that, it's been quite tricky to maintain the correct curves...  I realise now why larger hulls may need more frames as they provide a better base to bend the planks over.  Hindsight...   

I've now trimmed the planks at the bow, stern and along the deck line:




1/10th for comparison.

Also applied thinned finishing resin to all inside hull surfaces and started the hull sanding process.





Best regards to all.
David.

[T888]

Planking    will look fantastic when varnished. 

[Stuw]

Haven’t been on here for a while. Just caught up on your extremely hard work and excellent looking results. It looks amazing!

[DJW]

Thanks for the comments..!

More progress on a few fronts.

Still working to get the first plank layer smooth and profiled correctly so it serves as a good and sound base for the mahogany planks.  Mainly using the proxxon belt sander with 80 grit at this stage.






Also been working on some smaller parts of the build.  The front cabin now has mahogany panels cut out for the 'footwell', not varnished yet.  I need access to the grating as there's a fan under it, so using magnets to hold the panels in place.



You can also see the start of the cabin cushions.  These are 2mm ply with 3mm neoprene, ready for the cream faux leather at some point.  I've made up some discs on the 3D printer to fit the holes taken out of the 6mm ply panels used for frame construction.  They have a flange on the underside and are generally glued in place (as below), some are bolted where I may need access later.



And these are some of the bolted versions, the thickness of the discs is such that when the second magnet and it's smaller disc is in place, the surface is flush.  So I just add a bit of epoxy to the second magnet disc, place the cushion and wait, it then looks like this:



And the cushion snaps into place.

I'm using same approach in other areas, so this is the cover for the motors, with the bench seat base on the left:



And in place:



Discs also in place (bolted just in case...) to retain the cockpit floor:






Sundeck will use magnets too, but at the moment I've just added some 3D printed clips that are positioned at the front edge for the sundeck, they're shaped to protrude under the sundeck frame, aim being to prevent the sundeck front edge lifting when out on the water.






Started to look at the seats too, trying to use the 3D printer to get some of the profiles, not there yet, a work in progress.  The print approach makes for rapid prototyping....



Using magnets embedded in the prints, they're an interference fit and need pressing in, but I add a drop of cyano to make sure:









Final part of todays update...  I've made up a mount for the steering wheel servo.






This also uses a collar to directly attach servo to the brass shaft.  I found the basic design on 'Thingiverse', it's splined one end to fit the servo, and takes a securing screw down the centre, then provides an 8mm hole at the other end.  I've made up a reducer out of more flexible TPU to make the brass shaft a push fit.

The mount uses a dovetail plate on the bulkhead so the servo can be added in after the forward deck is in place, and can be removed if needed in future.

So all in all I got a bit carried away playing with the 3D printer and need to get my act together with the sanding...

Best regards to all.
David.