WEEK SEVENTY

 

Wendera

 

Although the inevitable sanding continued this week, now the final top coat on the outside has been completed, Paul was allowed to have fun fitting more fixtures to Wendera.

        

  

The European styled cleats were fixed. The aft cleats were particularly difficult to attach, requiring Ben to contort himself in the engine room to reach them. We are lucky to have the services of a ten year old just the right size to fit in such a small space!

                 

 

Another fun job was attaching the anchor bow roller.  As you can see this was well documented by our in house photographer and video recorder – thanks “Cecil B de Tim”.

 

               

 

So if you have the bow roller attached you would be mad not to install the electric winch. Again requiring the services of the right sized worker!  We got Tim into the locker to tighten the fittings, we were just a little worried that we may not be able to get him out again!

It was now ready some action ….. with the whole family eagerly watching.

  

After the 100 kg (56m) of anchor chain had been untangled, Paul had the first honour of hand winding the winch.

       

followed by Ben and then Tim ….

            and finally fully winched in.

The anchor winch was then connected to power and tested.  Much to the delight of everyone, it worked beautifully.

Chris and Paul worked cutting the holes for the door knobs.  A layer of resin was also applied to the doors to eradicate the dreaded pin holes.

 The inside of some doors were painted.

Ben decided on the colour for the inside of Wendera - Sea Fog.  A sample was ordered and applied to the main cabin wall to ensure that we were completely happy with the colour.  Given the difficulty in selecting the colour (minds were changed many times!!!), Chris said we should have stuck to the original colour chart consisting of 9 colours!!!  Who knew there could be so many variations on white and cream!

            

Ben’s cabin received a coat of undercoat and looks great.

                      

Finally the first two spinnaker blocks were installed.

 

Could it be ….. maybe ….. the launch date is only …..

   

WEEK SIXTY NINE

 

Wendera

 

 

What a bonanza this week has been.  We can all see that there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel.  The boy’s comment when they saw Wendera on Friday really sums up how we are all feeling.  To quote them “Wow, we really have a boat now!”

But my excitement has got me ahead of things….

The week started out with more of the same – sanding.  On Monday the weather was blustery and rainy, but the weather forecast was looking promising for some painting towards the end of the week. So plans were made to evacuate the family for the evening of Thursday (thanks Zoe and Brad for your continued hospitality and patience), so painting could be done on the cockpit.

On Tuesday evening Tim and Paul installed the cockpit and anchor locker drain covers.

  The Cockpit drains

 

 

The starboard side ensuite and main cabin were painted with undercoat on Wednesday, after the obligatory masking. 

   

   The paint gun.

Notice the ventilation tubing, to ensure Chris does not get asphyxiated, the unit that Ben assembled and Paul modified.

                          

 

After the paint had dried, what do you think we found???? Remember the bane of our existence? Those PINHOLES again! So the discolouration / marks you see on the paint is the filling bog.

The masking Thursday before the painting of the cockpit seemed to take forever, but a necessary exercise to ensure a clean finish.

 

Paul and Chris celebrated with German beers.  This is fast becoming yet another tradition with Wendera - paint Thursday then drink German beers! But doesn’t she look beautiful?

 

I’ll enlighten you with all the routines/traditions associated with the build of Wendera …

Tuesday	Eagle Boys $4.95 Pizza
Thursday	German Beer after Painting
Friday	Salt & Vinegar Chips and Beer Happy Hour Dinner at the Nelson Bay Bowling Club (affectionately known as the Bowlo)
Saturday	McDonald’s lunch

On Saturday Paul and the boys installed the lights in the cockpit roof and the LED lights in the cockpit furniture.  What a momentous occasion – turning on the first lights!

 

On a roll, they then installed the engine vent baffle boxes that Pop (John) built during his “back breaking” boat building apprenticeship.

Building a boat sometimes involves contorting yourself into some awkward places and positions….

Engine room work…..

painting the bottom of the dagger board cases.

The budget doesn’t extend to a new pair of overalls – it’s a good look, don’t you think?

Next was the installation of the rod holders.

Quite a day’s work! Now that’s progress.

So I’d think it would be safe to say ….

WEEKS SIXTY SEVEN AND SIXTY EIGHT

 

Wendera

 

The side hulls are now ready for painting.  Notice the glossy paint on the back furniture in contrast to the fared hull sides. We are just waiting for a break in the weather – again Nelson Bay is drowning in rain (wish we could share it with the rest of Australia!).

In the meantime faring continued on the inside.  Options were investigated for the colour of the paint inside.  A sample of a possible colour was applied to the main cabin wall and floor, as well of a sample to move around Wendera. to look at in all light conditions.  While we liked the colour, it was decided it would be too dark (it looks darker in real life) for the interior, so it is back to the colour charts!!!

Finally a break in the weather allowed painting of the hull sides. The obligatory masking and drop sheets were applied.

   

And look at the results …..

  

        

                            

          

so shiny and white!!!

Tim and Paul worked on installing the cockpit drains, drilling holes in through the bridge-deck.                             

   

    I spy with my little eye ….. a hole!

            

        

Paul also got Tim working on the calculations for the number of sheets of Perspex we will require for the windows.  A practical way of making use of all those maths lessons.

  

Now the painting of the top coat has been completed, Paul has had some fun installing some fittings.

The bilge pump outlets …..

… the breathers for the ‘poo’ tanks.

 

Finally, we’ll let you in on a well kept secret ……