WEEK SEVENTY NINE

 

Wendera

She’s launched …. she floats …. and she looks beautiful!

But let’s start at the beginning of the week … the countdown to the launch of Friday 26th September, had begun.

      

A list was created for the last of the jobs that needed to be completed in order for Wendera to float.  We then set about to systematically work through the list.

                

To finish installing the windows in the starboard side was a priority, as was finishing off the portside windows.

 

 

 

The masking from the portside windows was removed to reveal a first glimpse of the finished product.

 

Now all that was required was to backfill with Sika.

The final hatches needed to be installed to make Wendera watertight ….. 

  

                  

Those helping out, will know how much Missy appreciated when Sean installed this hatch ……

 

Final fittings were attached …..

 

 

 

Chris crafted the trim to  finish the steps.

  

Work was then done installing the portside windows. Again using the templates for drilling pilot holes required as fixing points, masking up, prepping with primer, attaching the window mounts, positioning the windows in place on the bead of Sika and finally mounting the cleats  to ensure the windows didn’t move while the Sika went off.

 

 

    

    

The tabernacle was positioned …..

The main cabin door was prepped and installed …..

   

                     

 

Then the sliding window behind the navigation station was installed ….

Both look great and will be really functional in keeping Wendera cool and ventilated ….. 

         

                 

 

The solar panel ventilation fans were installed …..

 

The “geriatric apprentice” John arrived back in town and was quickly set to work …… (no rest for the wicked!)

      

This is the wood required to make the mattress frames for the two main cabins.

The propellers were installed and greased ……

Ian, our expert electrician, connected up more power ……

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The oven was installed ….. 

and looks delectable!

 

        

Sean and John drilled the holes required to attach the rudder tiller barst ……

                  

The day before launch …..

It was now time to dismantle the shed, to allow the truck access and to get Wendera out!

            

            

            

The roller door needed to come down …..

            

           

The tender was inflated, and the registration stickers, name (Mooch) and logo were attached ……

                

 

  The engine was mounted and given

   a test run ……

 

 

The registration numbers were applied to Wendera …..

Now it was time for Wendera to come out of the shed …..

Robert Honey of Marine Transport is an absolute master at this.  He was an expert at manoeuvring the crane – it was almost as if it were part of him.

          

Large polystyrene blocks were placed under the bridgedeck …..

  

  

And out she came …..

   

   

All the while, Paul checking Wendera was OK, from a prime location ……

                 

Photographers all around to capture the moment …..

 

The further she

came out,

the larger she

seemed to be!

 

 

The crane arm was again needed to get her over the lip of the shed, to ensure everything was secure and stable.  Again, Robert, the genius, showed his talent.

She’s out …..

     

And the shed looks bare …… but ready to build another ……

          

The crane was used again to remove the polystyrene blocks and place Wendera on the mounts to secure her in place during transport …..

And she’s on the trailer …..

          

The daggerboards were then inserted …..

 

And Wendera is ready to go at first light on Friday morning …..

              

So now it’s time to relax (for now) ……

     

Friday dawns and there is a buzz as friends and family join us to witness the launch of Wendera …..

 

Final checks are made, and

she is ready ……

 

 

 

There’s not much room …..

but just enough ……

 

 

 

And off she goes, under escort ……

 

   

  

Robert avoided all the overhanging branches and obstacles with ease …..

And Wendera arrived at Little Beach for her launch.  Notice the sign, I think we definitely qualify! The weather was perfect ……

    

Mooch, the dinghy, is launched first …..

 

The boys couldn’t decide if they were going to be on Wendera as she went into the water, but in the end opted to watch from Mooch ……

                     

 

                 

 

AND Wendera IS LAUNCHED!

 

 

 

The boys, Chris and Lilly hop on board for her maiden voyage ……

         

Miss waved them off from the pier (busily snapping photos) …… as Wendera set off under motor to the Nelson Bay Marina for the fitting of her mast ……

 

At the marina, Wendera came along side to have her mast attached ……

       

 

    

Spectators were everywhere …….

          

With the mast going up, time for a little relaxing …..

 

 Wendera was officially christened …..

 

The story is almost complete ……

   

On Saturday we motored back to Little Beach to release some balloons in honour of the wonderful people who inspired Wendera – Wendy Cochrane and Deran Hood, while two dolphins came along side, it truly felt they were there to watch over and guide Wendera on all her journeys.

Now it’s time to enjoy Wendera ……

 

 

  Thank you to all our family and friends who

  joined us in seeing our dream become a

  reality with the launching of Wendera 

  and for their support during the build

  process.

 

 

There is still work to be completed to finish the interior, so in “6 weeks”  we’ll show you on-board.  Until then ….. fair weather and following seas.

Thank you to Robert Honey, Marine Transport a master at his craft.  If you need boat transportation call Robert on 1800 BY ROAD (1800 297623).

Thank you to Bob Dobell for giving Wendera her name and logo.  Bob can be contacted on 0428 614684 for your signwriting needs in the Newcastle area.

WEEK SEVENTY EIGHT

 

Wendera

 

Look what a difference a week makes (and working a lot of late nights) …..

                  Wendera on Monday ….. 

                 

and by Sunday she was really taking shape ….. 

We started the week by finishing the painting. First was the non-slip paint on the floors of the cockpit and down the steps.  The area was masked ready for rolling …..

 

                          

Then the first coat was rolled, the glass beads sprayed on and the final second coat was applied the next day…..

   

 

  

The boot topper was then applied above the waterline on both hull sides …..

        

Chris completed the final preparation for the rudders to be anti-fouled.

      

and also prepped the propeller shafts, and the sail drive legs ……

 

The headboard was constructed for the feature wall, with areas strengthened where the light fittings and artwork will be attached …..

             

 

Paul engineered and constructed mounts to jack the boat, so the  stands could be removed for the painting of the anti-foul on the bottom of the hulls.

 

The hull bottoms were then masked and given a light sanding in preparation for the application of undercoat before the anti-foul was rolled on …..

               

The three coats of anti-foul were then applied to the bottom of both hulls ….

 

as well as to the daggerboards ……

and both rudders …..

     

The black boat stripe was applied through the portlight holes ……

 

She was really looking great now! Especially after the first portlight had been installed ……

  

                

  

Four down, four to go ……

 

The board for the feature wall was sanded and everdure was applied, now it was ready to be covered in macrosuede ……

      

The outside of the shed was tidied up to allow the truck easy access.  A skip of waste was removed, including the boy’s cubby, which was dismantled and destroyed ……

           

          …. the strength of Arnold Schwarzenegger!

The first of the laminate was installed on the hull furniture.

It was now time to start the work on the outside windows.  Firstly the templates were used to mark out the position of the holes that would be required as fixing points.

              

They were then masked and packers were made for when the windows were in place waiting for the sika to go off …..

          

The last of the laminate was installed in the galley area, after first being masked up …..

          

 

         

                 

A tarp was set up to eliminate overspray and the painting of the final doors and hatches was completed …..

        

               

Wendera was registered on Friday – she was now ready to be launched …. well save a few holes to help her float!

The starboard engine was given a final inspection before it was tested ……

           

and she purred like a kitten.  Tim, Ben and Miss were then given instructions on how to turn the engines on, and each had a go …..

                    

The trim was attached to finish the laminate on the hull furniture ……

                 

The windows were attached to the portside, after being prepped with primer on both surfaces and spacers attached …..

               

                   

A 5mm bead of UV resistant Sika was then applied, before the window was placed into position …..

  

   

The cleats were then attached to hold the windows in place while the Sika went off.

The batteries were installed and connected …..

 

The fridge was moved into place, turned on and very importantly stocked! …..

Tim was set the task of cleaning the engine rooms, got to be ship shape for launch …..

        

  The folding propellers were fitted ….

       

The hole for the sink was routered out …..

and the sink installed …..

and the plumbing attached ……

 

Cleaned up, ready for use ……

   

The stauncions were fixed into place …..

and the in-bench bin was installed …..

  

So Wendera is definitely on track for launch in

WEEK SEVENTY SEVEN

 

Wendera

 

This is how she looked on Sunday afternoon.

The first set back during the week came when Paul started cutting out the laminate from the templates that he had so spent so much time cutting out last week. The thickness of the templates was too thin for the router. With hands thrown in the air, and just a few choice words muttered ….. a trip was made to Bunnings for thicker MDF. A day later with the new thicker templates, the family nervously looked on as the laminate was cut – success, and a sigh of relief from everyone.

The floor in the saloon had two coats of polyurethane applied …..

 

The flooring was installed in the hulls …..

    

      y

Chris worked on the trim for the edge of the furniture and steps …..

The laminate was dry fitted, the first glimpse of the look of the saloon …..

            

Tuesday evening was spent bleeding the hydraulic fluid in the autopilot ……

   

  

Another “holding your breath’ moment came when Paul started cutting out the windows, but all went like clockwork …..

   

 

 

The edges

were

polished.

 

 

Measurements were made for the boot topper, it was attached and then all was revealed ……

 

  Both sides were

  completed, and

  look great.

 

 

Ben had his friend Jason visit from Canberra.  So the mattresses were put in the double cabins, and the boys slept in their cabins (after a movie and snacks!) for the very first time.  The boys commented the their cabins were “AWESOME!!!” and the beds are very roomy.  So a tick of approval was given by the boys.

   

Another exciting milestone was achieved on Saturday with the starting up of the port engine …..

                        Turning the key …..

                                                  Everyone was on deck to witness the

                                                        first roar of the engine.

 

And finally the impressive davits were installed …..

and tested …..

             and when they passed the test, the boys enjoyed having some fun winching each other up and down on them (creating a few wedgies in the process!).

So we are now another week closer to launch – the sixth week is rapidly approaching.

WEEK SEVENTY SIX

 

Wendera

 

What! Another week has gone already?  Time is flying by, with still so much yet to do … the countdown to launch day has begun. But what a week it has been for Wendera this week. 

Chris and Paul started out the week laying out the templates on the teak/holly flooring ready for cutting out.  This was a perplexing puzzle, given the lines of holly that needed to be matched along each panel, and the size of each panel.  We had five sheets for the whole flooring, would we fit it in, and would we have enough material?  After much deliberation, the jigsaw was solved …..

 

Excitement for us all (and a few tears from Miss) as the name and logo were put onto Wendera Wow! She looks so beautiful …..

 

 

 

The dining table was ‘dry’ fitted …..

With the flooring cut out, it was ‘dry’ fitted.  Look how well Paul and Chris did with lining up the lines ……

              

The floor panels for the hull sides and the steps were then varnished, ready for installation next week …..

          

The flooring for the saloon/galley area was glued in place (when the glue goes off, it will be varnished) …..

      

With Sean’s help on Saturday, the HyDrive hydraulic steering was bled, a job which took most of the day! It was all hands on deck, so there are only a few photos as proof of our efforts …..

         

        

Sunday saw a blitz of hatches being attached to Wendera as well as a couple of spinlocks …..

 

The question plaguing us now, and causing Paul a few sleepless nights, with 

until launch, will it all get completed in time?  That, my friends, is the million dollar question!!! But watch this space to see …..