Wa'apa Build - Part 27 (cockpit floor, wae)

Focus of recent work has been to get the cockpit floors installed and start work on the other bits needed to complete the main hulls. This mainly involved constructing and installing three semi bulkheads, cutting holes for hatches in floor, gluing on stiffeners, epoxy coating, etc. 

Unfortunately the sd card in my phone/camera has gone corrupt and I've lost most of the in progress shots of I had of all that stuff...so not a lot to see this time round..

Floor glued in, epoxy coated, and fillets all around. Also 6mm reinforcement ply glued in where wae will pass through hull.

Can just see one of the semi bulkheads under the floor.

Mast step cut out...

Test fitting the wae. As well as a tie point for the iako/crossbeam, this wae will also have the mast partner attached to it.

Getting there, just gotta keep knocking items off the list...

Wa'apa Build - Part 26 (Hatches on the cheap?)

A while back I came across these Gamma Seal lids for 5 gallon buckets. They have a ring which snaps on top of the bucket, and an inner part which screws into that. Supposed to be air and water tight.

They seemed like a good option for making large cheap hatches out of. I found some locally so grabbed one and a bucket to experiment with.

Top of bucket cut off and excess plastic removed, leaving just the one ring going around.

Lid snaps on tightly. There is a rubber seal in there.

The ring left on top of bucket is perfect distance, just slightly lower than the edge of lid.

Testing fit in a piece of scrap ply.

Fits great and sits nicely on that plastic ring on top of bucket. With some good sealant placed under that ring and pushed down tight it should provide a good seal.

Extends under enough so that screws can be put into some support timber and keep the whole thing in place firmly.

Only con is they aren't exactly low profile and are a bit industrial looking. However I don't think they look too bad, and for only $10 and ten minutes of time to make...it's hard to complain. I think they'll do the job nicely.

Wa'apa Build - Part 19 (nose piercings & decks)

A while since last update...

Borrowing from Gary Dierkings Va'a Motu design I decided to put some large wooden dowels through the end sections near the stem. I think they look neat and should provide a nice place for tying up, tying down for transport, carrying, etc. I've taken to calling them nose bones/piercings..as that is what they remind me of.

Simple template made to ensure holes all end up in same place.

Backing block clamped on to prevent tear out.

Nice clean holes.

I made some small ply rings to double up and strengthen the area a bit.

Glued in and small fillets added inside & out.

Then I glued in the deck supports and glued down the decks.

Next I think it's time to drag the hulls outside so I can bolt them together and do any fairing necessary and get the bottom ready for glassing.

Wa'apa Build - Part 17 (Rudder supports, deck supports, inspection hatch...)

Been working towards getting the ends closed up. Lots of little fiddly bits and slow going...

I've cut holes in side of hull behind bulkhead to take timbers for hanging the rudder(s). They will be glued (and screwed probably) to the bulkhead timber.

Template made for the deck(s).

Then after cutting and trial fitting the deck from 4mm ply, I decided to make a light support framework to stiffen and also help the deck take a nice fair shape.

And cut the hole for inspection hatch...

Still need to finish beveling the gunwales where the deck goes, and repeat this on other hull, and get everything glued up and so on...