Building 23' catamaran. Build updates

[stevemid]

Ok here's the berth area carpeted.There is still a bit of trim to go in around the ring frame (separates the berth from the head area.) The berth measures 2070 long, 1467 wide at the shoulder and 1310 at the foot. Now just the cushions to go.
Berth looking fwd.jpg

[Chimo]

Steve

The people up here who make our mattresses also make marine units to fit all shapes and sizes if your interested.DSCF8846 1000.jpg

This one goes into the double bed in the Vagabond and in the mean time does duty when visitors need a place to curl up.

Cheers
Chimo

[stevemid]

Chimo, yes, I am interested. Phil was just saying that a Qld outfit made a custom innerspring mattresses for a mate of his boat and it cost about what you'd pay for one from the store. Can you give me contact details?

Steve

[Chimo]

Details sent per email.

C
C

PS Store prices are nonsense for this stuff. Talk to this guy.

[Dave_H]

A proper sign writer? With paint? Apollo, I thought they had all died of drink ages ago.

No, seriously, I had so gotten into the new age that I forgot that's how it used to be done.

I'll have a look.

Steve

Steve, have you thought about penning a couple of designs for the stripe down on a drawing and then masking up the hull in the same way then, once you're happy with it, painting it yourself? Looking at what other jobs you've put your mind and your hands to to me this one would be a lot simpler than what you've done previously. You could even style-in a couple of different colours into the stripe (a bit like what they now do with light aircraft and motorhomes) to match your covers or cushioning?

If you took your time and had the room to stand well back and visualise what the stripe looks like from a distance and made adjustments to the edges of the mask-off where neccessary to make both sides the same then I have no doubt a man of your (obvious!) talents could knock this over in a morning or afternoon!

Failing that suggest googling motorhome graphics. There are a lot of designs out there - one of them will work for you, and of course the beauty of removable graphics is just that - they are removable!

Dave

P.S: Here is a grahic suggestion I found here in Australia as an example only. I have no knowledge of the seller or the quality of his/her products... http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/EBB-Carav...-/141053320482

[Dave_H]

Forgot to mention - Everytime you put new posts up of your work I just keeping thinking "Wow"! Great work, she is a real credit to your patience, craftmanship and the time it has taken to do the job properly and get it right the first time. Well done!

[The Woo]

You'd made some really fantastic progress since I've last had the opportunity to drop in Steve Great stuff mate, keep it up. And yeah, I agree, you could do the striping on your ear mate.

[stevemid]

Dave_H, The Woo,
Right now I am down in Sydney buying foam for seating and trying to pick out fabric so I can get back up to the shed and finish the cushions. Then I want to launch which means towing it out of the shed on 6 4-wheel carts, and getting it up onto an 8M sliding tilt tray for the trip down to the Hawkesbury where the motors will be put on. I am soooooooooooooooo wanting to see this thing under power, in the water. Anyone know where I can get it weighed between central coast nsw and the hawkesbury? Would you think the RTA weigh stations oblige with a before and after?

With all the above on my mind, and thanks for your votes of confidence, but I'm going to go with boatnames.com.au for $300. package. I've got the mock-up pictures from Chris, but I may make some slight positioning changes so I'll wait to post an actual picture.

Steve

[The Woo]

Steve, here in Qld most refuse stations (sounds so much classier than "The Dump" doesn't it) are ok with you using their weigh bridge for a drive over before and after. However, if you're needing certification of the weight, you'll be out of luck there.
Again, I'm in Qld so can't give you much guidence as to where those certified weigh bridges are mate.

[stevemid]

Steve, here in Qld most refuse stations (sounds so much classier than "The Dump" doesn't it) are ok with you using their weigh bridge for a drive over before and after. However, if you're needing certification of the weight, you'll be out of luck there.
Again, I'm in Qld so can't give you much guidence as to where those certified weigh bridges are mate.

Thanks Woo
They call em "tips" down here and and the Wyongshire one is about 15Km out of my way but worth it to know for sure what my starting point is. It is just across the road from a public weighbridge, I found. http://www.weighbridges.com.au/

[stevemid]

This week I got my colour scheme decided on and was therefore able to pick out the upholstery fabric for the seating as well as deciding on a rego, name and graphic kit. I got the graphics from boatnames.com.au for just over $300 all up. Chris was very easy to work with, helpful and very prompt on delivery. I also picked up the foam wadding and ply backing for my seat cushions and got those built except for sewing the fabric which gets delivered on Monday. Today I installed the graphics. I also drilled out and filled the holes for the snap buttons to hold down the canvas. As I don't have a tool for doing snap buttons (hint hint birthday coming up) a local canvas guy is going to come out early next week and put in the snaps for me after I screw down the male half on Sunday.

Here's a couple of pics of the graphics. Just waiting for the fabric to be delivered on Monday, then I'll finish the upholstry and that will me done except for cleaning out the shed.

Anyone looking for a boat-building setup? Fibreglass dispenser, 1/3 roll of 450 DB, some uni, roll of 100mm DB tape, some peel ply, barrel stand, sanding boards, excess 100L Cabosil, West System epoxy & pumps, etc?
Stb Graphic Installed.jpgPort Graphic Installed.jpg

[The Woo]

Wow, the graphics really lift it, looks great!

Steve, I tip my hat to you mate. Two years..... look at what you've achieved!

[surveyor]

wow
amazing how the graphics change the look really enhances the lines you must have that great feeling between excitement and anxiety not to mention that feeling you get of almost loss when you don't have to work on it
but the pride n enjoyment soon kick in and man should you be proud that is beyond professional what an achievement
love it

[Chimo]

Nice!!! Is it too late to flop a mold off it or would that stuff the graphics Steve?

[stevemid]

Woo, Surveyor: Yeah, the graphics really transform it don't they? This was the top half of a standard graphic Boatnames had and I'm really over the moon with it. Actually the last few things, the canvas, the KiwiGrip paint and the dash (being able to turn on the radio as stupid as that sounds) have really given me the feeling of finally getting there.

Chimo, I'm not up for another project! (unless it involves buying fishing tackle.)

Thanks guys.