Express Design Ideas

Since this past summer, and several trips offshore in not the best weather, I have decided it would be more practical for this boat to be an express. Having an express provides more shelter, and cover from the sea and elements. This will allow for a more comfortable ride and expand the seasonal operation.

These renderings provide an idea of what the design of the express layout will be.









This layout will provide benches on the outboard side of the helm area with tackle centers aft of these benches. These tackle centers could have a live well, freshwater, or sink, tackle draws for inshore/offshore gear, and possible other items. The benches will provide an enormous amount of storage which will greatly add to the organization of the boat.

The helm itself will most likely be A mini console with enough space for the primary gauges, primary electronic display, the wheel, switches, and throttles. On the hard top, there will be an electronics box which will contain two VHFs a secondary Nav display and possible a MF/HF radio for long range communications.

This profile display is just a mock up, the rendering was done with the top designed for the center console layout, it was just used to provided a profile similar image.








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Frame Fairing Continued

Spent most of the day Fairing the frames in preparation for the bottom plating. Went through several belt sander belts since it regularly clogged up from some of the glass.
In retrospect, having this hut from the beginning would have been a much better idea. The wood does not age or deteriorate from water or the sun exposure. This would of prevented applying some of the glass coatins which was used on the frames and side plating to protect the wood from the elements.

The keel was also shaped to receive the plywood.
Next step will be shaping the Chine.







































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Frame Fairing for the bottom Shell Plating

Hut Construction II

Shrink-wrapping the temporary hut for protection from the environment, allowing us to some what have climate control.

Hut Construction

Construction of the temporary hut was built, using 2" PVC and 2x4 plates with 4x4 supports.

Fosc'le / Bow Construction II

After a vacation at Sailors Haven, and some more tuna trips, work began again today.
Today's focus was on getting the boat ready for flipping. This included securing and gluing the bow plate and the anchor locker shelf. This shelf was put in before the bow gunnel plate to make it easier to cut and glass it in place.

The next steps to take before flipping her over will be to trim the excess gunnel plate around the bow, and build up the transom with two more sheets of 3/4" ply

Port Side Gets Resin

Port side got fully sanded and got its two primary coast of resin  which will protect the wood.

The topsides are looking pretty good, there will still be alot of fairing todo after the meshing gets done, however it is taking shape.

Port Side Work

Work got Done today:

• Finished Gunnel Supports on port side
• Fixed Issue on the bow on the Stb Side
• Belt sand entire side
• Filled in screw holes and slightly faired seams

 

Misc Port Side Work

 Worked on finishing the port side, Now ready to get sanded, faired, and two coats of resin. Added the gunnel support along the hull in-between the frames on the starboard side and started on the port.

To Do List before the hull is flipped.

• Finish Gunnel-Hull supports on Port Side
• Fix Stbd Side Bow 
• Sand & Fair Port Side
• Finish the Transom with two more sheets of 3/4" ply
• Finalize and install the bow Gunnel piece

Fosc'le / Bow Construction

8/10/10

Today's main goal was to rough cut the bow gunnel board, trim off excess plywood in that location to prepare for the trimming of the gunnel to the hull, preparing the first two coats of resin, and fairing. We also added back-plating between Fr. 12 and the stem of the hull for cleats or anchor gear.

Single Diesel or Twin Outboard

Single Diesel
Pros

• Increased Cockpit Fish-ability
• COG shift forward slightly, better for running in rough seas
• Engine bulkhead already in place
• Tuna Door can be put on transom
• Emergency kicker needed (E-Tec Diesel Outboard)
  

Cons

• Longer Build time
• excessive amount of time calculating prop, shaft, and rudder locations and aligmnet
• keel and frames must be cut back to allow for shaft
• shaft would run through bottom connection point (potential weak point / leakage occuring)
• Helm must be designed for Engine Room Access
• Vessel will not be able to be in shallow water or run aground
• Gas Honda Generator will not run on Diesel for over night canyon trips

Twin Outboard
Pros

• Increased Safety and reliability, 2 Motors
• Better performance, adjustable propulsion line
• Quick installation  no excess build time
• Ease of engine maintenance
• Helm area arrangement not affected by engines
• Hull structure would remain unchanged 
• Gas generator able to tie into fuel supply

Cons

• Fish-ability limited at transom
• Tuna door has to be small or on side of hull
• Transom access form dock makes it hard to board vessel at some locations
• Double maintenance costs

While engine selection can still be either or,  both options have excellent reasons for using them. as for the inboard, shaft, prop and the transmission would pose a long shop time to calculate and build a surface which would be able to support the engine. At this point i am still planing on going with twin outboards. This can change in the future, but a definite decision is not required until the bottom shell plating is done.

Side Shell Plating Port side

8/9/10

The entry plating on the port side is just about finished. The inboard ribbons are in place, glued together. There is a little more work to be done to properly join the gunnel plating to the sides and some patch work. at the midships gunnel location. However the hull is looking great and the next phase is almost ready to begin.

The 14' sheet being scribed and cut to fit tightly around the flare

Starboard side gets Resin

Once the starboard side was finished getting sanded and slightly faired, two coast of resin was applied on the outboard side to keep the wood protected, one coat was applied on the inboard of the wood.

Preping the Starboard Side

With the Starboard side nearly completed, the small screw holes, and missellanious gaps are filled in with resorcinol and bondo.