Perhaps it was the cancer operation or, as my daughter suggested, just plain old mid-life crisis, but sometime around the middle of 2015 Deb and I made the decision to relocate from Alice Springs to Devonport and build a 12 metre catamaran. So whatever the reason (and there is a reason for everything) we write … Continue reading Welcome
After the lead up to the launch, Deb & I were both very tired and rung out. Yes we were jubilant that we were finally on the water, but we also had to make the transition from boatbuilders to sailors. Selah was no longer static, she was now at the mercy of the elements. In … Continue reading From land to sea (Part Two) Selah’s first voyages
I thought writing this post would be easy. But weirdly, it has actually been one the hardest ones yet. It's only been 13 days since we put Selah on the water, but it seems much longer. The range of emotions has been wide: elation, joy, anxiety, stress, fatigue, satisfaction, awe and wonder. Selah was born … Continue reading From Land to Sea (Part 1)…making the transition
Launch day is booked for the 27th. Only 18 days to go, and other than a major calamity I think we are going to be ready for the transport team. So how are we feeling? It is something of an emotional roller coaster. Fit-out is by its nature mentally demanding, as there are so many … Continue reading 18 days to go
Well, I guess the big question readers may be wondering is, when is the big day? Actually, as you can imagine, its been much on my mind in recent weeks. So, as I sat down to write this update, I took a look at the tide tables taking into account the three factors I have to work … Continue reading Can we make it?
Last night we slept aboard for the first time. OK now... don't get too excited. No, we haven't launched Selah without telling you. But we are pleased to let you all know that our girl is now decently clothed and is fully weathertight. To celebrate we rolled up the big tent. It was a momentous … Continue reading Our first night aboard!
I can't believe its nearly a full month since we finished external paint. As I write this it's hard to work out where the days have gone, but a lot of fiddly jobs have been tackled, as well as finishing up internal paintwork. I have learned that the days between big jobs can be swallowed … Continue reading Hatches, deck fittings, metalwork and painting the interior.
Well, its been a beautiful autumn here on the north coast. For sure we have had some cold and blustery days but compared to previous years the conditions have been very mild. Next month things will change, as we head into full winter. Accordingly, our push now is to get her watertight. We want to … Continue reading External Paintwork completed
This is an update that we have been looking forward to posting for a long time. We have discovered that paint days are an emotional rollercoaster. Long, physically challenging and very smelly (paint thinner lingers, even after a hot shower), but also very satisfying. After months of prep work, without much outward sign of progress, … Continue reading Primer Undercoat …done!
Well its been a while since posts, so I though I had better check in with an update of our progress. Its been a physically grueling few months since fabrications were completed prior to Christmas. It's fair to say I did not anticipate how long it would take to prep our girl for paint. This … Continue reading Almost ready for paint
Well there's no use complaining, as they say, especially when the circumstance is of your own making. In this age of rage, complaining seems to have become almost a national pastime. But it has to be said; fiberglassing is a thoroughly unpleasant job, and we can't wait for it to be over. We are pleased … Continue reading icky sticky fiberglass!
Well we have just returned from Christmas break and a trip back home to Alice Springs for a very important occasion, our grandson's 1st birthday. It takes a lot to lure Pete away from the build, but this little guy has stolen our hearts; Thanks to my brother Paul for the video. Anyway, here's an … Continue reading Holiday over: back to work
Well, Christmas has arrived and we are pleased that the building phase of our ship is now complete. Yes, we are short of our self-imposed schedule but are not disappointed. We have worked solidly to get to this stage, and are well satisfied with our progress. As you can see from the following photos, the … Continue reading Major fabrications complete
Its been a busy few weeks since our last post. The cockpit furniture is almost complete, and as usual, it has taken longer than we anticipated, mostly due to the helm-station. The plans give basic dimensions, but no construction details. It's essentially an interface between a whole lot of hardware and the helms-person. Ergonomics and provision … Continue reading The helm station
Well we are getting closer to completing the fabrication aspect of our ship. We are down to our last few sheets of plywood, and our stock of timber is almost exhausted. Every piece is accounted for. Looks like we will be able to compete the project without purchasing additional timber, which is a good thing, … Continue reading Cockpit commenced
Its been a big few weeks, but it good to able to report that the turret is now mostly complete. Some tricky woodworking is yet to be done, rounding the top edges. To do that we will need to roll-up the tent so that we have enough room to use the tools. For now, that can … Continue reading Turret completed … well almost
So it turns out that this turret of ours is a more complex fabrication than first meets the eye. Hidden between the two outer layers of 6mm plywood, are all manner of structural reinforcements, bearers and butt-blocks. Just about all of it is a critical load-bearing fabrication in one way or another, so every glue … Continue reading The turret continues: electrical components & Grand Designs
OK, so this post is may not be of interest to all our readers. Firstly it's written by Pete on a cold and windy Saturday afternoon, needing something to distract him from the weather forecast he downloaded that morning: Secondly, its more technical, as its goes into detail about the turret construction. I have found this … Continue reading Turret roof underway
Summer is just around the corner here in Tassy. The days are notably longer and we are thankful to come through a third winter with minimal weather related interruptions. Work on the turret is now well underway. Next week we will begin installing the roof. Once that job is done, we only have the cockpit … Continue reading Turret and targa
Well our lady is now decently clad in her top decking. At the end of our last post, we had begun laying out the stringers. These are vertically orientated, cambered beams, that are placed reasonably close together, in order to support the plywood decking. We let them in a little deeper into the notches, so … Continue reading Decking completed
Its been a big few weeks since our last post. Some major decisions have been made and our bank account is much reduced as a result. First we ordered the portlights and overhead ventilation hatches for the sleeping cabins so that we would have them on hand to check for size, as we fit the … Continue reading Rig ordered
