Now that the floors have been glued in place, we have moved to internal joinery. The Sarah design specifies shelving to be fixed to the three stringers immediately above the waterline along the length of the hulls, between frames two to seven. These shelves form the basis for storage lockers and are mandatory as they are also critical structural elements, strengthing and stiffening the sides of the hulls. In fact, as we have progressed with the build we have come to appreciate that the Sarah design is essentially a series of interlocking “I” beams, some running fore/aft, others spanning the width.

In order to complete them, we needed to make some decisions about cupboard doors and galley benches. This didn’t take us too long, having access to a cabinet maker and his suppliers right next door. The sleeping cabin bench tops will be ply painted with two-pack, and Polycarbonate sliding doors. The kitchen doors will be cut from a bamboo laminate product that has recently come onto the market. To save weight, the kitchen tops will be 9mm ply, which we will send to a specialist shop to top with laminex and roll the outer face. The main kitchen top is a bit of a beast actually, at 3.55 meters in length which means yet more scarfing for Pete.

When we commenced the build, we had been advised that interstate builders have found it increasingly difficult, if not impossible to find gas fitters willing to work on owner-built boats. This led us to look at diesel fueled kitchen appliances but we found them to be prohibitively expensive, so Pete sat down with the phone book and started ringing around plumbers, expecting the worse. We were pleasantly surprised when after only a few calls we located a local plumber who was not only willing to work with us, but was also experienced with boats and can provide the certifications required by M.A.S.T. (the Tasmanian marine authority) to have Selah registered. He visited us the next day and made some suggestions. We will install all the piping, and he will make the bends, joints and connect the appliances. They are: oven, cook-top, hot water and BBQ. We will also install a gas alarm, although it is not mandatory.

While Pete has been fitting the cabinetry, Deb has been filleting the floors to the hull sides with epoxy. This then seals the area below the floors, creating buoyancy tanks. It’s a long laborious job, but she has completed the port side. She has also bonded the shelving to the hulls, as they have been completed. Working in this way we have evolved a loose routine; Pete cuts and dry-fits the components: Deb mixes the resin and preps: together we glue/screw them in in place, then Deb fillets and fills the screw holes, while Pete goes onto the next component.

We have also fitted the guest ensuite bench. Its a tight space in there, so we laminated a curve to give more elbow room when on the throne!