We've Hatched a Plan - Episode 151
Good morning patrons
In Tasmania, spring is the gale season which brings lots of wind and rain. So in order to rebuild our dodger we needed to fast track our hatch renovation. A lot of the timber work on Mirrool wasn't very well preserved and there was a lot of dry rot that made restoration impossible so we opted for a complete rebuild.
Obviously the hatch and companion way are still a work in progress but it effectively keeps out the weather so we can continue with the deck and dodger build. There are a few FRS improvisations that seem to be becoming a common theme!
It's a sunny day so we're both off to the yard to fair and paint the modifications we've made for our new mast rigging!
With gratitude
Troy and Pascale
Comments (25)
I’ve watched many of your videos, but only recently became a patron. I was number 400, but who’s counting anyway? I look forward to many years of great videos of great adventures .
Welcome aboard Michael! Hope you have had a look at some of our older Patreon posts. There's a bit of info and some software floating around and we recently posted a link to a free pdf file of the Gougeon Brothers boat-building book on the West Systems page that is very good. Thanks for deciding to keep us afloat.
Looking great Troy! Delicate fits and masterful carpentry. Will be great to see the hatch faired and painted and finally in place. Super stuff!
Lol at delicate fits. Thump it to get it to join, just not too hard! Thanks Dom, hope your project is getting support.
“Fits like a Thumb in a Bum”...I’m an ER doctor...still laughing! Beautiful carpentry. Mirrool is really looking great!
Thanks for stopping short of the anecdotes there Doc!
The refurbished hatch and new companion way trim looks fantastic! Nicely done with very creative solutions. I would really like to modify my hatch with HDPE runners at some point. As it is (glass against glass and captured with a grove in the teak) binds up and makes a horrible sound every time I open and close it.
PTFE is another good material to work with. We went with HDPE because we are using a lot of it around the boat for its UV resistance (black only) and can get as much or little as we need cut to requirement. Also, it is very easy to modify as we improvise solutions as we come across peoples useful discards and try to give them new life.
Politics is really really sad at the moment, Its so nice to see your vids full of hope and great achievement, Don't stop living life to the full, You are really good inspirationalists, 😁👍
We always are surprised at how breathless the media are about everything right now when it crosses our attention and sadly it is rubbing off on people. Too many seem to think that they are required to have an opinion on every single issue. We try to accept that there are a lot of things outside of our understanding and try to master what we can control. Stay safe, stay sane!
Or as my long time friend and fellow builder is fond of saying after 40 years of wagging the bags.... "Just look past it...."
EEk! please, no more boat mods!
A subtle detail maybe not worth the effort, but you be the judge. A main hatch is either all the way open or all the way closed. At 19:34 your brainstorming about the uneven gap where the top of the drop-board meets the removable new hatch stop. What if? Looking at the video thumbnail see the margin where your middle finger is between the bottom curved edge of the forward combing, and the straight line of the new removable hatch stop. What if you matched the combing curve to another removable hatch stop, keeping that distance where your middle finger is as a step molding look when the two meet when hatch is pushed open. The curve could then be transferred to the top of the drop-board for when the hatch slides closed. I told you it is subtle... but sexy curves, and stacked or step moldings in the right places just always get my attention. ✍️)))
A few weeks ago while preparing my wood companionway hatch cover and hatch for varnish, in typical boat fashion I discovered that it was riddled with Termite damage and beyond repair. I ripped it all off and decide that I didn't want any possible problem with it in the future so I built a new cover out of Coosa. If you haven't seen Coosa it is a structural reinforced foam that doesn't rot or absorb water. I am just finishing the project now and am very pleased. What other surprises do you have in store for me as my refit seems to be lagging yours by a few weeks? The hatch itself was undamaged. Love the work you are doing, video and I am very excite to see Mirool finished and my boat as well. Ben S/S DAWN
I am under the impression that Coosa board is similar to a product we have called thermolite- https://www.ccaboards.com.au/thermo-light-board-product-range.html We used it to construct our rear hatches and combings and our fuel tank a while ago on the last refit. Great stuff and we used it again in this refit as risers for deck penetrations and to reinforce our mast step. All stanchions and our chain plates are now on 1/4" bases to get them up out of any standing water. Stay tuned!
The hatch timber / coamings stood up reasonably well to 30 years of use . I suppose Celery Top Pine the native Tassie timber that has been used in shipbuilding for 200 years (Huon Pine ?) is either too rare or expensive to use in a small yacht ? I believe it lasts forever, has a great grain and polishes up well. I do not advocate the use of any rare timbers given the devastation in the worlds forests and careful stewardship of rare species. I am confident that you agree.
Indeed we agree FD. Because we intend to treat this timber with epoxies and polyurethanes, we went with more pedestrian farmed eucalyptus timbers and left the rarer timbers to the fine craftsmen down here in Tassie. We think a common error is not appreciating things unless they're scarce. We have come to highly value fresh water!
Again, Nicely Done!! I'm an old shade tree mechanic and rough carpenter but have always appreciated those with the finish skills. Love seeing these my friends!
Behind every well finished bit of timberwork, is a patient Pascale and a pot of varnish!
You do such quality work Troy.
I was loving the Pascy Giggles but then.. Pascale did you just say "I'll provide Mirool support"? LOVE IT! ;-) And then we get to 12:38. A quick search only grudgingly admits that "fits like a thumb in a bum" MIGHT be a bit of lesser known Australian slang! Thanks for another excellent episode! Tim
Aussie slang?! That is a well respected bit of engineering/ building terminology here in the Land of Oz mate!
Love you guys! Really! Keep up the good work! Fantastic episode! Really like the attention to detail!
I just love the workmanship that goes into every piece
:)