More photos of "Rafael" under construction     The framework to support the cockpit sole (the floor)     The framework to support the cockpit sole     The cockpit sole in place, but not fixed down yet - I have to paint the bilges first     The cockpit sole in place. The round black things are plastic watertight hatches giving access to the storage space in the bilge - very expensive, but they seem sturdy     Working on the cockpit coamings     Working on the cockpit coamings. Chubby little brute, isn't she?     Working on the cockpit coamings     The outboard well     The outboard well     The outboard well     Turning the forefoot. Not sure I'd do it like this again. It looked good on paper, but when I came to glue it all up it was very difficult to find the same screw-holes, so it didn't fit very well and there may be some voids when it's all carved to shape. Another time I'd probably do it the hard way and steam a single length of hardwood round the bend.     Turning the forefoot     Persuading the lower rubbing strip into place. Because I'd already fixed the foredeck, it wasn't possible to screw from inside, hence the eccentric lash-up which actually worked quite well     Persuading the lower rubbing strip     Rubbing strips attached. The rope is because before I can fix the cockpit sole in place, I have to paint the bilges. Before I can paint the bilges I have to seal the holes where the screws attached the boat to the building trolley. So she is now not fixed to the trolley at all - something of a milestone, I think. When I want to get inside the boat, for fear of tipping up I have to climb over the stern - hence the rope!       Painting the bilges. Very time-consuming and annoying, especially the bits you can't see. Next time I'll coat the underneath surfaces of the frame members with epoxy as I build them in, then they won't need to be painted!       ... and the under side of the cockpit sole     Turned over and re-mounted on the jig. Keel and skeg in place, and ready to be sheathed with fibreglass           Click here for more pictures.     Click here to go to the previous page.       Copyright © 2006 PlainSite