Update: Progress Report - Nov. 28

The walls of the shop are up! This was a very tedious job but the installation of the walls and flooring is now complete and ready for the next steps. Eric has put caulk and putty in all the areas that needed it. He will let it dry overnight and then sand everything. 
There is a possibility the welder may do repairs in the next week or so. Eric will hold off painting till the welder is finished the repairs on the overhead deck. While we are waiting, He will still be able to begin building the workbenches on the starboard side and draw up a preliminary design for the hatch steps/storage and the port side benches. 
The re-caulking of the galley and forward stateroom head are finished. The aft stateroom head is prepped for caulking and Eric will be completing that today. The cleaning of the forward stateroom is coming along in small but progressive steps.

 Aft wall and partial hallway. The forward cabin is behind this wall.

Port side

Eric and Mary posing by the almost completed walls...

Eric driving machine screws with his brace and bit. Each hole had to be carefully drilled through the wood and aluminum. Then a tap was used to create threads. Through the process of all the flooring and walls, we broke 6 taps! Very frustrating and a fight to retrieve. After the tapping, the screw tips were lightly coated with Tef-Gel and then installed with the hand driver.

We made a pattern for each wall section. After cutting and fitting, the back was painted, left to dry overnight and installed in the morning. Then we would pattern, cut, fit and paint the next section. Each section had to be permanently installed before we could build the next one to insure a proper fit.

Eric raised a section of the floor and made the underneath space into lockers. He installed simple bolt-lifts on all four covers. This storage area will be very useful for extra tools and wood shop supplies. 

 Bracing under the hatch covers.

Eric prepping to raise the floor. The bilge is open in front of him...very deep!

 Drilling through wood and aluminum

Drilling the countersink.

  

Tapping

Coating with Tef-Gel

     Driving with brace and bit

Eric caulking the forward stateroom shower

 Progressively cleaning the forward stateroom. 

The battery bank is installed under this bunk.

 This cover-skirt will stay on the mattress to protect it until all the work has been completed in this cabin.