Progress this week...

The work plan had to be modified somewhat this week as a result of the discovering the sub standard work by the previous builder as a result of ignoring the specifications in the plans.

Some time was spent in figuring out the best solution.

We also lined up the two hulls and checked all the beam troughs for alignment. As I mentioned in an earlier post the aft beam troughs were way out of square. The two front ones and the partial mid ones were only a little bit out BUT some of them were way out in height…about 20mm.

If it was not for the fact that I am comfortable with the integrity of the hulls I would have dumped them and started again. I still have to check out the keels…but more about that later.

If you had read the earlier response of Raoul Blanchetti of RB Power and Sailing in Pattaya to my request for assistance you will have seen that the original builders are not only NOT prepared to take any responsibility for the substandard and potentially life threatening work but also are not even prepared to assist in any way such as telling me in what other way the deviated from the plans. Oh…and I mustn’t forget about the threat I received for asking!

Never mind, we can figure it out, and figure it out properly!

This is what we are going to do.

Because I don’t want any compromises to the safety of the vessel we are going to completely remove all the existing beam troughs and the back of the cabin on the starboard hull. We will build complete new ones as per the Wharram plans and specifications (in timber) and fit them into the hulls as they should have been in the first place.

I have also decided to rip out all the Nida-core furniture that was also built by RB but was all out of square as well as replacing the ‘cock-eyed’ bulkhead.

The new beam troughs will include replacement bulkheads and will have all the strength which is provided for in the Wharram specifications. Work on these will begin next week. I will post photos as work progresses.

During the week more work was done in the galley which is looking really good and will be very functional. The shelves and framework are being built in sandwich core and glass with cherry trim. There is plywood used in those areas where the extra strength is needed such as supporting the oven and the drawer fridge.