This is the first opportunity that I have had to see the superstructure mold uncovered. This thing is huge. Well, I suppose by mega yacht standards it’s not, but this is all one piece that includes the fore deck, Portuguese bridge, cabin sides, starboard walk around deck, stairs, cockpit, etc.
Here is another shot of it. That is the forward port side hawes hole insert. (Remember that this is the reverse of what the part will look like and it is upside down).
This is Patrick getting ready to install the engine room vent insert. Patrick is our infusion expert and heads up all lamination for us.
The preparation of this mold part took months as it is so complex. If you look carefully (click on the picture to enlarge it) you will see the side windows for the saloon. There will be inserts installed to form the rounded bedding surfaces. They will begin “dry stacking” this part in a few days and we hope to have the finished superstructure out of the mold in a couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, back on the boat they are fitting the bow thruster. With dual 5 blade props we should be able to do pirouettes in a gale. Well, at least look good while docking.
This is the mounting plate for the thruster. ABT really builds a robust unit. The hydraulics we have selected are supposed to provide plenty of thrust power even when the engine is at idle. Sometimes hydraulic systems are undersized and you have to rev up the engine to develop enough hydraulic pressure (and volume of oil) to make the thruster effective. Remember, the thruster on the standard boat is electric….hydraulics are an option.
The Village Marine Watermaker and 2 of the A/C units are shown here being fitted in the engine room. These are not permanently installed yet…..just checking the fit. There is one more 20,000btu A/C unit that will go in between the watermaker and the other 2 A/C units. These are optional items. We are installing the A/C units as our first trip is to the tropics. All boats are pre-plumbed and wired for A/C and Kabola diesel heating.
This blog entry is of events over the past couple of weeks. This was taken today showing that the engine and other previously shown equipment has been removed so that they can gelcoat the interior of the engineroom before permanently installing the equipment. I think you may need sunglasses in the engineroom as it may be very bright with all the white gelcoat.
Fitting the upper and lower rudder bearings is a very exacting procedure. Here you can see the jig that is used for alignment.
The rudder is ready to be installed. The articulating rudder comes standard on all of the Northwest Trawlers. The rudder will allow the boat to turn a circle in not too much more than its own length.
One thing that has delayed us a bit is the final design and fabrication of the BAT drive mounting system. Today the bracket was completed and installed on the transmission. I will show the complete installation as it is completed. The BAT drive is the “come home” system that powers the main shaft hydraulically from the generator in case of main engine failure. The advantage of this type of system over a wing engine is the thrust of the main prop over the rudder (articulating in this case) will allow the skipper to bring the boat into the wind and waves with no forward way on, just prop wash over the rudder. Wing engines with small folding props are quite ineffective in providing forward way which in times of heavy seas and high winds may prove it difficult to get the bow headed into the seas. The BAT drive will give us peace of mind for our upcoming journey. (see prior blog for details)