Day 96
138 Days Remaining

Sunday 2nd March 2014

Missing!...... FEBRUARY!!.....   Where on Earth did it go!!
Send out a reconnaissance plane to see if we can find it!

Before I start, many thanks for the emails and FB messages of encouragement, and some awesome Blackbird pictures from Adam in San Fran, like the one above...
Thanks mate - appreciated as always :-)

OK Boat build SitRep:

Weighed with all but the working deck and transom resting or taped in place 8.8kg. Nicely on track. I predict 9.8kg ready to sand for paint.

Control deck made from 9mm marine ply, shaped for the cleats to go on so all the controls live under the deck line, made, laminated in carbon and trimmed to fit. I toyed with the idea of making it half in foam core and half in MP, but it only saved me about 200g and I want to be able to just screw fittings into it wherever I want to... The main control layout is figured out, but hey - when did that ever stop a change of plan, and for a 200g penalty when I'm under my weight budget this close to the end of the build - No brainer...

Centreline join complete on inside of hull. This thing is stiff and very very fair - I think it will look awesome when it's painted - I love boats with a true reflection - not ones that look like the side of a 1973 VW combi!

Tramp tracks along outer edge of sheer glued on with 9323, filled faired and laminated over with M46J Twill at 45/45 - They are not going anywhere and the track isn't going to open up any time soon.  If you've ever had a trampoline pull away from the boat you'll know that it is quite distressing - not DE stressing.... the other one!

Wing bars fitted, front wing bar dog-legged at 800 mm from the centreline - radius smoothed and about to have the chainplate detail added. I wanted to have a bit more sweep back to the wings from outside of the chainplate - I think it looks neat and minimises the length of the outer wing bar.

C/B foil vertical made and being used as I type to make the CB case. Nothing too fancy about this.. The laminate of the leg is massive - 10 layers of M46J UD and 45/45 woven, then the core just UD.

>>>Big jobs this week that I'm on track for and should be ok to get done even though I'm all over the place :-)

Control deck and C/B case in and secondary bonded *as you can get right around it before putting the main floor down which starts immediately aft of the CB case trailing edge.

Main cockpit floor section of deck made

Transom made and fitted

Wing bar assembly completed to first stage (framework) and a start made on the detail (hard points for blocks and tabs for toe straps) and a strategy for fitting the trampoline figured out.

Detail glimpse... Spoiler Alert!!

I hate trolleys... cumbersome, time consuming to make, generally a pain, always the cause of boat damage.... So, seeings its a Blackbird and even they had ground wheels, I'm thinking I'll put a carbon tube through the hull at about a metre from the arse end, just up from the bottom of the hull -  then simply slide a carbon axle with wheels on through it when needed?!  Then a simple moulded cup/handle for the bow which will protect the wand and the knuckle from damage while still allowing the bonnet to be removed for access?  I guess a need pair of blanking plates for the axle tube for sailing and that's it.... Might even be able to sail it as a land yacht (how many times have we all thought that!!!)


OK.. Back on it... Tide and time and all that.... Thanks for popping in.

D