I love this boat, and cant resist taking photos of it. During the original build, the intent was to build a sliding seat to run on the seat bridge using leftover ply and pine from the hull build. Problem has been that the tiller posts were cut too short, necessitating that the seat and bridge assembly be low enough so that the crosshead assembly would pass over it. Terribly uncomfortable for us guys over 6', and who dont bend like they used to. The seat bridge was rushed, and not my best work. I've always wanted to redo it, and with the next week off and wanting to sail more this summer its begun.
At Killbear, coolest place there is.
Clatyon, NY with the late Danny Sutherland taking her out for her sea trials after completion, 2007
Killbear again, a great photo by Fitz from Mass.
The late Jan Gougeon, of West System fame, after sailing her for a few hours
Ugly, quick seat bridge made of ash. Soon to be removed.
A properly fitted and shaped seat bridge on an original raceboat
Closeup of the sliding seat from the oldie.
Single board, with ash cleats under to slide along the seat bridge. Not too heavy, not too wide.
Seat bridge will be Sipo, but this African Mahogany board will be our new seat. It will match the coaming, also African Mahogany.
Dusty old girl, seat bridge ripped off immediately!
Yuck. Early rush effort, the re-do a long time coming.
New bridge will slot right in, but with increased height.
Sanding and leveling old varnish
Original seat alongside new seat blank
View of cleats
In place on boat. Much narrower than the original i built, but much prettier and lighter.
Rails will need relieving, courtesy of the router table.
An original seat bridge, to be copied.
Mahogany seat bridge parts cut out
African mahogany seat
New, much better than old - higher and lighter
Ash rail stock for under seats
New cyclonic dust and waste collection. The $175 drum. Whats that, i thought i paid $20 for it? Yup, and add the cell phone ticket some *#@ cop decided to lay on me while i drove out to pick it up.
Cuts the dust much better than any shop vac, and huge capacity.
Paging Dr Freud....
Dry fit
Looking better, historically more accurate as well
Dry fit of rails to check clearances
Success
Secure rails, sand all parts stain and varnish. Then hardware relocation.
Progress this weekend, parts fit, taken off for sanding and staining.
Nice grain from the African Mahogany
Seat bridge supports
Stain still wet, same wood as coaming. Varnish coming up.
Dramatic colour change.
Much nicer than the first effort
Lots of varnish work coming up, including wanigan sides.
Widgeon displaying higher seat bridge
Another view, with shaped knees supporting from underside
Close up detail
Different method of fixing supports to hull with cleat on cockpit side. Later 16/30s including ours have an adjustable seat bridge, with holes in the cleat allowing fore and aft movement through long bolts and wing nuts.
Gilbert built 16/30 our replicas are copies of, again displaying higher bridge.
New bridge
Starting to shine, 4 more coats and cockpit to do
She'll be ready before the water is, now to start on the traile...
3rd coat sanded
4th coat sanded, on to #5
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