CONTROL CONSOLE DESIGN

After a two-month delay whilst my wife was in hospital, I'm resuming work on Seagull by drawing-up a design of a control console for the the boat. It will largely be in half-inch (6.5 mm) marine plywood.

That which we call a Rose, by any other name would smell as sweet

There can only be one boss on a project which is why the term 'infrastructure' was replaced by 'cuddy' to keep the boss happy. Now 'cuddy' is found to sound like a road-workers shed. So 'cabin' been deemed more suitable by head-office - albeit that technically it's not a cabin.

I've sacrificed streamline for 'fit-for-purpose' insofar as my wife is disabled and this construction is more suitable for her.

There's plenty to fill this volume. Two swivel chairs, a control console and helmsman stations for a start.

The infrastructure Cabin doesn't look quite so big when you can see the rest of the boat.

Next I'll fit the top to the ... 'er ... cabin. 

Infrastructure

It goes by many terms, some call it the Coach-house others the Cuddy whilst I've always called it the infrastructure. As my wife thinks 'cuddy' sounds cosy (sigh) ..... cuddy it is.

As you can see I have made and fitted the two side bulkheads; looking massive from this camera angle.

In order that the bulkheads slope gently inboards towards the centre-line, I have made tapered carlins'.

Close up showing the taper on the carlin

View of the port carlin in place

The starboard bulkhead, below, is screwed to the carlin and is forced to follow the taper of the carlin, causing it to slope inboard.

This is quite a high cuddy, but my wife is disabled, and so the structure is designed to suit her rather than style.

Aft Lockers

I have now completed the aft lockers, apart from sanding and final finish.

The lockers act as seats, with the tops hinged for access to the lockers. The materials uses are marine-ply and Iroko. The Iroko serves two purposes: Firstly, to protect and conceal the plywood edges and, secondly to bring a contrast in the colour system.

As you can see the Iroko floors are now glued into position and I'm fitting the midship sole (duckboard)

Starboard locker with its lid open.

There are two edges through water, be it sea or rain, can enter the locker: the hinged edge and the aft edge. On these edges I have made an internal gutter from Douglas-Fir (2" x 1") into which I have routered a channel. I've drilled a scupper in the sides of the locker for the water to escape from the channels. The front and front edge of the lid overlap so no water can enter through those two edges. 

The two most forward Iroko floors can be seen in the picture above, and the forward stowage is almost complete

Aft Slatted Sole

The aft lockers are almost complete and I have now added the aft slatted sole (aka duck boards) I've made from Douglas Fir.

Forward Storage

I have now begun to build the forward storage, which comprises a seat over and locker under.

At this juncture it dawned on me that the inclusion of a bucket would provide a head (toilet WC) ... rather having my dear wife hanging over the side!!

The aft stowage is coming along and I keep moving back and forward to allow glue to set on one end or the other. 

Aft Lockers

I had to make knees to reinforce the gunwales, and then fixed them in place at regular intervals, on either side.

Next came the forecastle deck and the floors.

This whole area in the transom area now gets boxed in to form a locker.

Technically the locker top is a quarterdeck, a bit too grand so we will call it a locker top. 

I then cut and fitted the bulkhead that also serves as locker front

There are two lockers (under) that can be used as seats (over) and I have began to fit the longitudinal bulkheads for these.

My next move is to complete the two lockers