Date

What did I do today?

Hours

12-21-99

I installed the gauges in the primed & painted gauge panel and test fit the assembly in the dash panel.  I set the steering wheel in place for a visual check and it looks GREAT!  Then I screwed and epoxied the three foredeck panels in place.

1.50

12-24-99

I filleted the corners where the foredeck sides meet the cockpit stringers.  Sanded all the corners and edges round and smooth.  Built a reinforcing frame for the foredeck hatch to keep it from warping.

2.50

I originally expected to spend approximately 150-200 hours to build my craft.
I feel that it is quite possible to complete a craft in that time if the builder stays
with a very basic and "functional" craft.  I intend to spend a bit more time
paying attention to minor details of construction and the finish to provide me
with what I feel is a better looking and more comfortable craft.

01-15-00

I cut and epoxied in place 4 cleat mounting boards.  These boards will also serve as braces and side deck mounting points.

2.00

02-12-00

Finally have some decent working weather.  I epoxied the forward, side deck pieces in place.  They were then trimmed and sanded.  The engine stand was set up on the rear deck and the notch for the fan belt and pulleys was marked and cut.  I also had to notch the fan shroud just a little also.  The rear deck was then glassed with mat and 6 ounce cloth.  The air splitter bar was cut to length and holes in the sides of the air cavity were cut to mount it.

6.00

02-13-00

Glassed the air splitter bar in place.  Sanded and smoothed the cloth around the fan duct and fan pulley notch.  Installed another section of the side decks and filleted & smoothed the joints.  Glassed over the foredeck with 6 ounce cloth.  Cut to shape and hot glued wood edge trim on the front panel for the rear seat/storage compartment.

6.00

03-01-00

I cut and installed a wooden trim piece across the aft edge of the foredeck right above the dash panel.  This will keep water drops on the foredeck from coming over the top of the dash and running down over the instruments.  It will also provide me with a way to mount a lexan wind deflector if one is installed.

1.25

03-03-00

The aft side decks were trimmed to fit and epoxied in place.

1.50

03-04-00

The edges of both side decks were sanded smooth and all the seams were filleted and sanded.  The port side was covered with 6 ounce cloth.

2.50

03-05-00

 The starboard side deck and the aft center of H4 was covered with 6 ounce cloth.  The three rudders were covered with 6 ounce cloth on one side.  One side of the rear seat/storage compartment panel was covered with mat and 6 ounce cloth, later the other side was covered with 6 ounce cloth only.

3.75

03-17-00

I sanded the edges of the 3 rudders and the seat/storage panel.  I cut the rear seat top framework and did a test fit of the assembly in the craft.  The fuel tank and battery will fit nicely along with spare oil and a couple tools.  I cut a panel out of foam to use as a rear seat backrest and guard to keep stray objects from getting into the engine/fan area from the cockpit.

1.50

03-19-00

The rear seat wood frame was epoxied and screwed together and then epoxied to H1.  More sanding and smoothing of edges and joints.  The second side of the rudders were glassed.  One side of the rear seat backrest was covered with mat and 6 ounce cloth.  More exposed wood parts were coated with resin.  The hatch openings were cut into the rear floatation compartments.  Holes were cut in all the bulkheads for the guide tube (3/4" sched 40 PVC) that the steering control torque tube (1/2" EMT) will pass through.  The guide tube will be a continuous piece through the floatation compartment to maintain the waterproof integrity of that area.

5.25

03-20-00

Trimmed and sanded the edges of the back seat rest.  Cut the torque tube holes in the PVC guide tube end caps.  Sanded all the edges of the rudders.

1.25

03-23-00

One side of the rudders were covered with two coats of primer.  I wanted to see if the primer would fill in and hide the cloth pattern.  I finish sanded the hull around the engine deck, transom and side decks up to the dash panel, getting it ready for prime and paint.

1.50

03-25-00

Applied two coats of primer to the other side of the rudders.  Glassed the rear  seat/storage panel to the cockpit floor.  Epoxied the PVC steering guide tubes in place under the port side deck.  Smoothed the rear edges of the craft with filler putty.  Located the engine stand on the rear deck and drilled the mounting bolt holes.  Ground off, sanded and reglassed the bottom of the dash panel supports at the cockpit floor.  Trimmed the rear seat backrest to fit over the front part of the engine stand.  Drilled and filled hard points, then glassed the second side of the rear seat backrest.  Other general filling and sanding was done around the cockpit and engine deck area.

7.50

04-02-00

 The foredeck and forward portions of the side decks were sanded and are now ready for paint.  The hull was flipped upside down and the mounting holes for the skids were drilled in the skids and the hull.  The holes for the forward skirt and partition skirts were drilled in the hull.  All the fiberglass cloth overlaps were sanded smooth and the rest of the hull bottom was smoothed to remove any bumps or rough spots that could cause trouble later.  The hull was given a complete wash down, inside and out, to remove accumulated dirt and fiberglass dust.  The inside of the hull under the fan duct was primed and painted (only the areas that could be seen through the duct opening).  One side of the rudders received a coat of paint.

3.50

04-03-00

 I cut an aluminum mounting plate and mounted the fuel level sender on it.   I then cut a hole in the 9 gallon fuel tank for the sender and plate assembly to mount through.  I had to build a plate because the original sending unit mounting kit would not make a seal on the plastic tank.  The aluminum plate covers a greater area and can easily be sealed.

1.00

04-29-00

I installed a drain plug and the access plate in the aft center flotation box.  I also added two short wear plates to the bottom of the center rib to help reduce ground contact wear against the skid.

0.75

04-30-00

After the hull was flipped back right side up and the skirt clamps removed, the    complete topsides were finish sanded and then primed.

2.25

05-02-00

I sanded the primer and put a coat of paint over the entire deck.  I painted the second side of all three rudders.

2.50

05-06-00

Sanded the first coat of paint and marked the lines for the striping.  Taped off the hull so it is ready for paint first thing tomorrow.

1.75

05-07-00

Painted the accent stripes with the first coat in the morning and a second coat in the late afternoon.

1.25

05-14-00

I taped the stripes and put the final coat of paint over the main hull.

1.25

05-23-00

I cut and installed a rail between the H1 and H1F panels just under the side decks.  This will provide a limited amount of storage for smaller items.  I checked out the chairs I acquired to see how easily they can be modified for installation in the craft, it should be pretty easy.  Then I made a list of all the remaining tasks still to be done.  I also created a list of the necessary items that I need to finish the construction.

1.25

05-27-00

I secured the rear floatation hatches and installed four rope cleats.  I cut the rear bench seat top to size and primed it.

2.00

05-28-00

I fastened a brace under the rear seat lid and temporarilly installed in over the rear seat compartment.  I applied the registration numbers to the sides of the bow, installed the cockpit drain plugs, the bow skirt dump port control bar and cut the driver's and passenger's chair legs to length.

3.00

 This pretty much finishes the hull, deck and interior.  There are many more small things that I would like to do but some of them won't be done until after the first test runs are completed.  I want to be sure everything is functioning correctly and that I will have a minimum of rework if I do need to make changes or improvements.

Please follow me along to the next construction phase as I start to build the engine/fan mount, mount the rudders and construct the prop guard.  I am really starting to get anxious to get the craft finished!

TOTAL TIME THIS PHASE.....

64.25