BananaShark 34' Build thread

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by jwalker

Very slick... and full marks to Mr Kitten for his disc brake!
A neat line in staircases too I see.

Yes - the local Howdens had one the wrong size or something - absolutely perfect!

[Cookee]

I have made a GIF of the process of turning the mould and plug over - it's at http://files.me.com/cookee/qt7voh although it is a large file!

[Robbie Diesel]

For an awful moment there i thought you meant the steps in the hull, were made from a stair case cut up.... .! Amazing seeing the boat come together though, keep the pics coming!

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by jwalker

Very slick... and full marks to Mr Kitten for his disc brake!

yes .. very good !

[Cookee]

A few more showing the shape of the top half and the foredeck plug construcion

[Cookee]

The diesel waterjet is on Ebay now.

[Jizm]

Originally Posted by Cookee

The diesel waterjet is on Ebay now.

Have you had no interest in it at all then John?

[Cookee]

Lots of interest but no cheque yet! Ebay seems to be a good way of marketing boats even if they don't sell - we'll see!

[Jizm]

Unfortunately John everyone shops for everything on ebay, 90% of my bikes sell as a result of being on there. It's just bloody expensive! Had good success with classified ads on there, 30 days and cheaper than an auction with no final value fee.
You may have more success with that as people can submit offers on the asking price not stupid low bids and the offer automatically includes the contact details, they usually turn up with the cash anyway in my experience.

[Cookee]

About time for an update - having a windscreen in a boat requires quite a bit more work at this stage - we have the screens now and Kitten has taken a pattern off them - not using anything with styrene in it of course - he used PVA glue and ended up with a shape the same as the inside of the screen.

The pattern is then being used to make a plant for the mould which will be used to make the actual boat. The pattern will form part of the structure of the cockpit roof - in effect we are building the cockpit roof around the pattern taken from the screens therefore ensuring that it will all fit together perfectly every time. The only assumption in all of this is that the screen manufacturer is capable of repeating their side of the job accurately!

Photo 1 screen with protective wrapping if you can see it!
Photo 2 the pattern is taking shape - the screens are laying outside face down
Photo 3 the pair of patterns are done - removed from the original and the surface is covered in Formica
Photo 4 the plant is then laid up onto the pattern thick enough to allow for the thickness of the screen and the glue that will hold it in ensuring a flush fit in the boat

[Cookee]

The rear end is nearly finished - Formica doesn't do compound curves so some of it has to be done the old fashioned way with filler then high build paint, rubbed down and polished, the flat or single curve areas can be covered in Formica.

The extension that will extend over the drives is not on the boat - the shape you see in the photo with Kitten in will allow outboards to trim up if fitted and will provide a positive location for the extension when inboards are fitted.

[Cookee]

The next set show the cockpit roof being made and the windscreen area which needs a lot of inside out upside down thinking.

The first photo shows the part made in the earlier process from the inside face of the actual windscreen - this is used as a sort of datum and the outside surface you can see in the photo is where the inside of the screen will end up - the subsequent photos show building up the roof and the thickness over the "screen" to allow for the thickness of the mould plant which will go in the mould to give us a recess for the windscreen to sit in, this will be slightly thicker than the actual windscreen to allow for the bonding material thickness.

Now the top part of the plug is done in terms of shape it is a question of making it shiny enough to take a mould from - this will involve more grey stuff as seen on the Ring plug and our secret weapon Formica!

[Cookee]

The latest set of photos show the application of the Formica and the boat with the final application of hibuild paint, we then turned the boat to make it easier to polish the deck and cockpit roof. It will stay on the A frames until the gel coat and first few layers of matt of the mould have been applied, it will then be returned to the floor where the stiffening will be applied and the moulds removed.

The grey sheet on the foredeck is protect the Formica when working topsides - it was removed shortly after the photo was taken.

Gelcoat tomorrow!

Engines tomorrow or Thursday I hope.

[matt h]

looks fantastic!!

[Jorgos]

congratulations!!

[Jizm]

Originally Posted by Cookee

The latest set of photos show the application of the Formica and the boat with the final application of hibuild paint, we then turned the boat to make it easier to polish the deck and cockpit roof. It will stay on the A frames until the gel coat and first few layers of matt of the mould have been applied, it will then be returned to the floor where the stiffening will be applied and the moulds removed.

The grey sheet on the foredeck is protect the Formica when working topsides - it was removed shortly after the photo was taken.

Gelcoat tomorrow!

Engines tomorrow or Thursday I hope.

looking good now John...

[Bam Bam]

Cool boat, keep the pictures coming Cookee.

[Steve_B]

Stunning

[Cookee]

Thanks guys - engines have now arrived and first mat is now on ......... we might still make Cowes (posted entry on Friday!)

Wish us luck!

[Downhilldai]

Well done Cookee & kitten.
Look forward to seeing the finished article(s)